The 100 year lifespan is on the horizon.
Did you know that there are more than 72,000 centenarians living in the US? How many years do you have left? 20, 30, 40, 50 or more? How do you want to live them? George Burns said “If I had known that I was going to live to 100, I would have taken better care of myself.” Are you ready to get excited about the rest of your life? I am.
Research in epigenetics indicates that good lifestyle choices can turn on disease preventing genes and turn off disease promoting genes. So, don’t blame your genes. The MacArthur Foundation has determined that only 30% of health is genetics, 70% is lifestyle choices. We can change the course of our history if we adjust our lifestyles today. Henry S. Lodge MD, co-author of the book, Younger Next Year, reports that over 50% of all illness and injuries in the last third of life can be eliminated by changing your lifestyle habits to include daily exercise, emotional commitment, reasonable nutrition and a real engagement with living. This is fantastic, hopeful news. So why is lifestyle change still not making greater headway in the lives of people and the recommendations of Dr.’s? Do we really have to wait until we have a health crisis before we take action – when it may already be too late?
Modern sedentary living is a death sentence in the making.
Our extraordinary body has built in mechanisms for decay and growth, regeneration, maintaining homeostasis and improving vitality. Exercise is the master signaller for these processes and therefore a key component of healthy aging. We have to get moving more.
Estimates from the United Nations suggests that the population over 65 worldwide will increase 181% between 2010 and 2050, compared to a 33% percent increase in people aged 15 to 65. Don’t we owe it to our children and future generations to become more responsible for how we age? To take better care of ourselves and take charge of our health by adjusting our lifestyle choices – a relatively simple, low cost solution? Yes we do.
Tips for making lifestyle change:
- Find your “WHY”. What is your most important reason for wanting to make the efforts needed to change your habits? This is the motivation that will help you sustain your efforts.
- Commit 100% to making ONE CHANGE for 30 days. Recommit every day. Stay focused on your “why”. You will feel the benefits in no time.
- Find an ACCOUNTABILITY BUDDY; someone who will make the change with you. Someone you can share your challenges and successes with, whom you can support and be supported by.
- Get the guidance of an EXPERT to set you on the right track, give you tools and help you get to the bottom of why you resist making change. Or, just do it.
Next month I will examine the instrumental role exercise plays in keeping us aging younger. I’m excited with the science. Find your “WHY” my friends! xox
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