From Testing Science to Testing Oneself with Anthony

Today we are joined by Anthony Curcuruto, long-time friend and colleague of Mauro. Both Anthony and Mauro share a love of what makes the body work and discuss how to optimize your own capacity.

Anthony was an active kid, taking part in swimming, soccer, and baseball. His interest in kinesiology sprang from wanting to know more about how we move and what influences that movement. After studying kinesiology, Anthony took part in a program with one of his professors that tested the cardio capacity of not just the general population, but firefighters, athletes and professional sports players. Seeing the ability that you can have to push the body is what really fascinated Anthony and what drives him to focus more on the performance side. If you can show up, do the work and be consistent, you can improve your performance no matter who you are.

There are many paths to fitness. It just depends on the choices you make. If you apply the science and understand the way your body works, chances are you will reach your goals faster. As Anthony puts it, you want to train so you’re better for life, not so you are spending 3 hours in the gym everyday. 

Anthony shares how he got into triathlons. A client told him about them and loaned him a bike to try. For Anthony, it lit a fire under him. Now, he is doing Olympic length triathlons and aiming for the Ironman. It’s about mental capacity and pushing your own boundaries to see what your body is capable of. Get out of your comfort zone and find your weak points. That way, you can improve.

If you are looking to start running, look at your end goal. If 5k is your end goal, build your capacity. Take 4 days out of the week to walk and build on it. Make it fun and bridge the gap from where you are to where you want to be. Make sure to measure your metrics - that way, you can give yourself a better sense of progress and objectivity. Look at using heart rate monitors, step trackers, anything that you can use to compare where you start to where you are. If you don’t have any of these things yet, don’t worry. Just start!

When looking for a trainer, Anthony has some tips for how to find the right match. Firstly, know your end goal. Are you looking for a specific sport, or physical appearance? Find someone in that niche and look for referrals from friends. If you’re a trainer yourself, show that you care about your clients and their reasons for training. Create that connection. When it comes to tackling the newest fads, Anthony supports whatever gets you moving, showing up, and changing your habits. Remember, there is no shortcut.

Celebrating the small wins will lead you to your bigger goal. You lost 5lbs? Celebrate that, it is an achievement! Anthony also wants you to look at your sleep schedule and hydration. It’s little things like this that are often overlooked but make a huge difference. 

To end the episode, Anthony and Mauro talk about the importance of getting out of your comfort zone and knowing there is more that you can do. You don’t have to be at the gym. Tailor your workouts to you. Do the minimum, get moving, and don’t compare yourself to others.