In his book 50/50 Dean Karnazes shares some great stories and about his experience running 50 marathons in 50 days in 50 states. He also offers up some key fitness lessons that can be applied to any exercise program. Need to boost motivation, develop healthy eating habits that stick, recover from an injury or blast through a stubborn plateau? Dean's got some killer advice that you can start using right now that gets results and lifts your spirits.
Train or Compete with Others According to Dean "a recent study by Arizona State University found that the maximal weight lifting ability of men and women improved significantly when they competed against others or lifted in the presence of others vs. alone." Anybody who's fit will tell you that they didn't do it alone. People who get fit typically have the support of a friend, a coach, or a group because being with others raises the bar and helps you to change your mindset from "I can't" to "how can I" and if you happen to be competing having a deadline keeps you focused. Like to workout alone but still need support? Check out one of the many online fitness communities where people compete or high five each other daily.
Attack Your Weaknesses Dean explains that becoming aware of your fitness weaknesses and working on your weakest link is key if you want to get fitter, leaner, stronger, or faster. This is probably one of the most important tips for people who have been working out for a long time. Everybody loves doing what they're good at but rarely do people take the time to work on their weak spots. It's takes time away from the exercises you love or may hurt your ego or lead to you looking like a fool but the fact is if you don't get that weak link up to speed you'll never improve your overall fitness level or burn more fat. Evaluate your body to see what needs work (you may want to start with the core) then build a plan around that and you'll blast through fitness plateaus and get fitter than you thought possible.
The 10% Rule You don't go from running 5 miles to running 26 miles overnight. Runners increase their running distance by no more than 10% per week explains Dean. Doing more than this can lead to injuries, burn out, and kills your focus. The same rule applies to exercise and healthy eating. You can't exercise and eat healthy and expect to lose 30-50 pounds in a couple of weeks. You start out slow and increase intensity or add healthy habits gradually. This keeps you from getting overwhelmed and makes the process more enjoyable. It's not as glamorous as transforming your body overnight but you already know that's not possible so why not just do what works.
Get more super endurance tips that will take your fitness to another level from 50/50: Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days -- and How You Too Can Achieve Super Endurance!
