<p><span style="color: #333333;">Lance Armstrong is a legendary figure in professional cycling having won seven consecutive Tour de France titles but also a controversial figure facing scrutiny for the use of performance enhancing drugs. In this episode, Lance takes us through his meteoric rise to one of the most famous athletes in the world and his equally accelerated fall from grace. Lance describes how he persevered through his brutal diagnosis of testicular cancer before rattling off a historic run of seven consecutive Tour de France titles all while facing tremendous scrutiny for his alleged use of performance enhancing drugs such as EPO and cortisone. Lance opens up about his decision to come clean about his use of performance enhancing drugs, the remorse for how he treated other people during that time in his life, and the personal growth that's helped him emerge on the other end of that. Finally, Lance recounts some of favorite stories from his cycling career, reflects on his legacy, and explains how he stays fit at age 50.<br /> <br /> We discuss:<br /></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="color: #333333;">What everyone wants to know—yes and no questions [2:15];<br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #333333;">Lance's childhood and beginnings of a great athlete [4:15];<br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #333333;">Lance's realization that he had a knack for racing after his first pro race at age 15 [13:00];<br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #333333;">The move to cycling full time and a desire to compete in the Olympics [16:30];<br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #333333;">Metrics tracked early in Lance's career and his time with Motorola team [20:00];<br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #333333;">The grueling nature of the Tour de France and the beginnings of serious drug usage in cycling [27:00];<br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #333333;">The impact of EPO on cycling performance [35:15];<br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #333333;">Testicular cancer diagnosis—denial, torturous symptoms, and treatment [38:15]<br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #333333;">Livestrong is born [50:45];<br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #333333;">Return to cycling post-cancer and a crossroad in Lance's career [53:45]<br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #333333;">Lance's rise to prominence in the late 90s and the growing use of EPO in the sport [1:00:00];<br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #333333;">Racing in the early 2000's, blood transfusions, and rivalry with Jan Ulrich [1:12:00];<br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #333333;">Retirement in 2005 and a comeback in 2009 [1:22:45];<br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #333333;">Lance's decision to come clean and tell the truth [1:27:30];<br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #333333;">Growth through downfall: learning from his mistakes and helping others after their own fall from grace [1:33:00];<br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #333333;">Moving forward: Living his life, reflecting on his legacy, the state of Livestrong [1:42:30];<br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #333333;">Turning back the clock: Advice Lance would give to his 15 year-old self [1:46:45];<br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #333333;">Keeping fit at age 50 [1:51:00];<br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #333333;">More.</span></li> </ul> <p>Learn more: https://peterattiamd.com/</p> <p>Show notes page for this episode: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/LanceArmstrong">https://peterattiamd.com/LanceArmstrong</a> </p> <p>Subscribe to receive exclusive subscriber-only content: https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/</p> <p>Sign up to receive Peter's email newsletter: https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter/</p> <p>Connect with Peter on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.</p> <p> </p>
Actionable Insights
1. Don’t Ignore Health Symptoms
Lance ignored testicular pain, headaches, blurry vision, and coughing up blood, delaying his cancer diagnosis. Do not ignore significant or persistent health symptoms, as early detection can be critical.
2. Exercise for Mental Health
Lance states he “has to exercise” not for weight or appearance, but for his “mental health” and “sanity.” Incorporate regular physical activity into your routine to support your psychological well-being.
3. Learn from Past Mistakes
Acknowledge and remember your past mistakes to stay grounded and prevent repeating them. As one listener noted, “the monster that did that thing, he’s never going to die,” but you can keep him in the corner with the right tools.
4. Prioritize Family & Relationships
Maintain strong connections with your family and those who have entrusted you, as these loyalties provide grounding and purpose, especially during challenging times. Lance mentions his family, podcast audience, and LP base as his primary loyalties.
5. Support Friends in Crisis
When a friend is in deep trouble and has pushed others away, be the last call and reach out, as Lance did for Jan Ulrich, to offer support and help them through their struggles.
6. Seek Therapy for Trauma
Lance expressed regret for not starting the process of “unpacking” his life’s traumas earlier. Seek therapy or professional help to process past traumatic experiences for better mental and emotional well-being.
7. Embrace Lifelong Perseverance
Lance learned to swim at age 12, starting in a lane with six-year-olds, and became a “legit swimmer” in less than a year. When learning a new skill, persevere through initial struggles and don’t be deterred by starting at a lower level.
8. Adapt Exercise to Age
Recognize that your body changes with age and adjust your exercise routine accordingly, incorporating activities like yoga, stretching, and pliability work to prevent injury and maintain fitness, especially for high-impact sports like running.
9. Cultivate Open-Mindedness
Listen to different perspectives, even if you feel your mind is already made up, as suggested by the host regarding Lance’s story. This can lead to new insights and understanding.
10. Communicate Openly with Kids
Establish an “open door policy” with your children, especially regarding difficult or controversial aspects of your life. Be prepared to have multiple conversations and answer any questions they may have honestly.
11. Discuss Treatment Goals
When facing severe illness, discuss your long-term aspirations (e.g., returning to a sport) with your medical team to inform treatment choices, as certain therapies can have lasting impacts on physical capacity.
12. Reconcile Past Relationships
Reach out to individuals you have wronged or who have been impacted by your actions, even years later, to offer sincere apologies and attempt to mend relationships, as Lance did with the LeMonds and Emma O’Reilly.
13. Manage Chemo Expectations
Understand that the side effects of chemotherapy can compound over cycles, becoming progressively worse. Prepare for this cumulative effect rather than expecting consistent reactions.
14. Leverage Health Metrics
When dealing with a serious illness, identify and monitor key metrics (like HCG levels for cancer) with your medical team. These “scoreboards” can provide a sense of progress and motivation.
15. Direct Energy Productively
If you have high energy, ensure it is “applied somewhere, directed somewhere,” as Lance’s mother did by encouraging him into sports. This can prevent it from manifesting in “toxic” ways.
16. Reinvent Yourself Post-Crisis
After significant public and personal setbacks, embrace the opportunity to “reinvent yourself” using available platforms and resources, rather than relying on traditional media or external validation.
17. Advocate for Systemic Change
Beyond individual efforts, consider advocating for larger systemic change, as Livestrong did with the $3 billion CEPRA initiative. A relatively small investment in advocacy can yield massive returns in funding and prevention.
18. Choose Solo Exercise
If group activities are not your preference, embrace solo exercise, especially in nature, to find personal enjoyment and mental clarity, as Lance does with mountain biking.
19. Use Direct Questions
When discussing important or potentially ambiguous topics, use “hard yes and no questions” to ensure clarity and eliminate misunderstanding, as demonstrated by the host’s interview technique.