I'm falling apart

mazdeuce - Seth said:

 My claim is that the ability to do cartwheels is a pretty good indicator that you're doing ok. Five in either direction and you'll probably make it another year. When they get hard, time to evaluate. 

A cartwheel.  You are talking about the thing where you throw yourself at the floor, catch yourself with your hands, and then hit your feet again?  I'm 57, and I can assure you that its been at least 52 years since i have attempted a cartwheel.

I would consider a cartwheel at 57 to be roughly equal to seeing whether my kneecap could stop a round from a 357 magnum.

In reply to Streetwiseguy :

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hpBo2dl3PBc

you  have low expectations 

mtn said:

Dr. Hess said:

Coke:  HFCS.  The stuff is EVIL.  Stop it.  And the "sugar free" versions are not terribly good for you either.  Recent studies show they just make you eat more of other stuff and not lose weight.  The feds are trying to get the word "Diet" removed from the labels.

Hess, I was under the impression that there is actually nothing inherently wrong with HFCS in and of itself; it is the fact that it is in literally everything that is the problem--too much of anything can become toxic. Thoughts?

We try to avoid it as much as possible, but it isn't something that we've banished from the kitchen (although I'd be surprised if there was anything with any corn syrup anywhere in our house, other than the actual KARO)

You believe what you want to believe.  My own personal experience is that HFCS comes onboard and REFUSES TO LEAVE. It is like it jumps directly into fat cells and then won't come out.  I don't think we have the metabolism to process the stuff.  It is not just my personal experience either.  My friend, a real, genuine, hard core "scientist," had similar observations after years of arguing that there was nothing wrong with it.  My mother cut out all HFCS and lost like 30 lbs.  That was her only diet change.  Just read the labels and didn't buy anything with HFCS in it. 

You won't find any studies that show this.  Too much money is at stake.  In fact, as I understand it, the studies that got the stuff FDA approved as a food additive went like this:  We fed this stuff to some rats.  It didn't kill them.  DONE.  Approved.

Hmm... wonder if Dr. Greger has done anything on it. 

Dr. Hess said:

mtn said:

Dr. Hess said:

Coke:  HFCS.  The stuff is EVIL.  Stop it.  And the "sugar free" versions are not terribly good for you either.  Recent studies show they just make you eat more of other stuff and not lose weight.  The feds are trying to get the word "Diet" removed from the labels.

Hess, I was under the impression that there is actually nothing inherently wrong with HFCS in and of itself; it is the fact that it is in literally everything that is the problem--too much of anything can become toxic. Thoughts?

We try to avoid it as much as possible, but it isn't something that we've banished from the kitchen (although I'd be surprised if there was anything with any corn syrup anywhere in our house, other than the actual KARO)

You believe what you want to believe.  My own personal experience is that HFCS comes onboard and REFUSES TO LEAVE. It is like it jumps directly into fat cells and then won't come out.  I don't think we have the metabolism to process the stuff.  It is not just my personal experience either.  My friend, a real, genuine, hard core "scientist," had similar observations after years of arguing that there was nothing wrong with it.  My mother cut out all HFCS and lost like 30 lbs.  That was her only diet change.  Just read the labels and didn't buy anything with HFCS in it. 

 

You won't find any studies that show this.  Too much money is at stake.  In fact, as I understand it, the studies that got the stuff FDA approved as a food additive went like this:  We fed this stuff to some rats.  It didn't kill them.  DONE.  Approved.

 

Looks like you're basically correct on every account but one: there are studies on it. 

Summary:

https://nutritionfacts.org/topics/high-fructose-corn-syrup/

Studies:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/23493538/

http://m.ajcn.nutrition.org/content/96/5/951.long?view=long&pmid=23053554

"The biochemistry of fructose utilization has also fascinated metabolic researchers. Fructose homes in like a laser beam on the liver and its glycolytic pathways, with ∼90% of fructose uptake by the liver. Fructose intake results in hepatic release of lactate, storage of glycogen, and stimulation of de novo fatty acid synthesis."

A few years back I started a desk job. I sit and work at a computer most of the day.  On top of that was the commute, so in addition to 8 hours a day at a desk, I have 2.5 hours/day sitting on a bus.

Physical activity, well, its fallen by the wayside.  I used to enjoy mountainbiking, rockclimbing, etc.  It basically got limited to housework, I just didnt have much time/energy.  That said, I am 6 foot, and never weighed over 160lbs.

This carried on for 2-3 years.    Last summer I started noticing pain in my right leg as I got off the bus in the morning.  I couldnt kick the leg forward unless I walked for awhile to stretch it.  I started trying to work a 1 mile walk into every morning to address it.   I also got paperwork started to convert to a standing desk (this took 3 months to have happen).

Finally went to the doctor about it and he ordered up an x-ray.   I forget the exact term, but the curve in my spine is flattening. Got a script to start physical therapy for it.  There was a 3 week waiting period got initial visit.

While waiting, I took on a trip for work.  I ended up driving my miata 10 hours over the course of 2 days. Morning of day two of the trip I noticed a bit of a problem in that I couldnt bend over to pick up my bag (<10lbs).  Had to really do weird things to accomplish what should have been a normal task.

Day two of the trip has me uncomfortable, but I gut it through.  I had some spare time, so I took a walk hoping it would calm things down.  Limited success.  I do my thing and hop in the car and drive the 5 hours home, non-stop.    Pain was increasing the whole drive.  almost unbearable.  I had to push to make it.    By the time I got home, I had to call my wife from the driveway as I couldnt get out of the car unassisted. 

Shooting pains down my right leg.  Some degree of pain in the lower back.  Felt like an unceasing charlie hourse on my whole right leg.

In the next few days was PT.  All they could do was heat, stim, and try to stretch it.  It felt like any good that was done was undone just being in the car to get to and from.

At that point, my work lets me work from home.  I cant sit. I cant stand for more than 45 minutes without pain. And the bus ride...  I have no shame admitting I cried.  I have had a kidney stone, if that was a 10, this was at least a solid 8, I was almost throwing up from pain.

After 3 weeks, my PT talks to my GP and the send me for an MRI.   I herniated a disc and it was pressing on the sciatic nerve. No PT options due to the flattening back (could destabillize the spine and make things much worse).

So at this point I get a referral to a neurosurgeon.  This is early November.   Gives me two options.  Shot to the spine for pain and hope it works self out, or surgery.   Well, in over a month it hadnt worked itself out at all and I was esentially bedridden, so surgery it is. When can we do it?  Schedule is full until December 18th.   So, more than another month of pain and being laid up.

Happily, someone go pneumonia and my surgery happened middle of last week.   

So, now, the pain in my leg is gone, but I have some back pain (not as bad as pre surgery), but I am still laid up.   Not allowed to life over 5 lbs, no bending, no sitting for more than 20min...   This should improve and at least have me somewhat back to a normal routine by the new year. (albiet with some continued lifting restrictions for another month or two).  

Right now, not working because pain meds have me loopy.   

and yeah, to the topic of the thread.   Seemingly mild stuff, had me laid up since early October.

I AM 32 YEARS OLD.

I want to be out in my shop working on the bugeye, but cant.  too much bending.  As soon as I am mobile again, I am swearing off TV and internet for quitte a long time.  I am so bored and stir crazy its not even funny.

My knees are just about shot. They don't hurt - unless I push myself and overdo it - they just feel like rusty hinges & don't work very well. 

Im also completely losing my berkeleying mind: we were at dinner w/the kids 2-nights ago, and SWMBO brought up something that occurred THAT MORNING while we were getting ready for work, and I had zero recollection of it - none whatsoever - until she was at least a minute into the story. Then it was just a hazy & vague memory, but not one that seemed so recent. 

Oh, and yeah I have a herniated disc too. I've lived with it since 2000, but I really berkeleyed it up good a couple years ago when we moved to MS & I was essentially loading/unloading everything by myself. 

I'm 46 and kinda doubtful my body or mind will make it another 20+ years. Oh well, I never really expected to make it past 18, so it's all been a bonus. 

In reply to Pete Gossett :

There's some evidence that your brain can be exercised like a muscle can. You don't have to let it atrophy and wither away. Maybe try something simple and easy like Lumosity for awhile and see how it goes?

sleepyhead said:

mazdeuce - Seth said:

Movement is important. Being able to squat, lift things above your head, touch your toes and properly get up off the floor. I just had the cartwheel conversation with my sister. My claim is that the ability to do cartwheels is a pretty good indicator that you're doing ok. Five in either direction and you'll probably make it another year. When they get hard, time to evaluate. 

I think I've done some reading that your ability to do a full rear-to-ankles squat is highly correlated with how long you're able to live alone... since it's correlated to being able to get on/off the toilet unassisted.

I haven't read anything formal on it, but I think there are "fundamental movements". Squatting down is something a human would do daily. Women more than once. Getting up from the ground, not rolling off a bed, but from the flat ground. Picking things up, and if you've every carried things without a backpack, carrying things on your shoulders is a HUGE energy saver, so picking things up above your shoulders. These are the movement patterns that we evolved with and losing the ability to do them would be pretty significant for most of our history. Think about the life of an old man who couldn't squat down or pick things up prior to us living in houses with bathrooms. Now think of how many people in their 30's you know who fit that description today. 
Not something I really talk about in real life with anyone, just something I observe and have been thinking about as I age and I watch people one or two generations above me age. Mobility seems to be second only behind social connection in terms of quality of life.  

Ugh...  At 47 I'm not terribly unhealthy, but I'm definitely not in the shape I'd like to be in. 

I need to eat better, exercise more effectively and drink less beer.  My discovery of imported stouts and craft beer in general has not been good for my waistline, and probably my health in general.

Has anyone else noticed alcohol affecting their sleep as they've gotten older? I have a hard time getting to sleep regardless, but if I have a beer or two in the evening it's really bad.

sleepyhead said:

mazdeuce - Seth said:

Movement is important. Being able to squat, lift things above your head, touch your toes and properly get up off the floor. I just had the cartwheel conversation with my sister. My claim is that the ability to do cartwheels is a pretty good indicator that you're doing ok. Five in either direction and you'll probably make it another year. When they get hard, time to evaluate. 

I think I've done some reading that your ability to do a full rear-to-ankles squat is highly correlated with how long you're able to live alone... since it's correlated to being able to get on/off the toilet unassisted.

This is interesting. I always front-squat, and go butt-to-ankles.  Hopefully this means I have many years of unassisted bathroom use ahead of me.  I'm always impressed at how inflexible the average person is.  If you ask them to do a *deep* squat, they will struggle to get past thighs parallel to floor.

That said, last year at some point I was doing some front squats.  I had some relatively modest weight on the bar... 135 or so.  I stopped at the top of a rep to reposition slightly, then either hiccuped or coughed, I can't remember which.  Immediately something in my back popped/slipped/snapped and I was unable to bend over or do any heavy lifting for two weeks.  That's when I knew I was old.  I'm 34.

My simple thoughts:  

• Make your food from scratch or as much from scratch as you can.  This will help you avoid processed junk and make you understand what is in your food more.  Its easier said than done though if you have a busy lifestyle.  I'm not great at this, but I am always working at getting better.
• Lift weights.  Strength & flexibility is always good.  Muscle burns a lot of calories, even when its doing nothing.

mazdeuce - Seth said:

I haven't read anything formal on it, but I think there are "fundamental movements". Squatting down is something a human would do daily. Women more than once. Getting up from the ground, not rolling off a bed, but from the flat ground. Picking things up, and if you've every carried things without a backpack, carrying things on your shoulders is a HUGE energy saver, so picking things up above your shoulders. These are the movement patterns that we evolved with and losing the ability to do them would be pretty significant for most of our history. Think about the life of an old man who couldn't squat down or pick things up prior to us living in houses with bathrooms. Now think of how many people in their 30's you know who fit that description today. 
Not something I really talk about in real life with anyone, just something I observe and have been thinking about as I age and I watch people one or two generations above me age. Mobility seems to be second only behind social connection in terms of quality of life.  

I think this is a great way to view the importance of certain movements, and it should also be taken into account when we train. We should focus not just on strength, but on functional strength and our ability to apply the strength that we have. I don't squat just to squat in the gym, I do it so that I don't throw my back out helping friends move, or picking up my niece and nephews. I don't train my core to be shredded on a magazine cover, I do it so that I can gradually lower a heavy cylinder head where I need it while I'm bent over under a hood. I don't focus solely on bench pressing like the stereotypical meat head because how often do you need to push massive weight away from your chest in real life?

Some people train to look good, or feel good about themselves, and those are great things. But we can also train to make it easier to live the lives we want and navigate the world in a manner that reduces the likelihood of physical breakdowns. Weight lifting allows your muscles to properly support your joints, and reduces the chance of joint damage from injury. It also improves balance which can help avoid dangerous falls. Flexibility gained through frequent stretching (which should be done if weight training anyway) is equally critical to avoiding injury, and only becomes more imperative as we age and our bodies get more brittle.

In reply to STM317 :

When I was growing up I worked summers with my dad and uncle doing residential construction.  My uncle would refer to the college kids with ripped and cut physiques as Bob Costas gym muscles because while they would look impressive they were nowhere near as strong and had puny endurance.   Spending your time lifting and carrying very heavy loads is FAR better for your flexibility and strength than fixed exercises in a gym. 

Ian F said:

Ugh...  At 47 I'm not terribly unhealthy, but I'm definitely not in the shape I'd like to be in. 

Has anyone else noticed alcohol affecting their sleep as they've gotten older? I have a hard time getting to sleep regardless, but if I have a beer or two in the evening it's really bad.

More so than the belligerent shiny happy person it turns me into, this is the main reason I had to quit drinking last year. 

Pretty much out of nowhere, I quit being able to sleep if I drank that day. To the point if I have a single beer with lunch, I won't sleep that night at all. 

What has surprised me is that cutting out 2 to 3 cases of beer a week, while good for my wallet, had done absolutely nothing to my waist line positive or negative. 

Ian F said:

Has anyone else noticed alcohol affecting their sleep as they've gotten older? I have a hard time getting to sleep regardless, but if I have a beer or two in the evening it's really bad.

Common medical knowledge. 

Dr. Hess said:

Ian F said:

Has anyone else noticed alcohol affecting their sleep as they've gotten older? I have a hard time getting to sleep regardless, but if I have a beer or two in the evening it's really bad.

 

Common medical knowledge. 

OK.  I can understand the science bit, but why would this seem to manifest itself in my mid-40's? 

Ian F said:

Dr. Hess said:

Ian F said:

Has anyone else noticed alcohol affecting their sleep as they've gotten older? I have a hard time getting to sleep regardless, but if I have a beer or two in the evening it's really bad.

 

Common medical knowledge. 

OK.  I can understand the science bit, but why would this seem to manifest itself in my mid-40's? 

Simple answer is that you have less liver enzymes as you age. Acetaldehyde lingers in your body a lot longer.

STM317 said:

In reply to Pete Gossett :

There's some evidence that your brain can be exercised like a muscle can. You don't have to let it atrophy and wither away. Maybe try something simple and easy like Lumosity for awhile and see how it goes?

My day gig is almost completely cerebral, plus I do various puzzles frequently, so for the most part I'm ok(unless I'm fatigued, the my brain function pretty much shuts off). It's just my memory that seems to really be fading at almost everything, but only randomly. I still remember some events going back to when I was 2 or 3 years old, phone numbers I haven't called in 20+ years, etc., but I was making a list to got to Home Depot on Sunday & realized I needed to add a 3rd item - by the time I'd typed the first-2 things on my list I completely forgot what the 3rd one was that I was just thinking of, and it took a couple minutes before I finally remembered.