The topic of "how to stay in shape" seems to be so tainted by misinformation that its no wonder many people who qualify as 'elderly' just don't do anything. Some sources say to just walk a little bit each day, or try to stand up from your chair without always using your hands. For some these activities pose a serious challenge, and do elevate the heart rate to a point that I would qualify it as exercise. This population is not who I am speaking about. I want to understand why people that have been active or semi-active the majority of their lives seem to make this subconscious decision to no longer 'push' themselves as hard in the gym, or in daily life. It's quite the phenomena if you really pay attention. I can watch someone that is 50-60 years old say they are 'too old' to do certain activities, then I watch others who are 80-90 years old drastically outperform them on a daily basis.
The person that is well into their elderly years, and can still perform all activities of daily living while still making time for exercise, is a person that I want to be. You cannot always just blame genetics, it's not that easy. The majority of the people I see and observe are those that literally gave up on believing that they could do it. You will not feel 80 years old if you are still doing activities that you did when you were 40. The number is a state of mind that directly affects your quality of life when you let it limit your physical capabilities.
If you stop engaging your muscles, nervous system, and circulatory system in physical activity that causes strain you will literally wither away. On the contrary if you continue to stimulate, and push your limits (sensibly of course) your body will continue to do what it always has: adapt. Circulation will remain high, and simple things like standing for an hour at a time, or walking to get the mail at the end of the street will remain simple. Proteins will be absorbed steadily, along with other nutrients, to rebuild your tendons and ligaments. Signals from your nervous system will continue to relay throughout your body at a high rate of speed to catch you when you trip, or provide clarity when you just can't find the words.
If you are looking for the 'fountain of youth' it's not going to be a pill or dietary fad. It will not be exercise or nutrition on its own. It will be your desire to never believe that you 'shouldn't' do an activity that has never limited you in the past. That insatiable drive to stay ready and able to provide for your family should never leave your thoughts. Its amazing when you see someone who has lost that desire to better themselves, or even maintain what they currently have, regain the ability to perform physical feats that have eluded them for 20 years. It is never to late to regain that innate desire to succeed.
If someone you know is 85 and still climbs a two story ladder every year to clean his house gutters, how does that make you feel? Does it scare you? Would it scare you as much if they were only 45 years old? What if I told you that even at 85 years old, this man can still do activities better than most 30 year olds, now how do you feel? Age is just a number, that you can choose to affect your conscious state of mind. You can let it inject fear and worry into your thought process and cause you to avoid certain activities. Or you can choose to celebrate that you are still doing these activities with no real sign of injury because you believe that you are capable.
Fitness is not a fad that ends when you cross a certain 'age' bracket. The principles of fitness and nutrition will directly influence your quality of life, for the rest of your life. If you pull a muscle in the gym at 65, then let it heal just as you would if you were 25.
Wolff's Law (German Anatomist and Surgeon): The principle that every change in the form and the function of a bone or in the function of the bone alone, leads to changes in its internal architecture and in its external form.
<a href="http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Wolf%27s+law">Wolff's law</a>
Summary: If you place a load on your body, through exercise or physical activity, your body will adapt to this load both internally and externally. So if you stop doing physical activity and not longer inflict trauma and stress on your bones, and tissues, your body will weaken. The choice to stop physical activity makes you weak, the number is just a number.
Thomas Ketter C.S.C.S., C.E.S., C.P.T.
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
Corrective Exercise Specialist
Certified Personal Trainer
www.TasteofHealthOnline.com
The person that is well into their elderly years, and can still perform all activities of daily living while still making time for exercise, is a person that I want to be. You cannot always just blame genetics, it's not that easy. The majority of the people I see and observe are those that literally gave up on believing that they could do it. You will not feel 80 years old if you are still doing activities that you did when you were 40. The number is a state of mind that directly affects your quality of life when you let it limit your physical capabilities.
If you stop engaging your muscles, nervous system, and circulatory system in physical activity that causes strain you will literally wither away. On the contrary if you continue to stimulate, and push your limits (sensibly of course) your body will continue to do what it always has: adapt. Circulation will remain high, and simple things like standing for an hour at a time, or walking to get the mail at the end of the street will remain simple. Proteins will be absorbed steadily, along with other nutrients, to rebuild your tendons and ligaments. Signals from your nervous system will continue to relay throughout your body at a high rate of speed to catch you when you trip, or provide clarity when you just can't find the words.
If you are looking for the 'fountain of youth' it's not going to be a pill or dietary fad. It will not be exercise or nutrition on its own. It will be your desire to never believe that you 'shouldn't' do an activity that has never limited you in the past. That insatiable drive to stay ready and able to provide for your family should never leave your thoughts. Its amazing when you see someone who has lost that desire to better themselves, or even maintain what they currently have, regain the ability to perform physical feats that have eluded them for 20 years. It is never to late to regain that innate desire to succeed.
If someone you know is 85 and still climbs a two story ladder every year to clean his house gutters, how does that make you feel? Does it scare you? Would it scare you as much if they were only 45 years old? What if I told you that even at 85 years old, this man can still do activities better than most 30 year olds, now how do you feel? Age is just a number, that you can choose to affect your conscious state of mind. You can let it inject fear and worry into your thought process and cause you to avoid certain activities. Or you can choose to celebrate that you are still doing these activities with no real sign of injury because you believe that you are capable.
Fitness is not a fad that ends when you cross a certain 'age' bracket. The principles of fitness and nutrition will directly influence your quality of life, for the rest of your life. If you pull a muscle in the gym at 65, then let it heal just as you would if you were 25.
Wolff's Law (German Anatomist and Surgeon): The principle that every change in the form and the function of a bone or in the function of the bone alone, leads to changes in its internal architecture and in its external form.
<a href="http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Wolf%27s+law">Wolff's law</a>
Summary: If you place a load on your body, through exercise or physical activity, your body will adapt to this load both internally and externally. So if you stop doing physical activity and not longer inflict trauma and stress on your bones, and tissues, your body will weaken. The choice to stop physical activity makes you weak, the number is just a number.
Thomas Ketter C.S.C.S., C.E.S., C.P.T.
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
Corrective Exercise Specialist
Certified Personal Trainer
www.TasteofHealthOnline.com