Special AMA: Peter on exercise, important labs, building good habits, promising longevity research, and more

Peter Attia

Dec 16, 2024

Episode description

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In this special episode of The Drive, Peter tackles a wide range of listener questions submitted over the past year. The discussion spans essential topics such as exercise—covering grip strength, traveling workouts, and why Peter doesn’t consider exercise an ideal weight-loss strategy—and the top biomarkers everyone should track. He also explores promising new longevity research, his evolving views on longevity, and frameworks like “objective, strategy, tactics” for personalized decision-making. The episode wraps up with insights on building good habits and a glimpse into Peter’s recent reading list.

If you’re not a subscriber and are listening on a podcast player, you’ll only be able to hear a preview of the AMA. If you’re a subscriber, you can now listen to this full episode on your private RSS feed or our website at the Special AMA show notes page. If you are not a subscriber, you can learn more about the subscriber benefits here.

We discuss:

  • Overview of episode topics (and Peter’s car stereo saga) [1:45];

  • The importance of grip strength and the best methods for training it effectively [3:45];

  • Exercise while traveling: strategies for staying active and maintaining an exercise routine [14:45];

  • Why women should prioritize strength training [18:00];

  • The limited role of exercise in weight loss and its greater importance in improving health, body composition, and insulin sensitivity [19:45];

  • The “top five most important biomarkers” for assessing health [22:45];

  • Promising developments in longevity research [28:15];

  • The development of Klotho as a neuroprotective drug: challenges, timelines of trials, and more [34:00];

  • Peter’s updated vi

Episode description

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode

Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content

Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter

In this special episode of The Drive, Peter tackles a wide range of listener questions submitted over the past year. The discussion spans essential topics such as exercise—covering grip strength, traveling workouts, and why Peter doesn’t consider exercise an ideal weight-loss strategy—and the top biomarkers everyone should track. He also explores promising new longevity research, his evolving views on longevity, and frameworks like “objective, strategy, tactics” for personalized decision-making. The episode wraps up with insights on building good habits and a glimpse into Peter’s recent reading list.

If you’re not a subscriber and are listening on a podcast player, you’ll only be able to hear a preview of the AMA. If you’re a subscriber, you can now listen to this full episode on your private RSS feed or our website at the Special AMA show notes page. If you are not a subscriber, you can learn more about the subscriber benefits here.

We discuss:

  • Overview of episode topics (and Peter’s car stereo saga) [1:45];

  • The importance of grip strength and the best methods for training it effectively [3:45];

  • Exercise while traveling: strategies for staying active and maintaining an exercise routine [14:45];

  • Why women should prioritize strength training [18:00];

  • The limited role of exercise in weight loss and its greater importance in improving health, body composition, and insulin sensitivity [19:45];

  • The “top five most important biomarkers” for assessing health [22:45];

  • Promising developments in longevity research [28:15];

  • The development of Klotho as a neuroprotective drug: challenges, timelines of trials, and more [34:00];

  • Peter’s updated vi

Mindsip insights from this episode:

Maintain fitness during travel to prevent inactivity losses

When you're traveling, the goal of exercise isn't to make incredible gains but simply to prevent the losses that come from inactivity.

Prioritize caloric reduction over exercise for effective weight loss

Exercise is not an effective primary strategy for weight loss; reducing caloric intake plays a much greater role in losing fat.

Measure grip strength to assess overall strength and longevity

Grip strength is heavily featured in longevity literature not because it's uniquely magical, but because it's an easy and safe way to objectively measure overall strength in studies.

Train grip strength through functional movements

The optimal way to build grip strength is by performing exercises that naturally rely on it, such as carrying, pulling, and hanging, rather than using isolated grip squeezers.

Achieve farmer's carry goal: carry body weight for one minute

A good strength standard for a male in his 40s is to carry his body weight for one minute, while an excellent goal for a female is 75% of her body weight.

Achieve two-minute dead hang for strong 40-year-old males and 90 seconds for females

A very strong 40-year-old male should be able to dead hang for at least two minutes, and a very strong 40-year-old female for at least 90 seconds.

Prioritize strength training to enhance bone density and prevent falls

Women should prioritize strength training as they are more prone to falls and it is the most effective way to build bone density to combat age-related loss.

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