Sep 25, 2020
Bullet Proof At 77
And why I’m thinking about this now, at 38.
When I was about seven years old I remember making a pact with my cousin.
We were of same age and were as close as brothers. We had vivid imaginations and we’d concoct many random ideas.
One in particular I remember (has nothing to do with this story, but entertaining nonetheless) we were going to be ninjas.
His Mam would make our outfits and we’d go out fighting crime.
Needless to say that never materialised unfortunately, I mean it would have been pretty cool being a ninja.
Anyway, our pact was to be cool old grandads. We’d wear tracksuits and ride skate boards. We’d be hip in the hood… The young guns of the world would look at us and say;
“Whoa! those grandads are super cool”
I was seven years old, Adidas was cool back then.
Since then however, my cousin didn’t take the best route in life. And tragically he lost his three years ago (R.I.P brother)
But this isn’t a story of anguish, it’s about vitality.
This is about being a super cool old man. Now I’m only 38 (nearly 39) so not quite over the hill just yet, but I do always have this in the back of my mind.
Only now it’s less about wearing tracksuits and riding skateboards and more about health, sprite and vitality.
We all know “that” old guy or lady who just seems to ooze life. 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and beyond. They never age, never appear to change in anyway. They just hit life at 100mph and own it.
Well, this is my life goal. I want to be that old guy who people look at in awe. I want to be that old guy who can run, jump and hang (literally) with his grandkids.
I want to be doing pull-ups and push-ups for fun in my 70’s. I want to be bouncing down the street in my 80’s and 90’s. I want to stand on one leg with my arms folded and not be moved by the force of the air.
Thing is, it’s no coincidence.
Sure some of these older people may have been blessed with good genes, but, look at their lifestyle. They are always on the go. Doing something which involves activity, lifting, carrying or walking. They are completely independent.
This vitally doesn’t just happen. It started years ago. It’s not something to “think about later”. Later is too late. These unique individuals have done this ALL of their life.
They didn’t sit in front of the TV feeding their soles with wine and Doritos. Nothing wrong with wine and Doritos by the way — everything in moderation.
Their mindset is completely different. Their bodies are used for what they are designed for. To move. They didn’t go to the gym or attend exercise classes… they worked.
And they’ve carried this very same mindset through their whole life. And will continue to until the day they die.
But this mindset is unique. It’s rare. You only need to look at the older generation in general to understand this. Most are plagued with degenerative diseases such as arthritis and osteoporosis. Physical inactivity is a significant cause of chronic diseases and a poor quality of life (1)
Conditions which can at the very least be improved upon through physical activity and resistance training. (2,3).
Whoa! Hold the phone. Resistance training is for Hulksters though, isn’t it?
Lifting and carrying has most likely played a huge part in these unique individuals lives. Manual work and walking miles with shopping bags is all resistance. For years they’ve been resistance training without even realising.
The difference is, these days we can do it in a controlled environment with structure and progression. We even have scientific evidence to control everything from volume and intensity to training zones and energy systems.
But there’s an issue. Deliberate exercise is a way to make excuses;
“It’s raining”
“It’s cold”
“I’m tired”
“My back aches from the 8 hours of sitting on my ass”
“I’ll do it tomorrow”
Years ago, manual labour was all most people knew. It was accepted. These days adjusting the seat height is as intensive as the labour gets.
Back then, the ones with this lazy mindset would retire and spend their years in a deteriorative state. Slowly wasting away and becoming frailer and frailer as the years passed them by.
This exact mindset is what many people adopt these days. Yet decades before their retirement date is even considered. Most people these days can’t even hit 10,000 steps without it being seen as a chore.
And this is what I fear most. Because here’s the worst thing. With all the advancements in medicine, and more to come, people will live longer.
Meaning their lives will be prolonged with extremely agonising and torturous diseases… it crazy to even think about.
I mean seriously, what’s the point living an extra 20 years in bad health?
I know,
“You could get hit by a bus tomorrow”
But you could also live a slow and painful death that lasts well into your 90’s. I’ll take being healthy and vital now, and run the risk of getting hit by a bus tomorrow.
What you could bring to your life today should be enough to get you to change. For me, I’ve got kids. I don’t want to be the out of shape fat Dad. I want to be the Dad my kids are proud of. Someone they look up too and be inspired by.
Maybe you haven’t got kids. Then do it for you, and future you. Do it because you know your health is your biggest asset. And like any asset, if it’s neglected it will depreciate over time until eventually, it’s worthless.
At 77… I won’t be wearing tracksuits and riding skateboards… I will however (provided I don’t get hit by a bus tomorrow) rocking life as cool old dude with vitality and zest.
You too can choose to be a super cool old dude (or dudette) by downloading my FREE eBook, here.
David, I’m sorry you never got to see out our pact. R.I.P brother 💔
References:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23798298/ (physical inactivity — reduced quality of life and increase chronic diseases)
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22777332/ (resistance training is medicine)
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31850826/ (resistance & knee arthritis)
