BITESIZE | How to Design Your Perfect Life | Peter Crone #290

We’ve been told that the more we move, the more calories we will burn but today’s guest is here to explain why this way of thinking is wrong. Dr Herman Pontzer is an evolutionary biologist who researches how our deep past shaped the way our bodies work today.   Over the past 20 years, Herman has conducted ground-breaking research across a range of settings, including pioneering fieldwork where he lived with the Hadza hunter-gatherers in northern Tanzania. The Hadza are considered one of the last hunter-gatherer tribes in the world and provide a unique insight into the way we used to live.   In our conversation today and in his new book, Burn: The Misunderstood Science of Metabolism, Herman reveals his findings that despite the fact that Hadza men and women get between five and ten times more physical activity every day than most women in the USA or Europe, their total energy expenditure – the amount of calories they burn – is the same.   Exercise does not increase our metabolism. Instead, we burn calories within a very narrow range: nearly 3,000 calories per day for men and 2,400 calories for women, no matter our activity level. In fact, our metabolism - the way our body burns energy – affects every aspect of our biology from our pace of growth, reproduction and ageing to our weight and health. If we burn more energy in one area, our bodies will adjust by spending less energy in another. But all this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t exercise. Far from it. Herman explains why movement is essential for humans.   We also discuss what the real paleo diet looks like and how many of us have been seduced into expecting every meal to be mind-blowingly tasty. Finally, Herman describes what it was like living with the Hadza and shares the lessons he learned from observing this ancient way of life. This is an enthralling episode and I hope you enjoy listening. Show notes available at https://drchatterjee.com/191 Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee/ Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

15 Jun 20211h 24min

Digital technology is slowly eroding downtime from our lives. The constant flow of digital noise is affecting our ability to be alone with our thoughts, to focus, and to cultivate authentic relationships. Is it time for a digital detox?   Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my weekly podcast for your mind, body, and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests.   Today’s clip is from episode 50 of the podcast with Professor of computer science and author of the book ‘Digital Minimalism’, Cal Newport.   In this clip, Cal explains how our digital interactions are pulling us away from real-world connections and activities, and the effect this is having on our attention, our health and our relationships. He gives some brilliant tips on how to declutter your digital world and pursue more meaningful connections. Thanks to our sponsor http://www.athleticgreens.com/livemore   Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/50   Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk   DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

10 Jun 202115min

CAUTION: This episode contains swearing and themes of an adult nature.    Today’s conversation is about unlocking your full potential, striving for peak performance and ‘going big’. My guest, Steven Kotler, lives and breathes ‘flow’. He’s an expert in this optimal state of consciousness, where we feel and perform at our best. And you don’t have to be part of the business or sporting elite to benefit from his research. Steven believes we can all attain flow, because as humans we’re hard-wired to achieve. Whether you’re taking a walk, writing an email or cooking a meal, you could find yourself in flow.    Steven is a prolific author, journalist and entrepreneur. He founded the Flow Research Collective, which uses neurobiological findings to train people to achieve peak performance in all walks of life. By understanding what’s going on in the brain and body when humans are performing at their best, his goal is to help us access the flow state more often and realise our full potential.    Flow is something I’ve written about in my own books and I describe it as being so absorbed in a pleasurable activity that time seems to disappear. Steven and I talk about how psychologists and neurobiologists identify and measure flow. He provides insights on the brain chemicals involved and we discuss the links between flow and happiness. We also uncover tools you can use to access this creative state; why initial struggles are part of the process, and why active recovery is vital if you want to avoid burnout.    This is a super-charged episode, packed with insights, information and enthusiasm. Steven is certainly an advert for the energy and productivity that results from seeking out a flow state. I hope this conversation sets you on a path to finding yours.   Show notes available at https://drchatterjee.com/189   Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee/ Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk   DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

8 Jun 20211h 41min

Rates of stress and anxiety are increasing and it’s estimated that 1 in 4 of us will experience mental health problems at some point in our lives.   Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my weekly podcast for your mind, body, and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests.   Today’s clip is from episode 61 of the podcast with best-selling author, and one of the most prominent voices in the mental health arena, Matt Haig   As someone who has suffered from depression and anxiety, Matt shares his personal journey and explains what has helped him find optimism. We explore how modern life is affecting our mental health, and Matt gives some great tips on how we can all improve the way we feel.   Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/61 Thanks to our sponsor http://www.athleticgreens.com/livemore   Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk   DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

3 Jun 202116min

This week's episode is a special compilation episode all about movement. As the weather is getting warmer and the days are getting longer (at least here in the UK), many of us feel a strong desire to get outside and move. But the question is, have we made movement and exercise too complicated? Have we lost sight of what it really means to move our bodies?   The need to move our bodies has been gradually eroded from our modern lives and has been replaced with the modern concept of ‘exercise’. But, if we can incorporate regular movement into our daily lives, we will feel the profound benefits. As you will hear in this episode, movement helps to reduce stress, helps to improve our mood and so much more. And to reap the many benefits, movement doesn’t need to be difficult, it can be something you love already such as walking, dancing or even playing.   This episode is full of information that will inspire you to move more and practical tips to help you incorporate movement into your everyday life. I really hope you enjoy this special compilation episode all around the joy of movement.   Show notes available at https://drchatterjee.com/187 Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee/ Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

1 Jun 20211h 3min

So many of us these days are living lives that are not truly ours.  Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my weekly podcast for your mind, body, and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests. Today’s clip is from episode 28 of the podcast with the inspirational wellness advocate, best-selling author and podcast host Rich Roll. In this clip, he shares his incredible journey - from someone that struggled with his health as well as alcohol addiction, to becoming a plant-based ultra-endurance athlete. He also explains why finding your purpose in life can have a positive impact on your health and wellbeing. Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/28 Thanks to our sponsor http://www.athleticgreens.com/livemore Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

27 Mai 202116min

Today I'm delighted to welcome one of the world's leading neurosurgeons, Dr Rahul Jandial back onto the podcast. I first spoke to Rahul back on episode 76 about the simple things that we can all do to improve and optimise our brain health. I decided to invite Rahul back onto the show after taking a look at his latest book, Life on a Knife's Edge: A Brain Surgeon’s Reflections on Life, Loss and Survival, which is a beautifully written account of the resilience, courage and belief he has witnessed in his patients, and the lessons about human nature he has learned from them. At this point in his career, Rahul has operated on several thousand skulls and brains. He is the last hope for patients with extreme forms of cancer. And in treating them, he's observed humanity at its most raw, but also at its most robust. He has journeyed to unimaginable extremes with his patients, guiding them through the darkest moments of their lives and in today's conversation, he shares some of the powerful lessons that he's learned that are applicable to us all. In our conversation, we cover a wide range of different topics such as Rahul’s own practices and rituals to get him ready for high pressure surgery. We also talk about what specific breathing technique he uses when stressful situations come up whilst he is in the middle of an operation. We discuss what Rahul has learned about the brain, our minds and our sense of self and what cancer patients at the ends of their lives have taught him about living. He explains the importance of balancing times of stress with time for rest, the importance of connection and compassion and we chat about resilience. This really was a fabulous conversation that I myself got a lot out of. I really hope you enjoyed listening. Show notes available at https://drchatterjee.com/185 Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee/ Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

25 Mai 20211h 54min

How do we improve our relationships with our children? And what should we do when we make mistakes? Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my weekly podcast for your mind, body, and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests. Today’s clip is from episode 75 of the podcast with psychotherapist and author of ‘The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read’, Philippa Perry. In this clip, she explains why being authentic with our children is important and why we all need time alone. Even when we get things wrong, learning how to repair our mistakes is key to building closer connections. Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/75 Thanks to our sponsor http://www.athleticgreens.com/livemore Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

20 Mai 202115min