Introduction....................................................................................................................
Struggling, Suffering, and Burnout:
Flawed Conventional Wisdom
I spent over half my life training for high-level
competition in endurance sports, carefully follow-
ing the extreme training regimen recommended
by Conventional Wisdom. I ran and bicycled thou-
sands of miles each year, lifted at the gym several
days a week, stretched like crazy every day, and
covered my body with expensive, super high-
tech gear. I sacrificed, endured and suffered be-
cause I truly believed it was necessary to achieve
a healthy, lean, fit body. I fueled my constantly
depleted muscles with the obligatory high-com-
plex-carb diet, suffering all manner of diet-related
health problems without even realizing it.
Yes, I could race a marathon or triathlon faster
than almost anyone else around, but the conse-
quences of earning medals and trophies on the
race course were severe. In no uncertain terms,
my devotion to fitness severely compromised my
health. Thousands of other extreme athletes suffer
a similar fate, as do millions of less fit folks who try
valiantly to follow the struggle and suffer approach
of Conventional Wisdom in pursuit of even modest
exercise goals.For the duration of my career as an endurance ath-
lete, I was emaciated, physically fatigued, and bat-
tling one injury or illness after another. Aside from
possessing superior cardiovascular endurance, I
was actually a pretty useless physical specimen.
I didn’t dare take up any new sports or even play
any fun physical games for fear of getting hurt or
straining unfamiliar muscles. I missed out on any
semblance of a social life because I was exhaust-
ed from my year-round training. By contrast, some
of my plump couch potato friends seemed to be
healthier and, in some important measures, fitter
than me. They certainly enjoyed life more.1
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