Less energy, can’t handle a trip out without sitting down. All this stuff, it becomes harder and harder as we age. Why?
In: Biology
Think of your body like a car. The longer you operate that car the more it wears down. As we age important systems within your body suffer from your lifestyle and just the passing of time, regardless. We aren’t cars though, we can’t replace our systems and that’s why its so important to take care of them so they run well for as long as they can muster.
Your body is a huge chunk of flesh that only a very intricate biological machinery keeps from rotting. Over time, parts of this machinery break and can’t be repaired anymore so each system of your body keeps getting worse and worse until you die.
For me, insulin resistance and hormones are the primary culprits at 41. Fairly common issues. But some old people seem to have endless energy so I don’t know.
I was sort of a couch-potato for the first half of my life. I started walking in my 30s, as a way of getting some exercise and some general “outdoor time” with Mrs. 1LW.
Gradually, we increased the pace and distance. Now, in our 60s, we walk at a very brisk clip, non-stop, for at least 4-6 miles every single day… no exceptions. It’s not just good for your legs and your respiration; it’s good for your mental, emotional, circulatory and digestive health as well. And all your neighbors will know you, too.
And best of all, I feel far less tired, day to day, than I did 30 years ago. Something to think about…
One of many contributing factors is “zombie” cells that cease functioning but don’t die. They not only take up space but cells communicate with each other and these cells not communicating negatively affects near by healthy cells.
Imagine your body is like a leaky ceiling. A few drops won’t damage it, but a few drops over the course of years will make damage. It takes energy to constantly fix the damage, and we only have a limited amount of energy everyday, and the more time goes by, the more damage there is to fix. When you’re 10, there isn’t that much damage to fix, so you have more energy to spare. When you’re 60, the damage seems to be the only thing your body has energy for.
A new car runs great when it’s new. It needs regular maintenance though. If you don’t maintain it, it will break down. Your body and mind is the same. People who feel old and tired as they age generally don’t maintain their bodies and their minds through exercise, proper nutrition, etc..
There are ordinary people in their 60’s 70’s or 80’s and they are faster, stronger than most people. Why? /s
More stress needs more time to deeply rest. Unfortunately we don’t have the time or resources to fully rest our bodies and minds. The proverbial rat race wears everyone down over time
Nobody really knows. It’s in the same category as aging, which nobody really understands either. In theory, every cell in the body should regenerate a perfect, beautiful copy of itself, and we should never have any signs of aging, slow down, degradation of function. The reality is clearly not that, but nobody really knows why. Might be accumulated DNA damage. Might not be. Might be telomeres. Might not be. Might be free radicals. Might not be. Nobody knows. Very active area of research.
Latest Answers