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How To Build Endurance In Your Brain & Body | Huberman Lab Podcast #23

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Saya Team

endurance
training
health
fitness
physiology
clock icon5 min read

Brief summary

This episode explores the science behind building endurance in the brain and body, discusses four types of endurance (muscular, long duration, high-intensity anaerobic, and high-intensity aerobic), and provides practical training protocols and insights into how these forms of endurance training can benefit overall health, brain function, and physical performance.

Highlights

🏋️

Endurance training is crucial for optimizing both physical and mental health, involving various forms of exercise that enhance the body and brain's ability to sustain effort over time.

Four types of endurance are discussed: muscular endurance (built through repetitive muscle contractions), long duration endurance (sustained effort over 12 minutes or more), high-intensity anaerobic endurance (short, intense bursts exceeding 100% VO2 max), and high-intensity aerobic endurance (sustained high-effort close to VO2 max).

🏃‍♂️

Training protocols for each endurance type are provided, highlighting the importance of balancing work and rest, gradually increasing intensity, and ensuring proper hydration and nutrition.

🔋

The physiological basis of endurance involves improvements in mitochondrial function, oxygen utilization, and the development of capillary beds within muscles, enhancing the body's ability to generate and use energy efficiently.

💧

Breathing techniques and hydration strategies play a crucial role in maximizing endurance performance, with specific recommendations for pre-workout preparation and recovery.

🧠

The mental aspect of endurance is explored, emphasizing the role of focus, pacing, and the impact of visual targets on motivating sustained effort and accessing 'hidden' energy reserves.

💪

Practical advice on incorporating endurance training into a broader fitness regimen is provided, offering insights into combining endurance work with strength, hypertrophy, and flexibility training for overall health and performance enhancement.

Quotes

  • `“`Endurance isn't just one thing; it's a combination of sustaining effort and the mental drive to continue.`“`
  • `“`Your body's used to using multiple fuel sources. It's only in the internet age that we think in terms of being either keto or burning sugar.`“`
  • `“`The ability to deliver more blood and therefore more glucose and oxygen to the brain is a big feature of why exercise benefits brain function.`“`

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Key Ideas

Introduction to Endurance Training

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00:00:00

Endurance training is essential for health, involving exercises that enhance the body and brain's ability to sustain effort over time.

Types of Endurance and Training Protocols

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00:15:00

Explains the four types of endurance and provides detailed training protocols for each, emphasizing gradual intensity increases and proper hydration.

Physiological Basis of Endurance

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00:30:00

Discusses the improvements in mitochondrial function, oxygen utilization, and the development of capillary beds within muscles for energy efficiency.

Breathing Techniques and Hydration Strategies

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00:45:00

Covers the importance of breathing techniques and hydration strategies in maximizing endurance performance, with pre-workout and recovery recommendations.

Mental Aspects of Endurance and Pacing

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01:00:00

Emphasizes the role of focus, pacing, and the impact of visual targets on motivating sustained effort and accessing 'hidden' energy reserves.

Practical Advice and Incorporating Endurance Training

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01:15:00

Provides practical advice on incorporating endurance training into a broader fitness regimen, combining endurance work with strength, hypertrophy, and flexibility training.

Q&A

What are the four types of endurance discussed in the podcast?

The four types of endurance discussed are muscular endurance, long duration endurance, high-intensity anaerobic endurance, and high-intensity aerobic endurance.

How does long duration endurance training benefit the body?

Long duration endurance training improves mitochondrial function, oxygen utilization, and enhances the development of capillary beds within muscles, making energy generation and use more efficient.

What role do breathing techniques play in endurance training?

Breathing techniques, such as warming up the intercostals and diaphragm, help maximize oxygen delivery to the body, supporting more efficient physical effort and enhancing performance.

How can visual targets impact endurance performance?

Focusing on visual targets or milestones can activate neural circuits that increase alertness and effort, enabling athletes to generate more energy and perform better.

What is the Galpin equation for hydration during exercise?

The Galpin equation for hydration is your body weight in pounds divided by 30, which equals the amount of fluid to drink in ounces every 15 minutes of exercise.

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