FIRST, LET ME ADDRESS YOUR CRITICISM. You haven’t spoken but may have thought, “I care more about my quality than the length of life. Today, I want to show you how to enhance both. Mastering the science of longevity: Cutting-edge insights for enhanced vitality.
I am a physician.
Many of my patients believe that as we approach the sunsets of our lives, we inevitability suffer from dramatic mental or physical decline.
Not So Fast
I get it. I am 61 and losing strength, reaction time, and balance. That former high school sprinter is not so fast anymore.
Today, I will argue that a dramatic decline in well-being is by no means inevitable.
How we prepare for the coming years matters. A lot.
I am going to share some keys to aging gracefully.
Physical Activity
I was tempted to put “Exercise” as the title of this section, but I believe we need to rethink how we approach movement.
Maybe I should substitute the term “training” as I prefer longevity expert Dr. Peter Attia.
Do you walk for ten minutes three times daily? In my mind, you are getting physical activity. So many office workers barely get in this amount of physical activity.
What I love about physical activity is this:
Movement not only delays death but can prevent physical and cognitive decline.
I focus on diet, good sleep, community, intellectual stimulation, and avoiding bad habits (tobacco and excess alcohol). And yes, sex.
Get Focused
While I consider walking an exercise form, I avoid aimless exercise; I have a specific training regimen.
I think like a high-level athlete. Here’s what I mean:
- I train in several domains (balance, flexibility, strength, higher-level aerobic, and lower-level activities).
- I also train with specificity.
Training Specificity – The Science of Longevity
What I mean by training specificity is that I train my muscle groups, movements, skills, and cardiovascular system for a specific activity.
This is in contradistinction to cross-training, activities that are not aimed at a specific activity or sport.
Right now, specificity means I am focusing on bodybuilding physique. Other times, I am trying to increase my endurance or running speed.
I even play with walking speed and volume.
How to Use the Principle of Specificity for Exercise
The principle of specificity can help athletes of any level master their goals. We break down what it is, give you some…www.healthline.com
Cross-training – The Science of Longevity
I did not mean to imply that I am only about specificity.
Cross-training is not sport-specific but can contribute to my cardiovascular and muscular strength.
I generally use cross-training to unload my most commonly overloaded joints.
For example, the day after a shoulder-lifting workout, I might turn to walking, interspersed with running bits.
Mixing specific and cross-training helps me dodge injury, boredom, and burnout.
But Wait, There’s More – The Science of Longevity
Is good physical health sufficient to guarantee I will have an excellent quality of life?
Of course, this is a leading question.
I know I need close relationships.
Walking Moai: Your Path to Better Health, Social Life, and Productivity
THERE HAS BEEN A GROWING INTEREST in finding innovative ways to improve our overall well-being. One fascinating concept…medium.com
I need a good reason to get up in the morning.
Life’s GPS: Navigating Your Ikigai
IKIGAI IS A JAPANESE CONCEPT that roughly translates to “a reason for being” or “a reason to wake up in the morning.”…medium.com
I need to maintain good emotional health.
Even if other facets of my health and well-being decline, emotional health is a domain I can constantly improve.
Thank you for reading “The Science of Longevity.”
