Today's usually my fail day, so last night I prepped a lot of veggies to snack on. I'm still sick but that first night of long sleep at the onset really made me feel better sooner. So I'm resting again today, but I'm doin' some yoga.
After our messaging discussion about the blogging photos and posts, and Kathryn's comment about age, I decided to do some homework. About four aritcles, 45 minutes, and a lot of scientific studies later, here's the conclusion:
"A decline in aerobic fitness was noted after age 40, which accelerates as individuals enter their sixth and seventh decades. This decline is independent of muscle mass and physical activity levels. Thus, the bad news is that your aerobic fitness will decline with age no matter what you do. The good news is that individuals who start with higher aerobic capacity and continue their activity habits throughout life maintain a greater fitness level at all points in the aging spectrum. In light of the relationship between aerobic fitness and mortality, this suggests that performance of regular exercise throughout the lifespan will both lengthen life and postpone and compact end-of-life disability."
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/112/5/624.full
So, basically, being healthy now is important because it will carry you into old age, like savings in a bank account (I know I got Kathryn's attention). The first biggest drop for women happens AFTER 45. And that drop is only 20% of overall aerobic fitness, gradually happening in our 40s and 50s. The steepest drop will happen during our 60s and 70s, more than 20% per decade.
In addition, our metabolism slows, BUT only 2-8% per decade, a number that can easily be offset by exercise. Based on our TDEE calculations from November, the number is only (4.7 x your age) x your activity level factor, which adds up to about a 50-150 calorie reduction in our daily needs every decade, or 2-8%. This happens gradually over each 10 years. We can all burn 50-100 calories extra per day, can't we?
So keep running ladies, we have years & years & years to go!
Age is all in your attitude!
I believe we have many years of activity in our future. My mom is more active now then she ever has been.
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