Move like an older or younger person? Good questions. In those periods of lethargy, most definitely I feel as if I move older than my age of 63 — mostly due to a stretched right knee MCL suffered playing football right before the pandemic and arthritis. Walking steps and even getting out of bed can at times be laborious tasks. Those aches and pains become the excuses for inactivity. Once I get back into a rhythm, though, the aches and pains transform into byproducts of pushing myself. They become challenges — maybe push to stretch more or work on my form in doing a drill. The effort then is like turning back a clock.
I like this idea of aches and pains transforming into "byproducts of pushing myself." When people ask me – "Doesn't it make your body hurt to train like this?" – I tell them, "Sometimes, sure. But my body was going to hurt anyway in middle age if I didn't move. So better to be doing something hard I love, that's got other benefits, versus sitting around hurting anyway!"
I thought about your comment (“But my body was going to hurt anyway in middle age”) this morning when I had a hell of time getting out of bed. Workout DOMS definitely seems to compound as the week goes on. So yes, absolutely would rather be hurting in a good way. But from a midlife perspective, I don’t want to give the assassin more opportunities to take me out because I’m overdoing it. Would love your thoughts in future posts about where that line is (and how to move it around)!
Good idea Aris. I had a scientist send me a study about this topic recently that I’ll dig into and potentially report back on. Personally, I’m OK with discomfort from working hard, but not from overuse or injury. I’m really dialed into what is just what my coaches call a “niggle” that I can work through on my own and what’s a pain I need to deal with ASAP with my physical therapist or doctor. It’s all about longevity at this point!
Hi, I am almost done reading your new book, am at the part where you talk about grip strength. Any recommendations on the type of dynamometer that is best for us to use? And I remember Peter Attia saying that grip strength is strongly correlated with longevity/life span but don’t just go out any buy hand exercise tools just to try to improve grip strength. 😆
A dynamometer is definitely a good way to assess differences in individual hand strength. For me, the dead hang test (how long can I go) is also a really good free test that has practical implications. For example, I fall and need to hang on until someone rescues me. If you want to dig deeper into ways to assess your fitness on a bunch of fronts, I think Dr. Andy Galpin really lays it out well in this series of podcasts with Andrew Huberman.
Go to time code 01:18:42 Strength Test – he talks about grip strength there.
Check out Captainsofcrush.com. They make hand grippers that many people use in the strength training community. Start with the Trainer, or #1 if you already have decent grip strength. Caution, these are not your normal grip trainers.
thanks for all the advice, will check all of these things out! i def need to work on my grip strength in the worst way and need to find ways to improve this (and like a gazillion other things with my health haha).
Move like an older or younger person? Good questions. In those periods of lethargy, most definitely I feel as if I move older than my age of 63 — mostly due to a stretched right knee MCL suffered playing football right before the pandemic and arthritis. Walking steps and even getting out of bed can at times be laborious tasks. Those aches and pains become the excuses for inactivity. Once I get back into a rhythm, though, the aches and pains transform into byproducts of pushing myself. They become challenges — maybe push to stretch more or work on my form in doing a drill. The effort then is like turning back a clock.
I like this idea of aches and pains transforming into "byproducts of pushing myself." When people ask me – "Doesn't it make your body hurt to train like this?" – I tell them, "Sometimes, sure. But my body was going to hurt anyway in middle age if I didn't move. So better to be doing something hard I love, that's got other benefits, versus sitting around hurting anyway!"
I thought about your comment (“But my body was going to hurt anyway in middle age”) this morning when I had a hell of time getting out of bed. Workout DOMS definitely seems to compound as the week goes on. So yes, absolutely would rather be hurting in a good way. But from a midlife perspective, I don’t want to give the assassin more opportunities to take me out because I’m overdoing it. Would love your thoughts in future posts about where that line is (and how to move it around)!
Good idea Aris. I had a scientist send me a study about this topic recently that I’ll dig into and potentially report back on. Personally, I’m OK with discomfort from working hard, but not from overuse or injury. I’m really dialed into what is just what my coaches call a “niggle” that I can work through on my own and what’s a pain I need to deal with ASAP with my physical therapist or doctor. It’s all about longevity at this point!
Hi, I am almost done reading your new book, am at the part where you talk about grip strength. Any recommendations on the type of dynamometer that is best for us to use? And I remember Peter Attia saying that grip strength is strongly correlated with longevity/life span but don’t just go out any buy hand exercise tools just to try to improve grip strength. 😆
Thanks for reading the book. I purchased this dynamometer, mostly because it was inexpensive. They can run into the hundreds of dollars.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A8K4L84/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
A dynamometer is definitely a good way to assess differences in individual hand strength. For me, the dead hang test (how long can I go) is also a really good free test that has practical implications. For example, I fall and need to hang on until someone rescues me. If you want to dig deeper into ways to assess your fitness on a bunch of fronts, I think Dr. Andy Galpin really lays it out well in this series of podcasts with Andrew Huberman.
Go to time code 01:18:42 Strength Test – he talks about grip strength there.
https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/dr-andy-galpin-how-to-assess-improve-all-aspects-of-your-fitness
Check out Captainsofcrush.com. They make hand grippers that many people use in the strength training community. Start with the Trainer, or #1 if you already have decent grip strength. Caution, these are not your normal grip trainers.
thanks for all the advice, will check all of these things out! i def need to work on my grip strength in the worst way and need to find ways to improve this (and like a gazillion other things with my health haha).
just watched the video and also ordered that dynamometer. now i better go find a bar and practice the deadhangs!