For trying to live as long as possible?

[ToastMarmalade]

I’m not one of those Silicon Valley millionaires, but I have a kid with special needs and I’m thinking, I want to live as long as possible to be around for them.

I wasn’t that healthy in life, I’ve smoked a bit, drink sometimes, now going through the menopause and put on a bit of weight. I have high cholesterol but managed to bring it down with a better diet.

I’ve watched the programmes on the Blue Zones with interest (places with people over 100) and newer information like being able to stop diabetes before it starts through diet, makes me think, it’s not too late to really slow down ageing? YANBU

Or am I being daft (YABU) and I’ve done the damage already?

I hope that if I do:

• weights 15 mins x3 a week
• walk 15 mins every day at a fast pace
• dance class 2x a week
• eat less processed foods, more vegetables, porridge, legumes, less meat, Mediterranean diet
• drink mostly water and only 1 or 2 cups of tea of coffee
• volunteer more around my community
• lose some weight to be more in the middle of a healthy BMI
• sleep better

That I might add 5 - 10 years of my life!

I think it's good to be healthy but would provide low stress & social connections. I do think a lot of people now seem to think you can avoid all illness by eating well but unfortunately that is not the case. You can be super healthy & still get cancer. I know quite a few people who lived into their 90s with good health, they were all overweight with "normal" diets but big support network.

Calorie restriction, fasting, sleep.

prioritise not provide!

Do it OP. I made the same decision 3 years ago at your age after a life time of a very blasé attitude to my health to say the least.
I gradually moved to a whole foods plant based diet where I try to include as many foods as possible that are thought to be particularly healthy. I don't drink alcohol. I walk for around 45 minutes a day fast and up hill and I prioritise rest and sleep. I also started HRT.
I don't know if I'll live any longer, but I'm not exaggerating when I say I feel like I've wound the clock back to my 30s. I've lost 2 stone and all my belly fat, back to the 24" waist I had at 16. My aches and pains have disappeared and my health is reflected in my skin and hair.
I hope to be hear for the next 40 years as I'm greedy and now want to see DGC grown up. But if I don't make that at least I'm getting the most out of the time I do have.
Good luck. You won't regret it.

Did you know that how your parents and grandparents lived can affect your lifespan? It's still not well understood - it's part of a branch of genetics called epigenetics and it's absolutely fascinating.

https://theconversation.com/how-your-grandparents-life-could-have-changed-your-genes-19136

I read about it properly years ago - so I've just quickly googled and found this to start you off on the hunt about it. :)

My relations have lived terribly............

What a lovely life change to read! I genuinely feel inspired!

It's sensible to take the best care of yourself that you can OP. Eating a good, balanced diet, taking regular exercise, getting enough sleep and keeping weight within healthy limits are all things that improve the quality of your life. They may or may not give you a longer life, but they will almost certainly give you more healthy years - and that's why I do those things. You want to have a healthy old age, if possible. What you don't want is to spend the last 10-20 years of your life incapacitated with ill health and by living a healthy life and keeping active you reduce the chances that that will happen.

@5128gap that’s inspiring. Well done. I do the same, as does my partner, and we notice a massive difference between ourselves and most of our age group peers (mid to late 50s). You can’t stop all illness, or remove all risks, but it is possible to move the odds in your favour through diet, exercise, and attitude. I believe there are four pillars to health: exercise, diet, mental health, and sleep. We used to feel 10 years younger than our peers but as we grow older that differential is increasing. I’m inspired by the 80-90 year olds I see who are still living life to the full.

of course it helps!

Its a shame to see people be so blase about their health.

yes we might drop dead at any point but until then why wouldn’t you want to be at your healthiest?

I have also recently tried to get better for my kids and myself mainly. My mum is in her 70’s and has many ailments which has left me with a lot of responsibility towards helping her, and i decided i want to be better for my kids, they shouldnt have to be running around looking after me.

eating healthier and less crap food and exercising might seem boring but in the long run it won’t be bad for you.

i would rather live a healthy life until 70 than die with lots of health problems in my 90’s.

My mum is 80 and obese. Has been all her life and she was ok health-wise until a couple of years ago when her mobility really plummeted. Her elderly frame is just not up to task of carrying the excess weight. As people said earlier, it's not enough to just be alive. She is miserable as everything has become a struggle.

Aw thank you @kamboozled
I think for me it's about seeing the gains rather than the losses. People might think it's restricting and miserable not to drink or eat certain foods. But for me, it's the opposite. I actually really enjoy my meals after some trial and error and adjustment, but that's almost by the by. Because if no fish and chips means being able to run up a hill with DGS to see the view; no wine on the sofa means i can stand and dance for hours watching a band; and keeping up my walks means I could go back packing with adult DSs for a week (and keep up! 😊) then I think its a good deal.

This is such bollocks. The evidence base is clear and overwhelming. People with healthier lifestyles live longer. There is a reason people living in affluent places outlive those in poor places.

Whilst there is no guarantee for any one individual, you are very definitely increasing your odds by improving the health of your lifestyle.

Start now OP. You’ll feel better for it mentally and physically anyway. 12 steps to a smarter you tells you want you need to do, based on the evidence base, to maintain your cognitive function too. ( And the advice will help you physical health as well).

@5128gap what’s a daily menu look like?

eating healthier and less crap food and exercising might seem boring but in the long run it won’t be bad for you.

everyone focuses on the above but it's not just that. It's low stress & good social connections.

I was interested in the blue zones study too, seems a practical and evidenced way to elongate health.

I don’t think we have any control over matters like this, mainly down to genetics and luck. But good for you if you feel the life style changes with help your mind, body & soul

Why not? My philosophy is it will make you feel better when you are alive and if you did get hit by a bus you are more likely to survive and recover if you are fit and healthy rather than unfit and frail.

First thing: pint of lemon water and a green tea.
1130ish porridge with oat milk, cinnamon and maybe chopped banana, or plant yoghurt with berries
2pm peanut butter or mushrooms on whole grain toast or home made veg soup with whole grain roll
630ish about 6/8 different veg (always tomatoes spinach and brocoli included, plus whatever else i have) with beans or lentils made into a chilli, curry, stir fry. Or 'bowl' meal with noodles and salad (wagamama inspired type thing)
Rice, bread or potatoes will always feature as I don't low carb. I use a lot of garlic and usually add turmeric, herbs and sprinkle with seeds.
I have a treat thing most evenings . A few squares of dark chocolate or an ice cream, maybe baked apple and cinnamon with vegan custard.
At least 2 litres of water during the day with another couple of green teas.

Sad to hear posters just assuming health is all down to our genetics or we shouldn't bother anyway as we might get hit by a bus  I guess some just don't want to take any responsibility for their own health.

@5128gap you are admirable. I moved towards a more plant based diet 2.5 years ago. My diet isn't perfect still but it is a lot better than it ever was. Minimal processed foods, lots of fruit and veggies. A pint of celery juice every morning followed by herbal teas and smoothies. I also exercise most days and have worked on my stress levels and sleep hygiene.

I have a history of Crohns Disease. I've never been better since I changed my diet and lifestyle. I feel normal for the first time in years. Zero flare ups in that time. I do admit I still take a 12 weekly biologic injection. However medication never worked much for me in the past. I hope to come off the medication soon.

Ongoing research is indicating that chronic illnesses are caused by western diet and lifestyle. Rates are soaring year on year. Your genes load the gun, your lifestyle fires it.

No way am I sitting back and letting my children suffer as I have. I'll do everything in my power to stop it.

It makes me so cross that Doctors told me "your diet doesn't matter, it won't change a thing, eat what you like". Though I know they just didn't know any different.

I firmly believe that any Doctor who prescribes a medication these days without discussing diet and lifestyle with their patient, is negligent

Good on you OP for wanting to make the change. I advise making small changes, little baby steps as you want these changes to be for life.

Ongoing research is indicating that chronic illnesses are caused by western diet and lifestyle. Rates are soaring year on year. Your genes load the gun, your lifestyle fires it.

But there are people who eat very healthy & do still get ill.

I think it's good to be healthy but people living to 100 in blue zones aren't doing that because they drink celery juice or calorie count etc.

Personally I think there is too much focus on diet when it's overall lifestyle that's important.

The biggest change to my health has been going p/t.

The changes you are talking about will also improve your quality of life when you are older. 😁

Im not sure you need to cut out the tea and coffee, but the rest all looks great.

I think the baby steps is helpful advice @CarolHath I didn't wake up one morning and decide to go from my old lifestyle to this one. In fact I'd have laughed at the thought I'd ever live like this if anyone had told me and been massively overwhelmed at all the changes to the habits of a lifetime.
It was a gradual process over about a year which I started by adding in nutritious foods to my existing diet, and little by little dropping the ones I feel do nothing to benefit me, mainly because i was too full from the good stuff. I did it by accident really, but have since learned its a thing called 'crowding' (out the unhealthy with the healthy) that works for a lot of people.

Lots of people are in denial here. The Blue Zone was really interesting and the people featured were inspiring.