Can I advertise my fitness app or product here?
No. The rule "No advertising or market research" bans blanket advertising of services, products, apps, websites, and fundraisers, and says to use Reddit's built-in advertising system instead.
Subreddit guides
r/leangains rules, stats, and what to post
A source-backed Rankhog guide to r/leangains: public rules, community context, posting fit, and startup-promotion risk before you publish.
By Anthony Riera, founder and operator of Rankhog.
Subreddit guides combine public Reddit source URLs, captured rules, visible verification dates, and Rankhog's account-safety workflow.
Current public stats
- Members
- 305,914
- Verified
- September 18, 2026
- Minimum account age
- 5 days
- Category
- Health and fitness communities
Rules can change, so Rankhog keeps verification dates and the original public Reddit sources visible.
Rule summary
- Be respectful and civil: Personal attacks and unwanted sexual comments will not be tolerated. Prohibited behavior includes (but is not limited to): - Racism - Misogyny/sexism - Overtly offensive comments that have nothing to do with fitness. - Threads existing for the purpose of ridiculing others; be it exercise choices, performance or physiques. Commenters can and will be banned for such behavior at the discretion of the mods without warning.
- All posts must promote discussion, be specific to Leangains, and provide minimum amount of content.: Posts require minimum content to clarify your question, or provide context to a linked article. When asking for help: - Describe your situation clearly. - Do not just wonder aloud. Find the nugget worthy of investigation and provide your thoughts. It is not enough to just ask, you also need to engage. When sharing info: - Don't dump and run. Relate concepts to users and explain in terms that will be understood. Any post deemed off-topic, adding no value or inappropriate will be removed.
- Posting rights require minimum qualifications: URL shorteners are prohibited. The site-wide spam filter automatically removes any post or comment containing a shortened URL (e.g. bit.ly, goo.gl) . Any comment or post getting flagged for a URL shortening service will remain removed, but the user will receive a message to correct the situation. Account also must be 5 days old.
- Questions/Progress/Achievement posts require relevant information: Posts must include: - Sex, beginning/ending weight, height, and age - Detailed diet and/or exercise routine(s) used, caloric intake, weight lifted, distance run, etc; - Before and after photos (for progress/success posts only). Encouraged but not required: - Media documenting achievement. - Event report if official event. - Other tracked progress measurements - Motivation/lessons learned. - What are your next steps?
- Asking for medical or injury advice is not allowed: Medical advice should be sought elsewhere, preferably a Physician or PT. While others may have similar conditions, they are unable to examine you or understand your specific situation. Credential validation is not possible over the internet. Prohibited topics included but are not limited to: - Training advice with a known medical condition - Training advice specifically involving an injured body part - Asking about other people's experiences with a particular injury
- Moderators have the final word: This rule is for the internet warriors and conspiracy theorists. This isn't a democracy; your opinions will be heard and considered, but in the end the final decision rests with the moderators. We can't and won't make everyone happy.
- No bots or novelty accounts: No bots or novelty accounts
- No advertising or market research: Blanket advertising of services, products, apps, websites, or fundraisers is not allowed here. Reddit has a built in system for advertising which you should use instead. /r/Leangains is also not a forum for you to conduct market research or to use as a polling place, study group, or brainstorming. Standalone posts fitting these descriptions will be removed.
- Read about the program using the links found under pinned posts for Leangains Tools and FAQ: Read and understand the program before posting. - https://leangains.com/the-leangains-guide/ - https://leangains.com/reverse-pyramid-training-guide/
- More in-depth rules and info can be found at the links below.: Rules: https://www.reddit.com/r/leangains/wiki/rules Leangains Links https://leangains.com/the-leangains-guide/ https://leangains.com/reverse-pyramid-training-guide/
- Comments align with the Leangains program.: Leangains is a specific program. There are other effective programs and subreddits dedicated to those programs. If Leangains is not the appropriate program for you, you are encouraged to find an appropriate program. This forum is here to support people interested in the Leangains program and off topic comments will be removed at the discretion of the mod team. Links to the Leangains program: - https://leangains.com/the-leangains-guide/ - https://leangains.com/reverse-pyramid-training-guide/
Works well
- A detailed question post about your own Leangains routine that includes your sex, weight, height, age, calorie intake, and lifting numbers, ending with a specific question about reverse pyramid training or protein timing.
- A progress post with before and after photos, your starting and ending weight, your full diet and training routine, and a reflection on what you learned and what you plan next.
- A discussion post that takes a concept from the Leangains guide or reverse pyramid training guide and explains it in your own words with your thoughts, relating it to what other users might experience.
- A comment on someone else's question where you share your experience with intermittent fasting and protein intake in the context of the Leangains program, with no links or promotion.
Avoid
- Do not post any advertising, services, products, apps, websites, or fundraisers, as the rule "No advertising or market research" bans all of it.
- Do not use this subreddit for market research, polling, study groups, or brainstorming, because the same rule prohibits those activities.
- Do not use URL shorteners like bit.ly or goo.gl anywhere in your posts or comments, since the rule "Posting rights require minimum qualifications" says they trigger automatic removal.
- Do not ask for medical or injury advice, and do not ask about other people's experiences with a particular injury, because the rule "Asking for medical advice is not allowed" forbids it.
- Do not post vague questions without context, because the rule "All posts must promote discussion, be specific to Leangains, and provide minimum amount of content." requires you to describe your situation clearly and engage with the topic.
- Do not post off-topic comments or content unrelated to the Leangains program, as the rule "Comments align with the Leangains program." says such content will be removed.
What r/leangains Is For
This community is for people following or interested in the Leangains program, which is Martin Berkhan's method of lifting heavy weights in reverse pyramid style, eating protein as the main macro-nutrient, and using intermittent fasting. The goal is body recomposition, meaning losing fat while gaining muscle and strength. People come here to discuss the program, ask questions, share progress, and report achievements.
Rules That Matter Before Posting
The rule that matters most for a founder is "No advertising or market research." It bans blanket advertising of services, products, apps, websites, or fundraisers, and it also bans using the subreddit for market research, polling, study groups, or brainstorming. The rule "Posting rights require minimum qualifications" matters too, because it prohibits URL shorteners and requires your account to be at least 5 days old. The rule "All posts must promote discussion, be specific to Leangains, and provide minimum amount of content." means you cannot drop a link and leave. You have to explain your thoughts and relate concepts to users. The rule "Questions/Progress/Achievement posts require relevant information" sets a hard requirement for stats including sex, weight, height, age, and detailed routines. The rule "Asking for medical or injury advice is not allowed" removes any post about training with injuries or medical conditions. The rule "Comments align with the Leangains program." means off-topic comments get removed.
What To Post
A good post for a founder doing respectful Reddit marketing here is one that does not market at all. Instead, it contributes to a discussion about the Leangains program with specific, useful detail. If you ask a question, include your sex, beginning and ending weight, height, and age, along with a detailed diet and exercise routine. If you share information, relate it to the program and explain it in terms users will understand. Every post must be specific to Leangains and provide enough content to stand on its own without relying on a link. If you reference a URL, use the full link and never a shortened one. Your account must be at least 5 days old before you post or comment. The best approach is to become a trusted member who understands reverse pyramid training, protein-focused macros, and intermittent fasting well enough to help others following the same program.
What To Avoid
Avoid anything that looks like advertising or market research, because the rule "No advertising or market research" removes standalone posts that fit those descriptions. Do not use URL shorteners, because the rule "Posting rights require minimum qualifications" says they trigger automatic removal. Do not post without context or minimum content, because the rule "All posts must promote discussion, be specific to Leangains, and provide minimum amount of content." means vague posts get removed. Do not ask for medical or injury advice, because the rule "Asking for medical or injury advice is not allowed" covers training with known conditions, injured body parts, and asking about others' injury experiences. Do not post off-topic comments, because the rule "Comments align with the Leangains program." gives moderators discretion to remove them. Do not use bots or novelty accounts, as the rule "No bots or novelty accounts" prohibits them.
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Common questions about r/leangains
Can I run a survey or poll here for research?
No. The same rule explicitly prohibits using the subreddit for market research, polling, study groups, or brainstorming.
How old does my account need to be to post?
Your account must be at least 5 days old, as stated in the rule "Posting rights require minimum qualifications."
What information must I include in a progress or question post?
You need your sex, beginning and ending weight, height, and age, plus a detailed diet and exercise routine including calories and weights lifted, as required by the rule "Questions/Progress/Achievement posts require relevant information."
Can I ask about training around an injury?
No. The rule "Asking for medical or injury advice is not allowed" prohibits training advice involving injuries or medical conditions.
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