It's a little more complex than that. Cargo culting is emulating one aspect of a successful situation, while not understanding what was really required for success. Some examples: Google is a very successful company. They offer free food to their employees. So if we offer free food to our employees, we will be as successful as Google. Olympic-level athletes wear (brand) shoes. So if I wear (brand) shoes, I'll be as able as an Olympic-level athlete. I saw a fit person eat a candy bar. If I eat the same candy bar, I will be a fit person. And of course the original: The soldiers put up control towers and built runways, then the airplanes came. So if we put up control towers and build runways, the airplanes will come. OP is right, the resolution fats do cargo cult fitness: "A swolebro goes to the gym and drinks protein powder. So if I go to the gym and drink protein powder, I will be a swolebro." They don't realize that fitness is a lot more than just appearing in the gym and drinking protein powder, it's also what is eaten, an active lifestyle, and a mental attitude of healthiness. But a cargo culter doesn't see that.