How old are you? I’m turning 60 on June 18, 2012. Do you wonder (like I do) how the years flew by so quickly? It seems like yesterday I was holding my youngest daughter in my arms after giving birth. In a blink of an eye – I was holding her baby – my beautiful new grandson! God has so much more for each of us to accomplish, but how can we if we are unhealthy, exhausted or losing our joy? I’ve been blessed to look and feel young for my age and it improves the quality of my life on many levels. I want to share my expertise, thoughts and research on the topic of “Growing Young” in a regular blog so you can look and feel your best as well!
Do you want to live forever? I do. That is if the quailty of my life is excellent. I don't want to live in unbearable pain or in some prolonged vegetative state, but a quality life without end - sign me up! Actually, I'm already signed up as I hope you are. My faith in Jesus Christ ensures that I will spend eternity in Heaven. But what about extending our lives on earth? Most people are in no hurry to die, myself included.
As I research myriads of books and articles about anti-aging for my “Growing Young” book (working title), I ran across a very interesting book called The Immortality Edge by Fossel, Blackburn and Woynarowski – medical doctors and researchers in the science of extending life. The central theme of their book is stated in their tag line: Realize the Secrets of Your Telomeres for a Longer, Healthier Life. Until recently, I didn’t even know I had telomeres. Well, I do. And so do you.
Telomeres are defined as the segment of DNA that occurs at the ends of chromosomes. They are the non-genetic material that determines the life span of a cell. They’ve been described as long strands of “junk” DNA. Instead of losing vital DNA during replication, segments of the telomeres break off and grow shorter and shorter. At the point that the telomere reaches its critical limit, the cell either stops reproducing or dies.
Today, the age of a cell can be measured by the length of its telomere. Infants have very long telomeres, but not near as long as those of embryos. Of course adults, have even shorter telomeres. Telomeres don’t actually measure chronological age, but rather biological age – supporting the “you’re as young as you feel” cliché. I know this may be “TMI” (too much info) for some of you. But hang in there with me as it is fascinating and worth pondering the possibilities.
The authors say that telomere biology is “an extension of all other theories on aging – including wear and tear, antioxidant deficiency, genetic and hormonal deterioration, and mitochondrial aging and dysfunction – since ultimately they all point to the telomere”. One proof that telomeres are at the center of much of the longevity and anti-aging science is the fact that telomere researchers won the Nobel Prize in medicine in 2009. Even more fascinating discoveries have been made since then that are causing many scientists to believe we can not only stop aging, but reverse it. Wow.
This is exciting information for someone who turns sixty in 150 days. It’s even more exciting for my father who turns 84 in two weeks and will ski until his last dying day if he can. So, I flipped through this interesting book to look beyond the pure science and theory to find out what I could do today about those little tail-like telomeres that were shrinking daily as my cells replicate into an imperfect replica of my younger self.
The book includes a test to help me determine my “Telomere Age”. You start by giving yourself ten thousand points and then begin adding or subtracting points based on lifestyle questions such as:
How old are you? (Subtract 250 points for every decade over 20) – Bummer, I was down 750 points already!
Do you smoke? (Subtract 250 points if yes)
Do you drink more than two drinks of alcohol a day?
How much do you sleep?
Do you take fish oil?
Do you have high blood pressure?
And so on. Obviously, I don’t have permission to duplicate the test – you’ll have to buy the book if you want to take it. There were seventy questions in all. At the end, a 5000 to 6000 score meant you were between age 60 and 70. I scored 8,500 and rated at less than 35 years old. So, I took it again and scored myself very carefully and still was over 8000. What was so encouraging was that many of the lifestyle habits I’ve developed over the last fifteen years are factors that support my telomeres.
So, as I close today’s blog – I’ll share my top ten lifestyle factors that helped me score so high – because they are things that you can also do to keep your little DNA tails nice and long.
Sleep seven to nine hours most nights. Melatonin helps me greatly – I really like the time release type.
Fish oil EVERY DAY. I take a double dose morning and night and I can see and feel the difference.
Exercise 6 to 7 days a week. I usually get 45 to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise and 15 to 20 of conditioning.
Be anxious for nothing! Learn to deal with stress and trust God. Tomorrow has enough worries of its own.
Love life. Rejoice in the Lord!
Take supplements to fill in your nutritional gaps.
This past week, Betty White - America's Sweetheart - turned 90 years young. For her - 90 is the new 60! As I watched her televised birthday bash with dozens of clips from all her shows of years past, I was struck with how her sense of humor and joy for life was a consistent thread throughout the years. I don't know if Betty has faith - or what she believes follows this life. I truly hope she knows Jesus as I'd love to get to know her in Heaven one day. Maybe I should write her and see if she's secured her eternal reservation!
What really struck me is that there are far too many Christians that don't seem to live with the kind of joy and zest for life that Betty has. What's wrong with that picture? I believe this is due in part to the fact that we fail to focus on the truth that truly sets us free and gives us unquenchable hope and joy despite our circumstances. I've been re-reading a spectacular book by Bob George called: CLASSIC CHRISTIANITY. It is one worth reading every couple years. In fact, we are using it as one of four anchor books for our leadership mentoring groups at my church. It is a profound reminder that Jesus not only died to offer us forgiveness of our sins and a place in Heaven after this life, but He also ROSE from the dead to give us new life NOW! If we are not exuding the kind of joy we see oozing from the likes of Betty White - there is something wrong!
As I continue my countdown to 60 (155 days), I'm praying that God will help me to celebrate the gift of each and every day He chooses to give me on this earth to reflect the joy and hope that is within me - found only in Jesus Christ!
Now, go out and share a smile, find the humor in things and celebrate today with someone who needs hope!
I am blessed. Blessed to be alive. Blessed to have an amazing husband and children. Blessed to be approaching my sixtieth birthday. Yes, BLESSED. I used to say, "Think about the alternative" - which of course would mean death. But, these days, I finally realize that the other side of death is just another...you got it...BLESSING.
As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, the only big concern I have about death these days is HOW I get through the door. That big unknown has got to trouble most of you, yes? Both my grandmothers died in their mid-sixties. At the time, I thought they'd lived a nice, long life. Today, I realize how young they really were. But, much more sadly I also know that it is highly unlikely that either trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation. In my opinion, that is the one thing in life worth worrying about - that someone you know or love - or even those you DON'T KNOW - would die without knowing Christ.
That's what's on my mind more often than in years past. How many people can I touch with the Good News. And remember good news implies there is BAD news - which there is! An eternity separated from God and all the people you love would be hell...and it is.
So, no matter your age - your next big birthday looming on the horizon - Go share the Good News - Jesus Christ not only died for our sins so we could be forgiven and reconcilled with God. He ROSE again so we can have new life both NOW and for eternity. That's the greatest hope ever and why no matter what happens to me, I can say:
At sixteen, my very first job was as a nurse's aid in a nursing home. It was a real and raw introduction to aging in all its deterioraton, loss and sorrow. At the time, my grandparents were in their early sixties and that was my vast experience with "old people". I had no idea that aging had such a sad, sometimes pathetic alter ego. I remember lining up all the oldsters who were not capable of feeding themselves during mealtime and serving three or four of them spoonful by spoonful.
Sometimes I would stare into the vacant eyes of a woman who suffered dementia and wonder what her life had been like when she was young. Then, as I cut small pieces of toast and spooned another bite of pureed peaches into another shriveled mouth, I would create a screen play in my mind about their experiences. I imagined amazing hopes, dreams, passions and loves - before their lives were reduced to a "feeding line".
It became my regular practice to say to myself: "Old Mrs. Jones was my age once. She had a youthful body and strong mind. She had dreams. She had a life!" I came to realize that most people still have a "younger soul" existing within them that longs for the same things younger people long after: Peace. Hope. Love.
I only wish that I had known a powerful truth earlier - a truth that would give peace and hope to the old and hopeless. That truth: If we know Jesus as our personal savior, it doesn't matter how much our mind or body decays. Our eternity - the bulk of our existence is wrapped in an amazing promise of a new and glorified body one day:
2 Corinthians 5: 1 For we know that ifthe earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, 3 inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. 4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.
Whoosh. Time flies when you're having fun! I blinked my eyes and I was no longer a "middle aged" woman - I'm guessing in light of the latest life expectancy statistics that is about 42. It's hard to consider myself "old" when I feel young. But, if I'm still middle aged, then I'm going to live to 120 - Yipee!!!
How do you feel about growing older? I feel GREAT about it. There are definitely a few downsides. My hands expose my age. I've inherited my mom's arthritis and received the extra bonus of chronic tendonitis as well. They remind me that I'm not really 45. But, most of the benefits of aging far outweigh the losses.
When I went through menopause at 50, I gained the traditional "menopause muffin middle" and thought that despite my ability to maintain a healthy weight, I was resigned finishing life without a waist. Two years ago, I disproved that myth and lost about15 pounds and regained my 30-something figure. How? I put my Caltrac Activity Monitor back on and actually counted calories - which ALWAYS works. I also used my treadmill at about a 12% grade almost daily for 40 to 60 minutes. Three natural products also helped me greatly with my appetite and metabolism: SLIMALUMA, CELLUTHIN AND LYMPHTHIN (info on my webstore).
So, I figured it was time to disprove other myths about aging of body and mind and started writing my new book titled: GROWING YOUNG. I'd love to hear about your challenges - physical - mental - emotional -spiritual - and how YOU are celebrating this BEST SEASON OF LIFE in ways other women can embrace!
In the next few months, I'm going to post a few thoughts most days. And, I invite you to comment. Let's start a dialogue about this very temporal life journey and discuss how we can finish strong to God's glory!
There's a question I've been asking women for years: If time and money were no issue, what would you do differently with your life? It's a question that encourages daydreaming, but it can also be a negative motivator to focus on what you don't have rather than be thankful for what you DO have in all life's dimensions. If you can keep yourself from falling into discontent, the answer to that question may give you a hint of hopes, passions or gifts you've never pursued. At the end of your life, will you regret not pursuing them? And, an even more important question: Are any of these hopes, passions, giftings from God? Does HE want you to pursue them, but you are not for fear of failure or some other reason.
As I near my 60th birthday, I'm asking God to prompt, nudge, perhaps even give me a big ole PUSH toward the hopes, passions or use of gifts that HE wants me to pursue. He put me on this earth for a tiny bit of time to leave a deposit. I'm more and more aware that that time is running down. So, I'm trying to live like time and money are not an issue and pray for a few Godly nudges. I'll let you know when they come! Have YOU been nudged by God lately?
