It seems, the older I get, the more I dwell on things. I used to dwell on trivial things like "the meaning of life" and such meaningless things.

But lately, I have turned my attention to more important things, like: Staying fit while getting old. Exercise and more exercise seems to be the ultimate recommendation.

But there is something that keeps me awake at night:

- An average rabbit lives for about 2 years (maybe 3 if regularily served Beer-Chang for desert). An absolute exercise fanatic,  hopping around all the time.
- On the other hand, an average "household" turtle can live up to 70 years. Everything in slow motion. Totally anti-exercise. If it wasen't for their grazing, I think they would prefer not to move at all. More: The last time I interviewed a giant turtle on the Galapagos-Islands, she claimed to be 150 years old. I asked her how come you gotten so old? She answered with the same words as Winston Churchill did, when asked the same question. "NO SPORTS".

Looking at the Rabbit/Turtle/Churchill situation, I am tempted to conclude that the "Exercise-Thing" is overrated and the "Gene-Thing" is underrated.
What to do? Best do nothing. When the final curtain falls, nobody at the entrance of "the pearly-gates" is likely to ask us of how many carrots or steaks we ate during our lifetime.

I myself believe, that upon my demise, nobody will ask me any questions anymore. I am very comfortable with this thought. With or without prior exercise.

2 hours ago, swissie said:

Looking at the Rabbit/Turtle/Churchill situation, I am tempted to conclude that the "Exercise-Thing" is overrated and the "Gene-Thing" is underrated.

You could also conclude that life expectancy is linked to sex speed. The faster you rut the shorter your life span. Meaning if you slow your sex speed to that of a turtle you may live longer. 

As the saying goes "everything in moderation" not excess.

Dont dawdle, Dont speed, Cruise ! ????

 

2 hours ago, CharlieH said:

As the saying goes "everything in moderation" not excess.

Dont dawdle, Dont speed, Cruise ! ????

 

A true moderator if there ever was one.....????

9 hours ago, swissie said:

the "Exercise-Thing" is overrated and the "Gene-Thing" is underrated.

Well your genetics are fixed, exercise is something you can do to counter those genetics.......exercising is a no brainer.......yet oddly enough no-brainers don't exercise????

The life spans of the rabbit and the turtle probably doesn't relate to exercise, but rather metabolic rates. Debatable but, in general, creatures with slow metabolic rates live long, and those with fast rates live short in comparison. Some will try to compare two humans with different metabolic rates and claim there is no correlation. But the gap in their metabolic rates is nothing compared to the gap between a rabbit and a turtle.

73 years old, never been to a gym or a hospital in my life (except for the snip!) I just get on with what I have to do, up & down stairs, dog walk for 500 metres each day.

Moderate drinker, un-fussy eater. 50 year old wife!

7 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

You could also conclude that life expectancy is linked to sex speed. The faster you rut the shorter your life span. Meaning if you slow your sex speed to that of a turtle you may live longer. 

Good advice, Do you happen to know from experience what speed that would be?

3 hours ago, Surelynot said:

Well your genetics are fixed, exercise is something you can do to counter those genetics.......exercising is a no brainer.......yet oddly enough no-brainers don't exercise????

The time spent exercising is probably the same amount of time you will extend your life by.  is there any real point in it.  LOL

1 minute ago, Orinoco said:

The time spent exercising is probably the same amount of time you will extend your life by.  is there any real point in it.  LOL

Off to the gym.......12 hours everyday.......should see 150..............555

1 minute ago, Surelynot said:

Off to the gym.......12 hours everyday.......should see 150..............555

Ha Ha,

some how thing it just don't work that way.

 

 

 

My house rabbit is 10 years old and sleeps all day, every day.

19 hours ago, Surelynot said:

Off to the gym.......12 hours everyday.......should see 150..............555

or you won't see much more than the gym walls from the inside? 

19 hours ago, Orinoco said:

The time spent exercising is probably the same amount of time you will extend your life by.  is there any real point in it.  LOL

maybe or maybe not - as to the life extension... some people die in those horrible smelly places... 

On 7/2/2021 at 3:21 AM, josthomz said:

You don't need to run for 3 hours everyday like Cristiano Ronaldo,

Ronaldo have a very good reason for running 3 hours..????

1 hour ago, Card said:

My house rabbit is 10 years old and sleeps all day, every day.

Better check it's pulse.

 OP, you didn't state if, at the pearly gates, they will ask you how much you exercised. Will they?

 

It's not so much a question of longevity (though it could help), fit people die too (see genes), it's a matter of a better quality of life while you are here. For instance, if you want to try to expand the time you can have exciting sex, take care of yourself. If you don't care, fogattabowdit.  : )

 

If a steak is more important than sex, go for it. Different strokes for different blokes. Ask any bargirl. 555

Marathon runners dont live long

 

Therefore drinking beer is better for you.

22 hours ago, Orinoco said:

The time spent exercising is probably the same amount of time you will extend your life by.  is there any real point in it.  LOL

Fit people dont live longer, less if super fit. Worn out. Like a car. Running kms shortens your life.

George Burns cigar a day nearly 100

Your analogies are not very helpful to establish the true value of exercise or other aspects of achieving self well being!

 

Whether old or young,  ill or not ill, your genetic dispositions, your general perspective on life, are all best served by a prudent diet and exercise. These have the effect of providing what the body needs and in its turn can help towards relieving stress and anxiety in your life and therefore overall, arriving at a good balance.

 

There is one thing that I would like my comment to achieve and that is, to persuade you to make a decision to improve your well being by understanding that the science is unequivocally sound on the basic strategy: good diet and exercise for a healthy life for just about everybody on the planet. Exactly what you actually do will determine what the outcome will be for you.

 

There is plenty to say about both exercise and diet but I suggest you do some homework.

 

I talk to you on this matter from a position of being 100% healthy, no conditions, no medication, no symptoms of anything you can think of. I don't even wear glasses. 175cm and 59kgs weight. Never been in a hospital bed!

 

I can do anything I was able to do when I was 25, except belong to a Club of under 25 year olds! I can walk, run, skip and jump and swim and have done the last 20,000 kms on my bike at an average of 25kph.

I am now 76 - and a quarter!

 

This is down to a non-slavish balanced diet - no, not vegan, and regular exercise for the last 40 years - and it is never too late to start - be inspired by some fantastic stories of those with or without serious health issues, who started late in life!

 

But before anyone mentions it, I know that I can die tomorrow!

 

If you are serious, PM me!

On 7/2/2021 at 9:40 AM, KannikaP said:

73 years old, never been to a gym or a hospital in my life (except for the snip!) I just get on with what I have to do, up & down stairs, dog walk for 500 metres each day.

Moderate drinker, un-fussy eater. 50 year old wife!

Nearly the same, but 76 years young with 50 year old Wife.  I do exercise, but to get the endorphins going and of course to keep the blood cruising through the body and bones.  Blood pressure is a little bit high, but inherited that and have DVT, which is well under control and a consequence of the blood pressure.  That apart, feel great, eat properly (loads of veg and fruit) walk the four dogs for about 50 minutes per day, enjoy a social life and have "wine-o-clock and film night" each Saturday, with my beautiful Wife who spoils me at every turn.  Perhaps the secret of life is happiness and moderation, but having said that, perhaps I'll get run over by one of these very careful Thai Drivers?

Basically, looking at the animal/insect world, heartbeat is a fairly accurate measure of longevity.  Whales, elephants have a slow heartbeat, insects have really fast heartbeats and man has the in between   Yet we all seem to live approximately the same number of heartbeats in a lifetime.  The slow heartbeats live a long life, the insects with the fast heartbeats live very short lives and man, especially if he exercises properly and eats well can live a fairly long life (though maybe bored to death).  Though also, some individuals break all the rules on smoking, drinking and bad foods yet live a long time.  Genes play somewhat I guess in the game.  But a healthy life can usually be a longer life with enjoyment, in my opinion

Eat well, exercise, watch your weight - and you'll probably get killed on the roads.

4 hours ago, 1FinickyOne said:

or you won't see much more than the gym walls from the inside? 

...........or just the floor or ceiling depending on which way I collapse....

I actually enjoy walking or cycling around the golf course most days. The days on which I have to do something else, I really resent because I love gentle exercise in the fresh air so much. I also enjoy gardening in a way, but more for the feeling of satisfaction afterwards than actually taking part. Can't think of anything better than walking or cycling in the sunshine. Even the occasional rain's pleasant. Even if I don't get an extra day of life from it, at least I've enjoyed myself doing what pleases me.

Balance in all things, Ha, there are so many factors involved and it is down to the individual to find their own programme that suits them best. I was a sprint champion in my early days but training was not just about running. My coach put me through routines some of which I still use today as I approach 79. Running with the wrong technique can cause a lot of damage. Many people forget about the internal organs and martial art/yoga type techniques are devised specially to massage internal organs. If you like to run then stop at certain points, sit on the ground and do some gentle leg stretches for muscles and tendons care along with body bends, trunk twists, serve as three dimensional exercise which running cannot give.

The misconception is that exercise will directly allow one to live longer but it is the right routine (whatever that may be for the individual)  that will indirectly, help in healing, (or help protect) the body during infections, injury etc. Whatever your inclination, running, cycling, home gym etc consult an expert or spend the time to find your own limitations. One should feel good after a w/o and if not, then something is wrong.

On 7/2/2021 at 9:39 AM, ColeBOzbourne said:

The life spans of the rabbit and the turtle probably doesn't relate to exercise, but rather metabolic rates. Debatable but, in general, creatures with slow metabolic rates live long, and those with fast rates live short in comparison. Some will try to compare two humans with different metabolic rates and claim there is no correlation. But the gap in their metabolic rates is nothing compared to the gap between a rabbit and a turtle.

 

But the perception of the passage of time varies also. For a tortoise, a day passes in a flash. Fora mouse, a day seems to last a month.

 

Remember Dunbar from 'Catch 22'. He was convinced that time passed more slowly if he just sat there bored out of his brain watching the clock. The day would just crawl by.. He wanted to live forever (or at least feel like he lived forever) and therefore spent all his time bored. Sleep was a total anathema because time passed so quickly.

1 minute ago, Stevemercer said:

 

But the perception of the passage of time varies also. For a tortoise, a day passes in a flash. Fora mouse, a day seems to last a month.

 

Remember Dunbar from 'Catch 22'. He was convinced that time passed more slowly if he just sat there bored out of his brain watching the clock. The day would just crawl by.. He wanted to live forever (or at least feel like he lived forever) and therefore spent all his time bored. Sleep was a total anathema because time passed so quickly.

Ha.....didn't he spend as much time as possible skeet shooting because he loathed it so much and time dragged....5555

 

All I can recall having read it in about 1969.

On 7/2/2021 at 9:11 AM, pgrahmm said:

A true moderator if there ever was one.....????

Forum rules say moderation is not allowed to be mentioned. (Emoticans not working, I wanted a laughing emotican here.)???????? ???? ????????