It’s funny how priorities change as you age.
As a younger person a large part of the reason I worked out was to be as lean as possible, have six pack abs, etc.
Anyway…
I still like staying lean, but getting too lean when you are 30+ can mess with Testosterone levels.
Anything below 10-11% messes with my hormone levels.
…and I don’t want to cry when I watch Love Actually.
Maintaining high testosterone levels is a priority.
Now that I’m in my early 30’s I want a body that is strong, somewhat lean, and has youthful hormone levels.
I think that is what everyone who is over 40 is aiming for.
…and we all want to be sexy (admit it).
Speaking of sexy…
Okay…enough about my plans for becoming a retirement community sex symbol and picking up the ladies. #betterlatethannever #finallyhavegame #comeonsugarletmeknow
Time to talk about slowing down the aging process.
I’ve been reading and researching quite a bit about this the past 2 years…but the best book I’ve read on the subject I just ordered off Amazon last week (for less than $10).
Younger Next Year: Live Strong, Fit, and Sexy-Until You’re 80 and Beyond
There’s a Women’s Version as well.
This book was co-written by Henry S. Lodge, a 46 year-old Gerontologist who is part of a cutting-edge 23 doctor practice in Manhattan…and one of his incredibly fit patients who is 70+.
It’s about how to turn back the biological clock.
The original book was written 10 years ago and is a New York Times Bestseller.
I know I’m a little late to the party in hearing about this book.
My excuse?
I’m a somewhat new member of the Getting Old Club.
As a Gerontologist, Dr. Henry Lodge specializes in these areas.
- Chronological Aging – Aging based on a person’s years lived from birth.
- Biological Aging – The physical changes that reduce the efficiency of organ systems.
- Psychological Aging – The changes that occur in sensory and perceptual processes, cognitive abilities, adaptive capacity, and personality.
- Social Aging – An individual’s changing roles and relationships with family, friends, and other informal supports, productive roles and within organizations.
Younger Next Year uses a great analogy for biological aging.
Comparing aging to a tide…
“When you’re a kid, the tide is behind you and you go forward, no matter what you do. Stronger, more coordinated, better focused…better able to understand and cope.
But at some point the tide inside your body goes slack and the free ride is over. And then, in an instant, it turns against you. You get a little weaker, your balance is funny, your bones turn out to be frail…you can’t remember things.
And it begins to look as if before long the tide will be running pretty hard. And it’s going to sweep you up on the rocks.”
Dr. Lodge explains…
In our 40’s and 50’s our bodies switch to “default into decay” mode.
The free ride of youth is over.
Decay is like the constant tide trying to pull us back into the rocks.
We can override the default signal of decay with Daily Exercise.
The key is that you must send a signal to grow EVERY Day…or the body will continue to head into decay mode.
(Growth is the opposite of decay.)
Don’t think of it as exercise.
Think of it as a constant grow message to override that crazy tide.
Dr. Lodge gives his aging patients a few rules.
Rule 1: Exercise six days a week for the rest of your life…Six days, serious exercise, until you die.
Rule 2: Do serious Aerobic Exercise four days a week for the rest of your life.
Yes, I realize that cardio (aerobic exercise) isn’t the trendy thing right now.
Telling people to exercise 6-7 days a week DEFINITELY isn’t the popular message you see online.
…but if you are in your 40’s, or older, daily exercise should be a priority.
Younger people can “get away” with just lifting weights for muscle size and then dieting hard to look lean.
They don’t need cardio, because the tide is in their favor.
(Although for health reasons, I’d still recommend at least some form of cardio 2-3 times per week).
Also…
I do realize that this whole post may look self-serving.
I’ve been telling people to exercise MORE, not less, for 8+ years.
The trend is training 3 times per week for 30-40 minutes.
In my book "12 Weeks Physical Transformation Journey" I recommend 4-6 days per week of lifting, followed by 30-40 minutes of cardio of varying intensities.
…and yes, I also have an intense cardio course for advanced folks .
If you are following a different program, I’m NOT saying ditch that program and grab one of mine.
What I am saying is to fill in the gaps of your current program, with some additional workout days.
…especially if you are in your 40’s and beyond.
I know 6-7 days per week of exercise sounds rough, but it doesn’t have to be torture.
