10 Commandments of Fitness
1
Question Everything
Whether you鈥檙e an elite athlete or a restless desk jockey, there are better ways to achieve your goals. Just ask 4-Hour guru Tim Ferriss, who started quizzing the world鈥檚 greatest performers on their routines as a side project鈥攁nd ended up with a whole new approach to training.
#2
Know Thyself
Don鈥檛 let the Theranos saga fool you: we鈥檝e entered a new era of self-quantification, in which on-demand blood testing is sold as the easy way to fine-tune your training and nutrition. Can an algorithm really replace your coach?
Taking control of your health is easier than ever
Gadgets know best
#3
Make Boredom the Enemy
Indoor rolling on a bike trainer used to be a heinous chore. Now there's an app that turns it into a video game鈥攁nd puts you on a fast track to aerobic fitness.
Being fit is about constant movement, and children are in constant motion during playtime at the jungle gym. Why not join their lead?
On-the-go fitness tools for athletes
#4
Use Your Head
New research shows that perceptions of fatigue and pain stop us from hitting our physical limits long before our bodies do. Can athletes train their brains to reach unheard-of levels of peak performance?
Your mind is also key to recovery
Move the dial with the power of science
These neuron-stimulating Halo Sport headphones are said to boost athletic performance
#5
Ignore Your Limits
If you鈥檙e willing to work hard, conquer your fears, and maybe don some superhero spandex, anything is possible
#6
#7
Always Be Moving
A morning run or evening spin class may feel great, but if the rest of your day involves sitting on your ass, a brief burst does little for your overall well-being.
#8
Get Fat
The diet has quietly become the rage among ultra-endurance athletes and elite soldiers, and it's a surprisingly yummy way to fuel up.
How endurance athlete Patrick Sweeney puts away nearly 3,000 calories a day on the ketone diet
Long shunned by endurance athletes looking to stay lean, the enemy is having a moment
#9
Surrender to the Higher Powers
Want to perform like a pro, even with the years piling up? Nick Heil got the deluxe treatment at Exos, a cutting-edge outfit that works with NFL players and soccer stars. He came out slimmer, stronger, and more focused鈥攖he perfect upgrade for anybody, at any age, who plays hard in the outdoors.
Two weeks of full-time, one-on-one instruction at Exos can set you back $4,800. Here鈥檚 how to get many of the same performance benefits without taking out a second mortgage.
There鈥檚 a reason more and more amateur athletes are turning to professional trainers to retool their workouts: it鈥檚 the best way to improve performance.
#10
Work Hardest at Rest
The key to peak performance: take better care of yourself