Today's guest, BJ Gaddour, has mastered both areas. BJ went from being a pudgy kid to being named one of the 100 Fittest Men of All Time. He's also the former fitness director of Men's Health Magazine and the author of the book Your Body is Your Barbell.

BJ started training with the same goals many of us had: To get stronger and look good in the mirror. There's nothing wrong with that approach. But fitness is so, so much more than that.

BJ learned that the hard way. He could lift 500 pounds but couldn't do a lunge or a single pullup. His body disobeyed him, even though he was strong as a bull. He's since molded himself into a primer on increasing muscle mass, getting stronger, and being more agile than ever.

More importantly, he found that being mentally fit is as important as being shredded.

In today's episode, he shares his advice on how to train as you're getting older, the importance of leaving ego aside in every aspect of your life, how he took agency over his mental state, and much more.

Key Takeaways with BJ Gaddour

Negativity can fuel you to achieve your goals. But there's a better way.
How BJ recovered after two years filled with traumatic events.
It's OK to push yourself, in work or fitness, but give yourself a breather from time to time.
Avoiding uncomfortable emotions is the worst thing you can do. Do this instead.
Don't jump out of bed checking on social media. Find out how BJ primes himself in the morning to have a kickass day.
To succeed, revel in the success of other people.
You don't need a gym for a killer workout. Learn how to squeeze in one wherever you are.
Want to test your mobility? Try out BJ's Turkish Getup test.
Why constantly breathing through your mouth when training is hard on your body... Use these nasal breathing techniques to improve your fitness, increase overall capacity, and recover faster!

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