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fitness, life update
Posted by
nootrope
,
05 August 2008
·
1,005 views
I need to update this more regularly!
My gym workouts continue to go well. I'm squatting 180 pounds for 15 repetitions, for 1-3 sets. Each time I do a set I get a huge endorphin rush. When I was 25 years old, I decided to do a lot of weightlifting (for a Ph.D. student!), figuring that I'd lose muscle as I aged, and that this was my only chance to seek to reach my maximum potential. However, I'm surprised to find that at 40 I'm putting on muscle as well as, or better than, I did 15 years ago. I take a lot of supplements, but not many of those geared specifically towards body-builders: no creatine, protein powders, whatever the kids are taking these days. I'm pescotarian--that is, the only meat I eat is fish (for the omega-3s): no chicken, turkey, pork, or red meat.
However, I am a big fan and enthusiastic ingestor of adaptogens. I continue to take small amounts of rhodiola. I read somewhere that adaptogens can have something like 30% of the effect of steroids. Though I suspect they are not nearly as dangerous (and certainly have the fact that they are legal going for them!)--my understanding is that adaptogens (like ginseng, rhodiola, ashwagandha) have substances that are similar to hormones, so that if the body has low levels, these substances can add some effect. However, if the levels of the body's hormone are high, the similar chemical in the adaptogen can compete in reaching the receptors. When the adaptogen replaces the actual hormone, it thus diminishes the hormone's effect.
I noticed a slight eye twich that I think was caused by ALCAR, which I'm now off of. I'm going to try resveratrol again. Last time the skin on my knuckles became thin and red, and that worried me a bit.
My 27 year old office-mate was surprised to hear that I'm 40; he said he would have guessed 32. That fits with what my gym assessment concluded (biological age of 34, and that was before I started weightlifting). I started my 10 cup a tea green tea regimen at 32, so perhaps that's when the clock started turning more slowly!
At some level though, I think my interest in anti-aging regimes is motivated by a sense I'm not living life to its fullest, and the prospect of a long life lets me figure I'll get around to doing all that living later! On the other hand, it's also something of a hobby--I'm always learning new things about this food or that supplement or the other variety of exercise. And this new far-out transhuman singularity vision... I do see some downsides though; for example, on the forums here sometimes a very young person will ask for supplements to modulate every aspect of their mood or thinking, when it seems a little more awareness of one's psychology, how to manage oneself, and general nutritional, exercise, and sleep regimen guidelines might help more.
My 73 year old father also seems to be aging well. He takes statins, so I suggested he take co-Q10 (although I've read some controversy involving it). So my independent research helps not only myself!
My gym workouts continue to go well. I'm squatting 180 pounds for 15 repetitions, for 1-3 sets. Each time I do a set I get a huge endorphin rush. When I was 25 years old, I decided to do a lot of weightlifting (for a Ph.D. student!), figuring that I'd lose muscle as I aged, and that this was my only chance to seek to reach my maximum potential. However, I'm surprised to find that at 40 I'm putting on muscle as well as, or better than, I did 15 years ago. I take a lot of supplements, but not many of those geared specifically towards body-builders: no creatine, protein powders, whatever the kids are taking these days. I'm pescotarian--that is, the only meat I eat is fish (for the omega-3s): no chicken, turkey, pork, or red meat.
However, I am a big fan and enthusiastic ingestor of adaptogens. I continue to take small amounts of rhodiola. I read somewhere that adaptogens can have something like 30% of the effect of steroids. Though I suspect they are not nearly as dangerous (and certainly have the fact that they are legal going for them!)--my understanding is that adaptogens (like ginseng, rhodiola, ashwagandha) have substances that are similar to hormones, so that if the body has low levels, these substances can add some effect. However, if the levels of the body's hormone are high, the similar chemical in the adaptogen can compete in reaching the receptors. When the adaptogen replaces the actual hormone, it thus diminishes the hormone's effect.
I noticed a slight eye twich that I think was caused by ALCAR, which I'm now off of. I'm going to try resveratrol again. Last time the skin on my knuckles became thin and red, and that worried me a bit.
My 27 year old office-mate was surprised to hear that I'm 40; he said he would have guessed 32. That fits with what my gym assessment concluded (biological age of 34, and that was before I started weightlifting). I started my 10 cup a tea green tea regimen at 32, so perhaps that's when the clock started turning more slowly!
At some level though, I think my interest in anti-aging regimes is motivated by a sense I'm not living life to its fullest, and the prospect of a long life lets me figure I'll get around to doing all that living later! On the other hand, it's also something of a hobby--I'm always learning new things about this food or that supplement or the other variety of exercise. And this new far-out transhuman singularity vision... I do see some downsides though; for example, on the forums here sometimes a very young person will ask for supplements to modulate every aspect of their mood or thinking, when it seems a little more awareness of one's psychology, how to manage oneself, and general nutritional, exercise, and sleep regimen guidelines might help more.
My 73 year old father also seems to be aging well. He takes statins, so I suggested he take co-Q10 (although I've read some controversy involving it). So my independent research helps not only myself!
