Show notes
Today's guest, Jeff Weiss, wasn't always an "athlete." In fact, after starting a family, he went two decades without exercising in any meaningful or consistent way.
But when his father passed away as he neared age 50, he knew that he had to make a change and start taking his healthspan seriously.
And so, he joined a running class and signed up for a 10k race - his first ever race - at the ripe age of 48. He quickly fell in love with running (partly because his body was fresher because he didn't exercise for two decades and partly because he couldn't finish at 10k when he was 17).
Since that initial 10k run, he's gone on to run multiple half marathons, marathons, ironmans, and even a 72-mile long ultra marathon. Most of which he completed after his 50th birthday.
Jeff is proof that you can start your fitness journey at any age. And he's a wealth of knowledge for taking your first step towards becoming a healthier version of yourself - even if you're in late middle age.
Here's what Jeff and I discuss:
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Why trying to become fit and a fitness expert backfires and makes you unhealthier (and an easy way to prevent this)
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How to be kinder to yourself even when you miss a workout or mess up
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Why it's not too late to start your fitness journey
Highlights from this episode:
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How to make time in your day for fitness when you're too busy to even think about it (and why you may need it more in busy seasons than you realize) (5:38)
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2 of the deadliest time killers that are making you more anxious and less fit (7:18)
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Why you have naturally more control if you work out first thing in the morning than you do when you wait until the end of your day (8:06)
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The weird way exercising in the morning puts you on an emotional high for the rest of the day (14:14)
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Why you might actually be better at exercising in your 40s and 50s than you were in your teens (this exact scenario happened to Jeff after he finished his first 10k at age 48) (16:08)
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How your fitness routine must change and adapt when you enter your 60s (20:16)
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Why labeling yourself is one of the worst habits you can get into in (even "good" labels eventually prevent growth and self-compassion) (28:39)
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How to start running without pain - from a guy who ran his 10k at 48, his first ironman at 57, and his first ultra marathon (that's 72 miles) at 61 (32:51)
Guest bio:
Jeff Weiss is the author of Racing Against Time: On Ironman, Ultramarathons, and the Quest for Transformation in Mid-Life, an award-winning fitness and personal transformation memoir. It tells of his mid-life adventures in extreme sports, including finishes at Ironman Arizona (twice) and the 72-mile ultramarathon Midnight Express between the ages of 57 and 61. These were the culmination of a fitness journey that began with a first 10K at the age of 48. Jeff's story demonstrates the possibility of radical, life-altering change even during late middle age.
Jeff is also an accomplished entrepreneur, having served for more than 10 years as a C-suite executive in a start-up that recently sold for $3 billion. His adventures in the competitive and high stakes world of start-ups overlapped with his journey into extreme sports, and Jeff sees a direct link between his fitness successes and his professional accomplishments.
Racing Against Time is Jeff's third book.
In addition to undergraduate and law degrees, Jeff holds Master's degrees in International Law (Georgetown University Law Center) and in Biotechnology (Johns Hopkins University).
Resources mentioned in this episode:
1. Check out Jeff's Book, Racing Against: Time On Ironman, Ultramarathons, and the Quest for Transformation in Mid-Life, for an extra burst of motivation and inspiration on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1957354690
2. Keep in touch with Jeff:
Author Website - https://www.jeffreyweissauthor.com
Linked-In - www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-l-weiss
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.weiss.author
Visit Ben's website: And learn more about his coaching, meditation trainings and courses, and other ways he can help you here: https://benkattofficial.com/
3. Firm Tech: An "Oura Ring" for your Johnson. Save 15% by using my link: https://myfirmtech.com/manflowyoga
4. Man Flow Yoga: Haven't signed up yet? Start your 7-day free trial and see how yoga can eliminate aches and pains better than other types of exercise here: https://shrtlnk.co/kP8M7