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Summary
On episode 621 of 40+ Fitness, Coach Allan sits down with Ben Alldis, a London-based fitness and health expert, Peloton cycle and strength instructor, NASM certified personal trainer, and author of Raise the Bar: How to Push Beyond Your Limits and Build a Stronger Future You.
Ben argues that too many of us grow up defining ourselves by our limitations, and that a growth mindset, clear personal values, and a real support system are what actually let people push past those limits as they get older.
The conversation covers his own pivot from a finance career into fitness, why he built an “audit your well-being” framework modeled on quarterly business audits, and how a skin cancer diagnosis forced him to confront his values earlier than he expected.
Links
- https://www.benaldis.com
- https://www.instagram.com/benjaminaldis
Key Takeaways
- We grow up defining ourselves by our limitations. Ben opens his book with this line, arguing that most people quietly absorb a belief in what they “can’t” do and let it become the default lens for every decision that follows.
- A growth mindset treats every attempt as a learning opportunity, not a pass or fail test. Ben says a fixed mindset makes people avoid trying things for fear of failing, while a growth mindset keeps you improving regardless of the outcome.
- Self-awareness is the first step of self-development. Ben says knowing your own values, not ones you absorbed by imitating other people, is what gave him the confidence to leave a well-paid finance career for Peloton.
- Real resilience depends on support, not just grit. Ben pushes back on the idea that resilience is pure toughness, arguing that surrounding yourself with the right five people accelerates growth and helps you get further, faster.
- Lean on your strengths, but don’t ignore your weaknesses. Ben partnered with a colleague who was strong in analytics while continuing to build his own numbers skills, rather than permanently outsourcing them.
- Audit your well-being on a regular cadence. Borrowing from how businesses audit their financials quarterly, Ben checks in regularly across movement, nutrition, rest, and mental well-being to see clearly where he actually stands, not where he assumes he stands.
- A health crisis can force a shift in what “wellness” means. When Ben’s cancer diagnosis took hard workouts off the table, he leaned into nutrition and sleep hygiene instead, and came away believing wellness is bigger than the gym.
- Ben’s three strategies to get and stay well: move your body regularly, even if it starts with just a walk; focus on nutritious, minimally processed food and start reading labels; and prioritize sleep quality, not just sleep quantity.
“All too often, we grow up to define ourselves by our limitations.”
Ben Alldis
Another Episode You May Enjoy
Episode 631 – Recovering for setbacks and overcoming obstacles with Lyn Lindbergh
Episode Notes
Podcast: 40+ Fitness
Episode: 621
Published: 2023-12-19
Host: Allan Misner (aka Coach Allan), author of The Wellness Roadmap
Guest(s): Ben Alldis, a London-based fitness and health expert who is currently working at Peloton as a cycle and strength instructor, Raise the Bar
Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts · Spotify · YouTube (audio only)