The data are clear: for brain & body health we should all get ~150-180min of zone 2 (mellow-ish) cardio, & 5-10 sets of resistance exercise per muscle group, per week. Intensity level of sets adjusts that +/- 4 sets. Sleep, nutrition & hormone status impact recovery. #basics
Details of how to build each of the 4 types of endurance are here (time stamped), with references, etc.
It’s wild how well “Grease the Groove” works to get you strong. You do a set (not to failure) every 10min or so. You do some other movement in between & do half or LESS than the most reps you can & across the session do many more overall. Details in link below.
Pavel’s father is in his 80s, no HRT and does 100 strict full range pull ups or
more a week with this approach. Remember, you don’t go to failure. Many of the adaptations are neural and the consequence of getting more efficient at the movement, but you get much stronger.
If you wake up after 4-5 hours of sleep & find it hard to go back to sleep, it’s likely you offset your primary sleep drive (due to adenosine buildup etc). The next 2-3hrs of would-be sleep is when learning associated brain changes occur. 3 things help in this scenario. (Thread)
1. Prior to getting up, do 20min of NSDR (non-sleep-deep-rest). This can partially offset the effects of sleep deprivation in a potent way. NSDR are scripts easy to find but here is one (2 formats; can download). No cost or signup: youtu.be/hEypv90GzDE?fe…
2. Get up, force bright light exposure w/10K Lux light for 15min (these are about 100USD; some are portable; I have NO affiliation) then light/easy exercise for 20min, hot shower, back to sleep or NSDR for 20min. You’ll likely fall back asleep. (b/c of effects on body temperature).
Many people have trouble falling asleep or back asleep after waking in the middle of the night. NSDR (Non-Sleep-Deep-Rest) teaches you how to deliberately relax into sleep-states. It also can (partially) offset sleep deprivation (if done any time). (Links to 0 cost NSDRs below).
There is a very fast way to shift your sleep-wake schedule, whether for travel, becoming an early riser (or late riser) or accommodating shift work.
It starts with timing your light exposure correctly and knowing your temperature minimum — which is a time not a temperature, so you don’t need any technology to do this. Let me explain:
Your temperature minimum is your lowest body temperature in each 24-hour cycle. You don’t need to measure your body temperature to know it, as it occurs approximately two hours before your usual wake-up time.
The top Huberman Lab podcast episodes for the last year were: (links to each below).
David Goggins: Building Inner Strength
Esther Perel: Romantic Relationships
James Hollis: Your True Self, Building a Life
Oral Health
How to Study & Learn
Skin Health