Who is Dr. Abellán?
Professional career of Dr. Abellán
Dr. Abellán is a Spanish interventional cardiologist and health educator, who combines his clinical work at the Hospital General Universitario Santa Lucía de Cartagena with intensive outreach and awareness-raising work on issues related to nutrition, exercise, rest and prevention of cardiovascular disease. He is recognized for using clear and accessible language to bring medicine closer to the general population.
His role as a communicator and interviewer
As a popularizer, Dr. Abellán is very active on social networks such as Instagram and TikTok, where he has hundreds of thousands of followers who value his advice on overall health and healthy habits. He also produces a weekly newsletter and podcast in which he analyzes different aspects of cardiovascular and general health, with a focus on prevention and lifestyle.

My Talk with Dr. Abellán: Science through Experience
Hello everyone! I’m Jesús Varela, although many of you know me as “Bilbo”. I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by Dr. Abellán, an exceptional doctor and communicator who is leaving his mark with his podcast on health, training and wellness.
It was a sincere and insightful conversation, and today I want to share with you the key points of this talk, including his expert opinion on my approach to training.
A Listening Interviewer
First of all, I would like to highlight the figure of Dr. Abellán. He is not only a health professional who shares knowledge in his newsletter and social networks; he is a brilliant and empathetic communicator. From the first minute, he makes you feel comfortable, listened to and invites you to show your most authentic side. His interest is not only technical, but he delves into the human story behind each project.
Dr. Abellán’s Vision: The Bilbo Method When Practice Surprises Theory
One of the most enriching parts of the talk was hearing the doctor’s professional opinion. He confessed that, although he had studied my videos and knows the theory of strength and hypertrophy well, he was impressed by the practical effectiveness of the method.
During the interview I commented how the method is useful for competitors, strength athletes and anyone looking for health and performance, highlighting especially that you can train the whole body and not only the pectoral, with a global approach and a scheme of movement by push, pull and leg, adapting the frequency and volume to individual needs.
Dr. Abellán shared that his tendency has been to go “all out” in his workouts, and he acknowledges that the Bilbo method is attractive to him because of its less negative impact on the joints and its physiological logic, as a less injurious alternative that encourages recovery and continuous improvement even if records are not sought.

I explained the key points of my methodology:
- Injury prevention: protects joints and tendons, which is essential for long-term training.
- Adaptability: He found it to be a fantastic tool for people who are already in discomfort, allowing them to continue progressing without pain.
- Efficiency: the logic of reducing “junk” volume and getting to the point, something that he himself, accustomed to training “flat out”, sees as an intelligent and physiological alternative.
- Global approach: Beyond the bench press, the method is structured by movement patterns (push, pull, leg), serving a complete body development.
Dr. Abellán shared that he is looking forward to trying it personally, as he prioritizes health and recovery over obsession with brands.
Who is the Bilbo Method for?
We discussed my assertion that this method is for everyone: competitors, strength athletes and anyone seeking health and performance.
- It is less harmful: Ideal for those who want to take care of themselves while they improve.
- It’s for everyone: from beginners to advanced lifters, from competitors to people with old injuries.
- It motivates quickly: In about ten sessions you can already notice real improvements, which encourages you to continue steadily.

Beyond Training: The Importance of Sharing
If there was one thing I took away from this interview, it was the reflection on the value of sharing knowledge. We talked about how passion for sport should go hand in hand with wellness and an authentic life. Health should always come before ego.
Want to know more about the interview with Dr. Abellán?
If you are curious, I invite you to follow me on my YouTube and Instagram channels as Bilbo Team. And, of course, don’t miss the incredible content that Dr. Abellán shares on his podcasts and social networks.
Here you can watch the full interview