Amid Fitness, Food and TikTok, Amit Portal Says Nothing Is Off Limits
In a new episode of Walla Food’s video podcast “Medabrim Ochel,” host Ron Yuchanov sits down with content creator, fitness coach and marathon runner Amit Portal to discuss body image, food, authenticity and the cost of living online. The conversation goes beyond recipes and protein meals into the pressure of a polished social-media lifestyle, the gap between perfection on the feed and real life, and how young viewers absorb those images.
Portal says he tries to stay authentic, even when posts include mistakes or imperfect moments. He adds that every recipe he uploads is tested twice, once off camera and once on camera, because he wants to be sure it tastes good before posting. He also says the online world is full of fakes and that the most authentic moments are usually not the prettiest. Yuchanov, who says he has a teenage daughter, raises concerns about what it means for girls and boys to spend hours on TikTok seeing flawless bodies, homes and routines.
Portal says his consistency is what resonates most with followers. People message him, he says, saying things like, “Because of you I run” and “Because of you I lift weights,” not because of one specific tip, but because they see him doing it every day. He also speaks candidly about harassment, saying most of it comes from men. “Mostly men sexualize me,” he says, adding that in messages, comments and in person they can cross lines. He describes an incident abroad in which a man told him, “You need to stop seducing me with your body,” and later tried to enter his room, which made him feel threatened and afraid.
Portal explains that his videos simply reflect his life, whether he is running in tights or in track pants. He trains six times a week as he prepares for the New York Marathon, which he plans to run with a team from the Shalva organization, and says he runs an average of 13 to 14 kilometers in the morning before breakfast. That breakfast can include six or seven eggs, half an avocado, two slices of bread and cream cheese. He lives with his parents, says his father cooks for the family, and describes a Moroccan, sports-oriented home where they eat everything, including couscous. He admits his freezer may contain Ben & Jerry’s and says, “I can suddenly go through two tubs.” His core message is simple: “You should not be afraid of food. You can eat everything. There is no such thing as forbidden,” he says, stressing habits, balance and moderation instead of bans. The episode ends with a surprise ingredient challenge sponsored by Rami Levy, and the pair settle on quick tuna-based ideas, including tuna patties in tomato sauce with chickpeas.
