Turn 65 in 3 days and feel awesome (other than recovering from the inguinal hernia surgery from yesterday). Would say I'm an 8.5, there is always room to improve and I'm on that path to do so. 2 years ago my Dr. prescribed blood pressure medication after a stress test. My BP had always been good and he didn't ask any questions to figure out why it went up, he just automatically prescribed medication. I figured it out (had started drinking a lot of Yurba Mate tea and was getting way too much caffeine).
I had already decided to focus on my health 2 years ago and bought a Peloton bike. Started riding the Peloton 4 times per week, 3 mile runs a couple times per week, started meditation and basic yoga, improved my diet with more plant based foods, drinking 3 liters of water every day, cutting out any fast food and soda's, very limited fried food and red meat.
Fast forward one year for my follow up physical. I had lost 20 lbs (I'm 6'2" and went from 195 to 175). Partly from the aerobic exercise and I quit drinking for 12 months (that was an immediate 5 lb loss). The Dr. wanted another stress test to compare. I had told him I never started the BP medication and quite cholesterol medication cold turkey and called him out for prescribing BP meds and not trying to figure out why it went up. He admitted a "dirty little secret" in the medical community. It is easier for a Dr to prescribe meds vs changing a life style. Lousy explanation but I'm guessing it is very common. Lesson is that you are responsible for your body, not the Dr and it is OK to challenge and take matters into your own hands.
He was OK with my dropping the cholesterol and not taking the BP med because of the lifestyle changes I had made. When the results came in from the 2nd stress test the Dr was impressed. I improved in all aspects well beyond what he would have asked for if he had set goals for me. In just 1 year I was getting 30% more oxygen to my body with every breath and if feels awesome!
The icing on the cake for me, the practice I started 9 months ago that will help me avoid future disease and live a long life that I can enjoy physically and mentally is the Wim Hof Method. Google him if you haven't heard of this guy but basically he developed a method that takes 20 minutes per day, is free and I can do at home.
By practicing the Wim Hof Method every day I have basically eliminated stress from my life (I own a small business and I understand stress) and am on a path of healthiness for the remainder of my life (and I've got a lot to go!). This method helps immediately to reduce stress, depression, anxiety, fight disease off, improve circulation, lower BP, bring the sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system into balance eliminating the chance for stress hormones 24/7 (chronic stress is a real killer, it opens the door for many awful diseases).
In fact, I have benefited so much from his method (it is a combination of breathing exercises, mediation/mind set and cold water therapy) that I'm on track to become a certified instructor for Wim. My next, and last, step to becoming certified will be in September when we spend a week on Mt Hood in Oregon (the day before I leave for Oregon I'll be in Tuscaloosa watching the Aggies beat the hell out of bama).
I've taken nothing but cold showers for the last 9 months and since summer started (shower water not very cold in the summer) I'm taking an ice bath twice per day (bought a used 15 cubic foot chest freezer, sealed the seams inside, filled it with water and chilled the water to 40 degrees). I soak up to my neck every morning and evening for 2 to 2.5 minutes each time.
All of the above combined takes very little time, especially compared to the long term benefits it will bring me.
My focus now is not by calendar age but my biological age. I'm already several years younger than my calendar age and will continue to biologically age slower.
If anyone has questions on the Wim Hof Method I would be happy to answer.
