Recap: Why we avoid exercise and how to overcome it | Daniel Lieberman

ZOE Science & Nutrition

ZOE

Nutrition, Health & Fitness, Education, Science

4.6 • 4.9K Ratings

🗓️ 4 February 2025

⏱️ 11 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Today we’re exploring what evolution can teach us about exercise. When it comes to doing exercise, there’s often a tug-of-war between our body and brain. Our body craves movement - it wants to be leaner, fitter, stronger. But our brain? Well, that’s a different story. It often dreads the thought of going on a run or lifting weights and will try and find any excuse to avoid doing it. So, why does this conflict exist, and more importantly, how can we overcome it? Harvard Professor of Biological Sciences Daniel Lieberman is here to unravel the mysteries of our exercising ancestors and explain how this can help us train today. 🥑 Make smarter food choices. Become a member a zoe.com - 10% off with code PODCAST 🌱 Try our new plant based wholefood supplement - Daily30+ *Naturally high in copper which contributes to normal energy yielding metabolism and the normal function of the immune system 📚 Books from our ZOE Scientists: The Food For Life Cookbook by Prof. Tim Spector Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati Free resources from ZOE: Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition Gut Guide - for a healthier microbiome in weeks Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here Listen to the full episode here

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello and welcome to Zoe Recap, where each week we find the best bits from one of our podcast episodes to help you improve your health.
0:09.0	Today we're exploring what evolution can teach us about exercise. When it comes to doing exercise, there's often a tug of war between our body and our brain.
0:20.0	Our body craves movement.
0:22.9	It wants to be leaner, fitter, stronger.
0:26.6	But our brain?
0:28.0	Well, that's a different story.
0:30.0	It often dreads the thought of going on a run or lifting weights
0:33.4	and we'll try and find any excuse to avoid doing it.
0:37.0	So why does this conflict exist?
0:39.1	And more importantly, how can we overcome it?
0:42.3	Professor Daniel Lieberman is here to unravel the mysteries of our exercising ancestors
0:46.5	and explain how this can help us train today.
0:50.7	Is exercise good for us?
0:53.3	And if so, why do most of us hate it?
0:56.1	Well, to answer that question, let's start with a definition.
0:58.8	Okay.
0:59.2	All right.
0:59.5	So exercise is a form of physical activity.
1:02.6	So physical activity is just moving, right?
1:04.3	You know, climbing the stairs to get to my office, you know, making breakfast, whatever.
1:08.7	That's all forms of physical activity.
1:10.7	And exercise is a special form of physical activity,
	...

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