I received a few interesting comments following last week's column on the struggles we face as we age. Seems there are a few people who, like my brother and my cousin, are feeling the effects of 40, stricken with unaccounted for aches and pains.
Larry said he enjoyed the article about my "aging friends." (We're aging from the day we're born, but when does it become an unflattering adjective?) "They are me," he wrote.
Thankfully, for the past several years I've been exempt from any injuries or ailments that might cause me pain. I attribute most of that to my working out consistently through the years. Favorable genes help, but my brother is from the same good stock, yet he's struggling with injuries and joint pain. I can't be 100 percent sure, but I have to think a lot of that has to do with the fact that he works out only sporadically, and, maybe even more damaging, he'll do it in all-or-nothing cycles. He'll go extremely hard for a month or two and then fall off for three.
That's not going to get it done. Slow and steady does win the race.
Whether it's diet or exercise, consistency is key, especially as we get older.
But a moment of honesty here. During the holidays and the college bowl season, and even now with the NFL playoffs, my diet has been deplorable. Hot wings and fries. Desserts. Doritos. Beer. Cocktails. Whew, I've been bad. Worse, I've slipped on my cardio and, not surprisingly, I have a few pounds to show for it.
But back to consistency. It's the stuff we hear over and over. Strength training at least three days a week. Cardio at least four or five times a week. A smart, healthy diet. A lifestyle change, a lifelong commitment.
That regular exercise is going to help your body's motor oil. It's called synovial fluid, the lubricant for your joints. You can find more technical explanations of how it works, but www.wikianswers gives a pretty straightforward definition.
"Its properties are changed depending on the level of activity and movement of the specific joint," it says. "When a person is not active, the synovial fluid resembles a thick gel or paste. When the body begins moving, say to warm up before exercise, the fluid begins to take on a more viscous consistency to better act a lubricant within the joints."
It goes on to say, "This heightened state of activity will also affect the joints by warming and thinning the synovial fluid and allowing it to better protect the joints. This is important as we age."
In last week's column, I referenced "AgeLess: Take Control of Your Age and Stay Youthful for Life," a book filled with great ideas on being healthy, slowing down the aging process and living longer, more quality lives. And it all starts with exercise.
"Of all the factors that influence your health and longevity, exercise is the most important," writes author Dr. Edward L. Schneider, a dean of gerontology. "There's no faster way to improve your risk profile for the main causes of death and disability in old age --- heart disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, osteoporosis and memory loss --- than to get off the couch."
The book offers another tip: Start today.
> AJC Gwinnett News staff writer Robert Haddocks is a certified personal trainer with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Send any comments or questions to rhaddocks@ajc.com.
Copyright 2008 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution