2738: What We Can Learn from the Legend of Zelda by Steve Kamb of Nerd Fitness on Fitness Inspiration & Mindset

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[00:01:05] This is Optimal Health Daily, what we can learn from the legend of Zelda, by Steve Kam of NerdFitness.com. And I'm your host and narrator, Dr. Neil.

[00:01:15] Hey there, happy middle of the week Wednesday and welcome back to Optimal Health Daily, where I read some of the best health and fitness blogs to you, and always with a bit of my commentary at the end.

[00:01:25] Now, today is Wednesday, and like I do every Wednesday, I like to share a little bit of inspiration with you. So with that, here we go.

[00:01:32] Quote, health is the greatest of human blessings.

[00:01:37] Hippocrates.

[00:01:39] Alright, and with that, let's get right to today's article and start optimizing your life.

[00:01:48] What we can learn from the legend of Zelda, by Steve Kam of NerdFitness.com.

[00:01:55] The legend of Zelda has to be the greatest video game series of all time, right?

[00:02:00] If you've never played a single Zelda game in your life, allow me to quickly explain.

[00:02:04] You're a young boy named Link, whose only possession is a wooden sword, and you're tasked with defeating the evil Ganon and rescuing Princess Zelda.

[00:02:14] Don't worry, you'll still be able to relate if you have no clue what I'm talking about.

[00:02:18] Just remember this.

[00:02:20] A seemingly average kid sets out to become great, rescue the princess, and save the world.

[00:02:25] Think back to that very first game that came out in the 80s, the one that started it all.

[00:02:31] The legend of Zelda for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

[00:02:35] Bonus points if you had the gold cartridge.

[00:02:37] Here are some important lessons about getting in shape that we can glean from this 8-bit masterpiece.

[00:02:44] 1. Be wary of shortcuts.

[00:02:47] After beating this game a few times, I came to the realization that entire levels can be bypassed.

[00:02:53] What kind of sucker goes through all of the levels in order when you can just jump ahead and use the shortcut, right?

[00:02:59] Well, I tried my hand at level 8 with a wooden sword and a few hearts.

[00:03:04] And I got my butt kicked.

[00:03:06] In The Legend of Zelda, all levels exist for a reason.

[00:03:09] You need to get stronger and build momentum off the early levels to allow you to survive in the later ones.

[00:03:16] Sure, it certainly takes a lot longer to go through all the levels in order,

[00:03:20] but you'll be far better prepared for battle and have a greater chance of success down the road.

[00:03:26] If you're building strength, don't be a hero and lift more than you should without learning the proper techniques first.

[00:03:33] I spent a few weeks doing squats with just the bar to make sure I was doing them properly.

[00:03:38] And only then did I start adding weight.

[00:03:41] And we're talking only 5 pounds a week.

[00:03:43] If you're losing weight, unfortunately there are no shortcuts,

[00:03:48] despite what you hear on TV and see in advertisements.

[00:03:51] No magic pills you can take, no special machine to give you abs,

[00:03:55] no secret diet that gets better results than others.

[00:03:59] It's hard work, healthy eating, and exercise.

[00:04:03] If you want to run a marathon, don't just go sign up for one.

[00:04:08] Try running a 5k first and see if you survive.

[00:04:11] Then a 10k.

[00:04:13] Then a half marathon.

[00:04:14] And then conquer that full marathon.

[00:04:17] 2. Burn every bush.

[00:04:20] Bomb every wall.

[00:04:21] Back before the internet and strategy guides,

[00:04:24] us kids had to figure out how to beat video games from trial and error.

[00:04:28] How do you kill that guy?

[00:04:30] Turns out you had to shoot him in the eye three times with an arrow.

[00:04:32] Did you know there was a secret heart container in a cave if you burned a certain nondescript bush?

[00:04:38] How about that secret passageway if you bombed a hole in a specific wall that looked like every other freaking wall?

[00:04:44] How did we learn about any of this stuff?

[00:04:47] Because we tried it out.

[00:04:50] Before you go deciding you don't like lifting weights or you think running is stupid, try it.

[00:04:56] Before you make fun of ultimate frisbee, LARPing, or geocaching, try it.

[00:05:01] Before you tell yourself that it's too hard or too far or not something you're interested in, try it.

[00:05:08] Sure, you might fail or you might fall down.

[00:05:11] You also might love it and succeed.

[00:05:14] There's only one way to find out.

[00:05:16] 3. Reward yourself with things that can reward you back.

[00:05:20] I love the concept of awards and achievements.

[00:05:23] I'm not talking about eating a dozen cookies because, hey, I went to the gym either.

[00:05:28] I'm talking about good rewards that actually help you push harder and live better.

[00:05:33] Every time you beat a new level in a Legend of Zelda game,

[00:05:36] you generally receive a heart container, upping your health meter,

[00:05:40] a piece of the Triforce which you need to put back together in order to succeed.

[00:05:44] And a new weapon or item that allows you to advance further.

[00:05:49] Add some real-life prizes and achievements to your life,

[00:05:53] but make sure they're prizes that take you closer to your goals, not farther away.

[00:05:57] Once you lose 50 pounds, reward yourself with new workout clothes.

[00:06:01] You'll feel better about yourself and actually want to go to the gym.

[00:06:04] Once you complete 10 inverted rows for the first time,

[00:06:08] go buy yourself a pull-up bar and work towards 10 of those.

[00:06:12] Once you've completed your first 5K race,

[00:06:16] treat yourself to a new pair of shoes that will allow you to run faster next time.

[00:06:21] Momentum is a powerful thing.

[00:06:23] Enjoy each victory, celebrate your success,

[00:06:25] and use that momentum as stepping stones for your next goal.

[00:06:29] And 4. The impossible is possible.

[00:06:33] We play video games because they give us a chance to step into a fantasy world,

[00:06:38] doing impossible things like killing zombies and slaying dragons all from the comfort of our couches.

[00:06:43] Put yourself in Link's shoes for a second.

[00:06:46] You're a 10-year-old kid with a crappy sword,

[00:06:48] and it's your job to save the world and rescue a princess from an evil monster.

[00:06:53] When I was 10, I played baseball and struggled with long division.

[00:06:57] That was 4th grade, right?

[00:06:59] So, how did this little dude achieve greatness?

[00:07:02] By putting one foot in front of the other.

[00:07:06] Starting out, the thought of saving the world would be overwhelming to anybody,

[00:07:10] let alone a kid in a green tunic.

[00:07:12] However, rather than concentrating on the big scary goal,

[00:07:16] Link focused on getting through the smaller ones,

[00:07:18] beating level 1, then level 2, then level 3, and so on.

[00:07:23] With each passing level, his strength and health grew,

[00:07:27] giving Link enough confidence to attack the next one.

[00:07:31] Before all was said and done,

[00:07:33] this preteen from the forest was kicking butt and taking names,

[00:07:37] swinging the master sword and firing silver arrows like nobody's business.

[00:07:42] As Robert Heinlein famously remarked,

[00:07:45] Quote,

[00:07:45] Everything is theoretically impossible until it is done.

[00:07:50] End quote.

[00:07:52] One day, I hope to attempt the Ninja Warrior course in Japan.

[00:07:56] It certainly seems impossible to me right now,

[00:07:58] but I know I could eventually get there if I take it one step at a time and stay focused.

[00:08:04] What seems impossible to you right now?

[00:08:06] It might be 10 pull-ups, losing 200 pounds,

[00:08:10] climbing a mountain, or completing a triathlon.

[00:08:12] Whatever your impossible goal is,

[00:08:15] focus on finding smaller levels that you can conquer first.

[00:08:20] What's your impossible goal?

[00:08:22] And what's one step you're going to take today to get closer?

[00:08:29] You just listened to the post titled,

[00:08:31] What We Can Learn from the Legend of Zelda,

[00:08:34] by Steve Kam of nerdfitness.com,

[00:08:37] and I'll be right back with my commentary.

[00:08:39] Dr. Neil here for my commentary.

[00:08:42] Scientists have tried to discover why

[00:08:44] certain people are more likely to succeed at reaching the goals they have set.

[00:08:48] They found that there are some common things

[00:08:51] that make it more likely for us to reach our goals.

[00:08:54] And the first isn't a surprise,

[00:08:56] because I talk about it all the time.

[00:08:58] Keeping track of our habits,

[00:09:00] like writing down or tracking in an app

[00:09:03] what we ate and how much

[00:09:05] and how long we worked out for and when.

[00:09:08] The next is what today's author, Steve,

[00:09:10] talked about in today's article.

[00:09:12] Finding smaller levels that you can conquer first.

[00:09:16] Or, said another way,

[00:09:18] set up small wins and celebrate those small wins.

[00:09:21] I'm talking about those times when we achieved

[00:09:24] a small goal or a small milestone.

[00:09:26] What happens is,

[00:09:28] those small goals start to add up over time.

[00:09:30] And usually,

[00:09:32] those small goals turn into bigger goals.

[00:09:34] Then, before we know it,

[00:09:36] we're on our way towards what seemed like

[00:09:38] an impossible goal.

[00:09:40] All right, that'll do it for today.

[00:09:42] I hope you have a great rest of your day.

[00:09:43] And I'll see you back here for tomorrow's show,

[00:09:46] where your optimal life awaits.

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