7 Simple Rules For Staying Young... No Matter What Your Age Is
Why is it that so many people dread getting older?
I mean, what is it that causes sensible, mature, educated
people to burst into tears or go thorough 'mid-life' crises
at the very mention of their 40th birthday?
It's weird isn't it?
After all, getting older is a natural part of life.
Inevitable in fact, because if we don't get older then it
means we must be dead!
After working with thousands of people from all walks of
life I can reveal this; it's not the actual calendar years
that cause people stress and concern, it's what those years
do to your body, your face, your appearance.
Not much of a revelation, I agree, but nonetheless it's
true.
In fact, if it wasn't for the visible signs of aging that
build up over the years, most people wouldn't give a damn
about how many candles they have on their birthday cake at
all.
The trouble is, we're all brainwashed from quite an early
age about what it means to grow older.
We're told "you're not getting any younger y'know!" or "You
really should be slowing down and taking it a bit easier at
your age" or "You shouldn't expect to achieve as much as
you did when you were younger".
What a load of rubbish!
Look, let's get something straight once and for all.
Despite what you've been told by doctors, physios and
so-called fitness 'experts' over the years, you do not
automatically enter into a downward spiral of performance
and appearance as you age.
Physical degeneration is NOT an inevitable part of the
aging process.
In fact, you can and SHOULD be able to not only maintain
but also improve your physical abilities across the course
of your lifetime. You CAN be fitter in your 40's, 50's,
60's and even 70's than you are in your 20's and 30's.
Don't believe me?
Just look at the likes of ultra distance runner and
adventure racer Helen Klein. She took up jogging at age 55,
progressed on to complete over 75 marathons and 100
ultra-distance marathons (these are races over 100 miles in
length) during a career that went on well into her mid
seventies.
What about Professor Art De Vany, author of 'Evolutionary
Fitness'? At age 68 he rides mountain bikes and dirt bikes
competitively (in open competition), trains rigorously on a
daily basis and has an amazingly muscular and firm physique
with only 8% bodyfat. He's 68!!
These aren't isolated cases, though sadly, they are quite
rare...though they needn't be!
Any day of the week you could begin the process of building
the better, fitter, faster, firmer, stronger, leaner you
and start to benefit from the amazing energy and vitality
that's available to you at every moment of your life,
regardless of age.
But first, I need you to understand something.
These improvements do not come from some new fad fitness
programme.
They don't come from Dr Whoojammywotsits latest diet.
They don't come from those fancy gizmo's, gadgets or wonder
pills that you keep buying from all those late night
infomercials.
They come from good, old fashioned, honest-to-goodness
effort.
Quite simply, if you want to get your butt off, then you
have to get off your butt!
There is no other way!
Now, I know that's not what you want to hear and that many
of you reading this will probably stop at this point, but
nevertheless, it's true. And what's more, you know its true.
So, what are you going to do about it?
If you're like most people, probably nothing. You'll sit
there, read this article and decide that I'm either nuts
(You're could be right) or that the cost of getting what
you want is too high and requires too much effort to
achieve.
If that's you then I must respectfully inform you that you
are officially insane. After all, isn't one of the
definitions of insanity 'repeatedly doing the same things
yet expecting different results'?
For those of you who still have your mental faculties
intact : ) and are willing to make the changes necessary to
achieve a fantastic body (regardless of your age), here are
a few pointers.
1.Engage in challenging exercise EVERY DAY- Look, 3 times a
week just doesn't cut it when it comes to maintaining or
improving your physical self.
The human body is a movement machine, so MOVE IT!... or
lose it.
2.Use strength based exercises AT LEAST 3 times a week
where you challenge the muscles and joints and load the
bones.
With over 600 muscles in the human body it just doesn't
make sense to train the way most people do by isolating
different muscles and blasting them to death. Instead, use
my 600 rule and try to find exercises that use as many
muscles as you possibly can.
3. Drink fresh, clean water every day.
You need around a litre for every 50lbs of body weight in
order to maintain a decent hydration level within the body.
Less than this and your organs, your skin, your muscles and
even your brain cease to operate effectively.
4. Avoid all processed food.
Another name for processed food is 'denatured' food. In
other words, all of the nature has been removed from it in
order to make it last longer on the shelves.
Do you really want to eat something without any 'nature' in
it? Only you can decide that, but I tell you this; foods
with colourings, flavourings and numbers instead of
ingredients will more likely end your life early than
extend it.
Opt instead for fresh produce ensuring that 80% of what you
eat comes from fresh (ideally organic) sources.
5. Eat less.
People eat too much. Enough said!
6.Sleep more
The human body requires sleep of both great quality and
quantity.
Getting 8 hours a night is a good start, but not enough. To
truly benefit from your sleep, try to get your sleep
patterns worked out so that you are asleep between the
hours of 10pm and 2 am to make the most of your body's
hormonal repair processes. The hours 2am to 6pm are
important to countering stress.
In other words, all sleep is not the same. The timing is
important too.
7. Relax more
Yep, I know I said to move more but I also want you to
relax more too.
That doesn't mean watch more TV. Read a book, listen to
music, take a massage or acupuncture, take more holidays,
add variety to your weekends.
Studies show that people who are more aware of the need for
a blanc between activity and constructive relaxation live
longer, are less stressed and achieve more.
Well, there you go. My guide to looking and performing
better as you age.
It may not be what you were expecting. In fact, many of you
are probably thinking, 'yeah, but I know all that already,
where's the new stuff?'
Sorry, not this time!
There's nothing faddy, or hi-tech about this approach.
It just works.
My challenge to you is to take everything I've just told
you and use it for 30 days in its entirety. Don't skip a
thing.
If you do, I GUARANTEE that no matter what your current age
or physical condition is, you'll look, feel and perform
better than you have in years.
You up for it?
----------------------------------------------------
Dax Moy is a performance enhancement specialist and master
personal trainer with studios in and around London.
Voted one of the UK's leading fitness experts, Dax is a
regular guest on TV, radio and print publications on the
subject of health, fitness and the performance mindset. To
download a free copy of Dax's Elimination Diet which has
been downloaded by over 24,000 people visit
http://www.daxmoy-pts.co.uk/elimination.asp
