Five life principles to live long, lean and strong

Work up a hunger

This principle has its origin in Stoic philosophy. Seneca proposed that each day a man should work to hunger in order to deserve and appreciate his first meal of the day. Nowadays this is a pretty good endorsement for intermittent fasting. It allows you to keep your natural growth hormone active for far longer, making staying lean easier.

Lift things

The benefits of weight training are not just superficial as it is how you get a muscular physique. But resistance training is also great for heart health and avoiding a slew of degenerative diseases. Regular strength training is also the key to ageing gracefully. It will allow you to keep your muscle mass and help slow the hands of time.

Eat natural food

Eat food that is as close to nature intended as possible. If it can’t be reasonably easily explained to someone who has just walked out of the rainforest for the first time, chances are it’s too far removed from its original form to have kept much of its nutrition. Go for vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, fish and lean meats. Avoid processed foods.

Daily juice

Forming the habit of a daily juice fix is about the best way to pack a huge hit of vitamins and minerals into your diet. This can have a positive effect on energy levels, anti-ageing and prevention of a host of illness and diseases.

Sleep optimising

We’re not talking about just getting your head down at night. It’s about creating the right environment to really get the best quality of sleep. Invest in a decent mattress that is right for your spine. Get quality sheets, keep room temperature low and aim to block out sound and light at night. Sleep quality is often neglected but in my experience poor sleep holds your fitness back more than a bad diet or lacklustre training.