Daniel Lieberman is a professor at Harvard University. He studies and teaches how and why the human body is the way it is, and how our evolutionary history affects health and disease.
Dan is best known for his research on the evolution of running and other kinds of physical activities such as walking, but is also well known for his research on the evolution of the human head.
Today we’re discussing his latest book, Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do is Healthy and Rewarding.
Watch the full video version of this conversation below.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How humans evolved to be inactive
- Born To Run
- The real origin of running
- How many calories does it take to run a mile?
- Exercise is modern behaviour
- People need to understand their instinct to not exercise is normal
- Why people who are obese/sedentary have a hard time unlocking the reward system
- Aim for 150 minutes of exercise per week
- Strength training becomes increasingly important as you get older
- Is sitting the new smoking?
- Get up and move around every 15 minutes
- Walking is the most fundamental form of exercise
- How effective is walking for weight loss?
- Where does 10,000 steps a day come from?
- A standing desk is not exercise
- The big debate… ultimate health
- Improve your endurance with high-intensity interval training (HIIT)
- Humans racing horses?!?
- We’re good at sweating
- Heel strike vs. forefoot strike… what is the best running form?
- The physics of barefoot running
- The skill of running
- The modern running shoe encourages people to heel strike
- Dispelling the myth that running causes knee arthritis
- Dan’s thoughts on overexercising
- The top 2 reasons why people don’t exercise
- The benefits of exercise with friends
- You have to make a choice to exercise
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Related links:
Dan Lieberman – Exercised (book)
Daniel Lieberman – Harvard University
D. Lieberman, Dennis Bramble – Endurance running and the evolution of Homo (study)
R H Demling, L DeSanti – Effect of a hypocaloric diet, increased protein intake and resistance training on lean mass gains and fat mass loss in overweight police officers (study)
Fitbit
Oura Ring
Steve Calechman – 10,000 steps a day – or fewer? (article)
Vibram
Related episodes:
Lose Fat & Reverse Aging by Eating Two Meals a Day | Mark Sisson (#416)
289: Dr. David Perlmutter – Brain Maker • Reconnecting With Nature • Exercise Impacts The Microbiome
155: Vinnie Tortorich – Exercise For Mental Health • Choosing The Right Trainer • No Sugar No Grains
075: Abel James – Live More By Buying Less | Long-Term Weight Loss Strategies | HITT Wins Over Long Endurance Exercise
033: Rich Roll – Anti-Hack Your Life | Mood Follows Action | Hard Work > Talent
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Fascinating content, but Daniel Lieberman was extremely disagreeable. No idea why he argued with everything Jesse said.