I am an anti-ager!
Do we stop moving because we age or do we age because we stop moving? What if what our body fuels off decides what it gets and turning aging around is more of a choice than we think?
I’ve been overwhelmed by the ‘we’re only getting older!’ narrative floating around amongst clients (& friends!) at the moment. We’re getting old and there’s nothing can be done about it, right?
The biological reality that the human body is an energy generating machine is the key to longevity! Except, we can see it two ways:
The aging narrative means ‘decline is inevitable’, where aging brings less energy, less muscle, less desire to eat meat with less digestive enzymes, less healthy mitochondria. So we’re just old and … less?
Your inputs set your ‘aging’, as they always have: you can build muscle at any age and more muscle means more and healthier mitochondria making more energy. Eating more protein will build more of the very digestive enzymes you need to digest the meat so you’ll have more building blocks to build that muscle and mitochondria and energy in an awesome cycle!
Sitting back and getting old is your choice. Here's a biological realities that changed how I think about aging:
The challenge: as we age, our energy generators – our mitochondria – become less efficient and may suffer damage, making it harder to produce the energy we need to feel our best. The solution: healthy muscle requires massive amounts of cellular energy, so when energy declines with aging, our muscles take the hit. Fatigue and loss of power can leave us feeling depleted … build muscle!
The challenge: as we age, we do less physical activities and so we decline. The solution: the human body is an energy-generating machine and cellular energy sets the pace for our overall health. Keep building cellular energy by ensuring you’re giving your body the right building blocks (protein!), take the time to digest it, use walks after meals to allow your muscle to start utilising blood glucose so you don’t need to even call on insulin’s aid and another ‘aging decline’ narrative met!
Over forty years ago, Harvard's 'Counter-clockwise study' revealed a groundbreaking insight that actively challenging ingrained aging behaviours through subtle lifestyle changes could bring remarkable improvements in physical and neurological health within a single week. Astonishingly, upon reassessment, both test groups showcased improved hearing, memory, grip strength, along with enhancements in weight, height, and posture, essentially 'reversing' the aging process.
You too can challenge aging norms with small lifestyle changes. Start by incorporating healthier habits and fostering a positive mindset - your body has a natural desire to refuel and restore both physically and mentally. While proper protein intake and resistance training are essential at any age, beyond about 30 years old, your mitochondria need even more support to efficiently power your muscle tissue.
I am not anti age, but I am anti ingrained age! I cannot abide the idea that no matter what, as I age I will lose all my muscle, bone, strength and energy. What about what there’s to gain no matter your age, let alone your potential?!
