Aging From The Inside Out
Less than a hundred years ago in 1930 the life expectancy of a man was 60 and for a woman 64. By 1970 it was 68 and 72. And in 2015 it was 79 for a man and 83 for a woman.
So essentially we live 20 years longer than we did 85 years ago. (which is crazy to think that in another 85 years the majority of people will live well into their 100s.)
This is wonderful news and means that modern day medicine and our general healthier lifestyle is having a positive affect on our bodies. In the 1930s by 32 you were already half way through your life. Now in 2016, by 32 you are still 10 years off the half way point. Great news!
So, in my eyes, we should take at least 10 years off everything… A 32 year old is essentially a 22 years old, a 42 year old a 32 year old and a 52 year old a 42 year old and so on…
But joking aside, what is the point of focusing on someone’s age after they turn the age of 18? Up until 18 we need to be aware of our age. The body and mind are still developing and therefore are vulnerable. Children need protecting to allow them the best possible chance when entering adulthood.
But after that, why is the world obsessed with age? Hollywood in particular, with it being expected over 50% of women in the industry lie about their age. In 2015 there was that strange incident of Rebel Wilson claiming she was 29 when in fact she is 36!
Yet the thing is age does not matter… It would matter if we all died at the same age. I would be closer to death than someone 5 years younger than me. But the truth is people 5 years younger than me will die before me and people 5 years older will outlive me.
The fact is the amount of years we have been on this earth is irrelevant and we should remember what the great Joseph Pilates said “A man is as young as his spinal column” “If your spine is inflexibly stiff at 30, you are old. If it is completely flexible at 60, you are young”
Essentially it is our body that ages us.
According to Joseph “We retire too early and we die too young, our prime of life should be in the 70’s and old age should not come until we are almost 100.”
Generally, we all want to live a long life. A happy life. Can we live a happy life if from the age of 50 our bodies struggle to function every day?
Think about your most priced possession in your life… maybe it’s your child, your house, your watch, your car or a piece of jewellery.
Do you take good care of this possession? Do you protect it?
And why do you do that?
Do you want this prized possession to last as long as possible?
And what is required to take care of this prized possession?
Is it discipline?
“Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most” Augusta F. Kantra
Choosing to exercise every week of my life is me choosing discipline. I want to have a healthy body in 50 years and as Joseph Pilates said “Patience and persistence are vital qualities in the ultimate successful accomplishment of any worthwhile endeavor.”
Do you want to be around in 50 years and in good shape? Then choose discipline.
“To achieve the highest accomplishments within the scope of our capabilities in all walks of life we must constantly strive to acquire strong, healthy bodies and develop our minds to the limits of our ability.” Joseph Pilates
To do this you need to focus on three things every week. (Aiming for a 80/20 balance in each)
1) Food: The quality and condition of your bone, skin, brain and connective tissue is partly determined by what you eat. The quality of the food you eat determines the quality of repair.
Action: 80%/5.5 days of your week eat Protein (fish, chicken, turkey, egg whites) Complex Carbs (sweet potato, squash, broccoli) Good Fats (Avocado, nuts, oils.)
Plan 3 cheat meals a week, 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner. Spoil yourself on Friday date night. Have brunch with your buddies on Sunday. Indulge at lunch on Hump Day. However, the rest of the week only put good things into your body. Eat Healthy. Eat Balanced.
2) Exercise: Exercise reduces inflammation in the body that comes with ageing. It will also help decrease your risk of developing diseases like heart disease, depression and loss of muscle mass.
Action: Aim to do the following Minimum: 1 Cardio, 1 Strength Training & 1 Stretch (Pilates/Yoga) session a week. Maximum: Add another one of each to your week with 1 or 2 rest days. Start Slow. Build.
Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness.” Joseph Pilates
3) Stress: Stress releases chemicals into the body which creates biological changes. The chemicals often can act as blockers, which prohibits your body functioning effectively and efficiently. Therefore stress is a major contributor to the ageing of your body.
Action: Aim to do 2/3 relaxation sessions a week (a bath with candles, meditation, a low intensity yoga class or quiet time with a book. You need to plan these sessions and in them actively relax: Inhale, gather all the stress. Exhale push all that stress out your body.
“A body free from nervous tension and fatigue is the ideal shelter provided by nature for housing a well balanced mind, fully capable of successfully meeting all the complex problems of modern living. Joseph Pilates