Without sounding cliche – we don’t know what our future holds, but we do know how we can move through life with vitality.
Fit for your age
False physical limitations are placed by society on people according to their chronological age. The expression “fit for your age” is somewhat disparaging, as the expectation is; “at your age” a more sedentary life is appropriate.
If you start to believe “at your age” it will hasten your decline of physical ability and psychological well-being by questioning your right to fitness at your chronological age.
Research continues to provide evidence that in fact an aging body is equipped to regenerate, and therefore you must dismiss the belief that eventually, you will become too old to exercise.
Life expectancy in Australian over the last 50 years has moved from 70 years to now 85 years, and the contributing factor is the advances in modern medicine and technology.
An interesting footnote to the statics published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics is that after adjusting for the effects of age, the proportion of those reporting profound or severe core activity limitation rose by 9% from 2009 to 2012.
We are living longer but not better!
Quality of Life
The blueprint for metabolic growth is established in our adult years generally between the ages of 25 to 30. After that, the body requires a stimulus to regenerate natural human growth hormones.
Human growth hormones assist in:
- Protein synthesis; helping to build and maintain muscle mass and regulate hormone function.
- Lipolysis; which decreases fat stores by breaking down fat cells and helping to balance cholesterol levels.
- Glucose regulation; helps reduced liver uptake of glucose and enhances formation of new glucose.
- Supporting the pancreas; helps the production of hormones like insulin and reduce the release of ghrelin (hunger hormone)
With many people now living longer, 50 years is said to have become the new 30 years of life.
I totally disagree! 50 years of life – is 50 years of life and the value and richness of the experience during these years can not be degraded for a chronological number.
Many people who do “wish” to be younger admit that on a deeper reflection they are referring to the wish to be as physically capable as they were 20 years ago.
To be metabolically 20 years younger than your chronological age after 50 is completely and utterly achievable, but it does come at a considerable cost.
It is the cost of present time vigorous and consistent exercise that many people are not willing to pay.
Growing young
I realized by speaking with many of you this week that the only real decision we have to make in life is whether we choose to grow younger with our chronological age over the coming years.
This decision involves eating a healthy diet rich in plant-based foods and exercise.
All other “decisions” are made for us as a consequence of reacting or not reacting to our environment. Our human body is capable of perfect healing providing we fuel it properly and exercise regularly.
This week I was told of an amazing man living in the United States who at 45 years was informed by his doctors that according to his medical condition his life expectancy was three months.
Given he had only a short time to continue living, he returned to his hometown – a small island village in Greece where he died at 98 years.
Living well with fitness
Not all of us will have the good fortunate to return to a pristine environment like an island in Greece to improve both our longevity and well-being.
We can, however, create a community of like-minded people who believe that fitness is about having the physical and mental health to enjoy life at any age.
If you have no time in your life for our 30-minute fitness program, please consider our 9-minute FREE online program.
It is a simple program of only three exercises, and it is enough to motivate you to keep your level of fitness!
I leave you this week with an image of a dream catcher. The dream catcher has been a part of Native American culture for generations. They believe that the night air is filled with dreams both good and bad.
The dream catcher; catches the dreams as they flow by, good dreams have learned how to pass through the outer holes and gently slide down the feathers to the sleeper below. Bad dreams are too reckless to have learned the passage through the net and are caught and destroyed by the light of day.
Don’t be caught in the busyness of life, take your time and learn how to make your dreams come true by living your life to the fittest of your ability.
Live well with fitness!
Anna
Recent Comments