Yes! I listened to David Goggins' book "Can't Hurt Me" on audiobook this summer while doing my cycling over the summer, and I swear I rode 2 X far as I thought I could each day while I had Goggins's story in my ear, inspiring me on.
Love that Rick. That's a wonderful example of the power of a story. Thank you for sharing.
Haven't listened to an audiobook before but I plan to buy that one shortly and listen to it while I train. I've read both his books and listened to all of his podcasts and love them all.
This is so relatable Jack. I definitely got caught in the trap of trying to optimize too much for Zone 2, sometimes going to a Stairmaster instead of a hike.
Exercise has felt more a chore for me lately! Maybe that’s because it’s solo and not with teammates or other people, but either way: if my Zone 2 metrics suffer for me to go hiking, it’s so worth it.
Thanks Baxter! Love to hear this was relatable for you. I’ve been in the same place, opting for what is scientifically optimal over something that I enjoy (yet still delivers a ton of benefits in its own way).
If it helps, hiking can still be great Zone 2 and provides something the stair master doesn’t: proprioceptive work. At the end of the day, the best approach is probably one of balance where we listen to science as well as what feels right to us, trusting our internal compass and intuition.
You’re really onto something here. Haven't thought of solo exercise this way, but I can see it now, beyond just endorphins and entropy management. I've noticed some of the same anxiety from my biotracking and more recently the differences in how I feel when not tracking or leaving my phone at home on a run. The unseen costs of overoptimization. Eager to see how this goes for you. Such soulful prose too. Loved it.
Thanks so much Jonny, makes me super happy to hear that this resonated with you! "The unseen costs of overoptimization" is a great way to put it. I think the crux of this is that we can still get the same results by buying into a story (or very close at least) without the need to track and optimize everything to the nth degree.
I loved a lot of it but this the most: "I lost touch with my intuition. I was no longer testing my spirit, overcoming a challenge, or embarking on a journey to become like those who inspire me."
Exercise has felt like a chore for me lately as well. I stopped consuming the over optimized exercise stuff and I try to just focus on showing up and enjoying it. It's way less pressure that way.
I love the story about your home gym at the start. It was nice reading about where your love came from. Excellent writing and storytelling!
Thanks for reading Justine. And for your kinds words!
I love what you said here: "... just focus on showing up and enjoying it." Beautifully said. That's all it is. Find a way to show up and have some fun and you'll be in a great place in the long run!
This is an awesome article and really struck home! Could I actually go for a run without my phone to track it? Can I just play in my new home gym and not obsess about progressive overload all the time? Can I change up my weight training program whenever I feel like it to enjoy playing with my new landmine, or other toys, even if I'm not "done" with the plan that was supposed to last me 8 weeks? Great stuff to think about. Thanks for the wake up call!
Thanks for your support Sol! Pumped to hear this piece hit home for you.
I think the answer is yes, yes, and yes! When we place our focus on enjoying exercise and finding a way to make it uniquely exciting to us, all of the metrics and tracking begin to fade in importance. We naturally add more weight to the bar and pick up our pace on runs or cycles.
Not to say we shouldn’t track and measure and use scientific tools. But they shouldn’t, in my opinion, be the only lens through which we view exercise.
What an exceptional piece of writing, Jack!!! I love it!!! Well done! And what a truly inspirational message for our “exercise” mindset!!! You’ve removed the “clinical” and theoretical angle of fitness and replaced it with something more meaningful and personal and MUCH more inspirational!!! To keep a focus on our consistent commitment to exercise comes from somewhere within ourselves. When struggling to find joy in our workouts, you offer clarity and direction by sharing what motivates you the most. The excitement you are able to harness and inject into your routine by reframing your mindset is such a valuable lesson here! Thank you for continuing to help us grow and develop our longevity infused lifestyles!
Loved this: “buying into the science robbed me of the beautiful suffering exercise used to provide me.”
When I was marathon training some years ago one day I forgot my watch. I was so bummed. It was the best run I ever had - never being more present to my surroundings and in tune with my spirit.
Thanks for reading James! Love that. Being a runner myself, I can relate deeply. I have to stop tracking my runs every few months to allow myself to pull back and reset. Otherwise it becomes too much about my times and km splits and not enough about the act of running.
Experiences of my own and stories like the one you shared have convinced me over the years that exercise is a spiritual act above all else.
Yeah man, I know this feeling. I was always more productive in the weight room when I had an external goal - excelling on the football field, training for a powerlifting competition, etc. It was always harder when I was training to just “stay in shape” or “look better”. Learning to love the process for the sake of the process is a difficult thing to do.
Thanks for reading Justin! Absolutely, it’s very difficult to train “just because.” But for me, finding a role model, someone whose approach to exercise speaks to me, makes my training so much more exciting, fun, and energized.
Yes! I listened to David Goggins' book "Can't Hurt Me" on audiobook this summer while doing my cycling over the summer, and I swear I rode 2 X far as I thought I could each day while I had Goggins's story in my ear, inspiring me on.
Love that Rick. That's a wonderful example of the power of a story. Thank you for sharing.
Haven't listened to an audiobook before but I plan to buy that one shortly and listen to it while I train. I've read both his books and listened to all of his podcasts and love them all.
This is so relatable Jack. I definitely got caught in the trap of trying to optimize too much for Zone 2, sometimes going to a Stairmaster instead of a hike.
Exercise has felt more a chore for me lately! Maybe that’s because it’s solo and not with teammates or other people, but either way: if my Zone 2 metrics suffer for me to go hiking, it’s so worth it.
Thanks Baxter! Love to hear this was relatable for you. I’ve been in the same place, opting for what is scientifically optimal over something that I enjoy (yet still delivers a ton of benefits in its own way).
If it helps, hiking can still be great Zone 2 and provides something the stair master doesn’t: proprioceptive work. At the end of the day, the best approach is probably one of balance where we listen to science as well as what feels right to us, trusting our internal compass and intuition.
You’re really onto something here. Haven't thought of solo exercise this way, but I can see it now, beyond just endorphins and entropy management. I've noticed some of the same anxiety from my biotracking and more recently the differences in how I feel when not tracking or leaving my phone at home on a run. The unseen costs of overoptimization. Eager to see how this goes for you. Such soulful prose too. Loved it.
Thanks so much Jonny, makes me super happy to hear that this resonated with you! "The unseen costs of overoptimization" is a great way to put it. I think the crux of this is that we can still get the same results by buying into a story (or very close at least) without the need to track and optimize everything to the nth degree.
Such a great piece, wow
I loved a lot of it but this the most: "I lost touch with my intuition. I was no longer testing my spirit, overcoming a challenge, or embarking on a journey to become like those who inspire me."
Thank you Libby, so happy you enjoyed! That line hits close my heart, so it's lovely to hear that it's the one which most resonated with you.
Exercise has felt like a chore for me lately as well. I stopped consuming the over optimized exercise stuff and I try to just focus on showing up and enjoying it. It's way less pressure that way.
I love the story about your home gym at the start. It was nice reading about where your love came from. Excellent writing and storytelling!
Thanks for reading Justine. And for your kinds words!
I love what you said here: "... just focus on showing up and enjoying it." Beautifully said. That's all it is. Find a way to show up and have some fun and you'll be in a great place in the long run!
This is an awesome article and really struck home! Could I actually go for a run without my phone to track it? Can I just play in my new home gym and not obsess about progressive overload all the time? Can I change up my weight training program whenever I feel like it to enjoy playing with my new landmine, or other toys, even if I'm not "done" with the plan that was supposed to last me 8 weeks? Great stuff to think about. Thanks for the wake up call!
Thanks for your support Sol! Pumped to hear this piece hit home for you.
I think the answer is yes, yes, and yes! When we place our focus on enjoying exercise and finding a way to make it uniquely exciting to us, all of the metrics and tracking begin to fade in importance. We naturally add more weight to the bar and pick up our pace on runs or cycles.
Not to say we shouldn’t track and measure and use scientific tools. But they shouldn’t, in my opinion, be the only lens through which we view exercise.
What an exceptional piece of writing, Jack!!! I love it!!! Well done! And what a truly inspirational message for our “exercise” mindset!!! You’ve removed the “clinical” and theoretical angle of fitness and replaced it with something more meaningful and personal and MUCH more inspirational!!! To keep a focus on our consistent commitment to exercise comes from somewhere within ourselves. When struggling to find joy in our workouts, you offer clarity and direction by sharing what motivates you the most. The excitement you are able to harness and inject into your routine by reframing your mindset is such a valuable lesson here! Thank you for continuing to help us grow and develop our longevity infused lifestyles!
Loved this: “buying into the science robbed me of the beautiful suffering exercise used to provide me.”
When I was marathon training some years ago one day I forgot my watch. I was so bummed. It was the best run I ever had - never being more present to my surroundings and in tune with my spirit.
Thanks for reading James! Love that. Being a runner myself, I can relate deeply. I have to stop tracking my runs every few months to allow myself to pull back and reset. Otherwise it becomes too much about my times and km splits and not enough about the act of running.
Experiences of my own and stories like the one you shared have convinced me over the years that exercise is a spiritual act above all else.
Yeah man, I know this feeling. I was always more productive in the weight room when I had an external goal - excelling on the football field, training for a powerlifting competition, etc. It was always harder when I was training to just “stay in shape” or “look better”. Learning to love the process for the sake of the process is a difficult thing to do.
Thanks for reading Justin! Absolutely, it’s very difficult to train “just because.” But for me, finding a role model, someone whose approach to exercise speaks to me, makes my training so much more exciting, fun, and energized.
Totally makes sense!