Never would I have imagined that I would write about getting older at my age and comparing my current self to the youthful days I once had. I figured that aging is normal, the physical and mental sharpness declines.
A few months back, as I was shaving, I noticed some gray stubs on my chin, and I was actually excited. Besides the grayish stubs that I am now trying to grow, everything else I thought about becoming older in my years has been completely wrong.
Throughout my 20’s extending all the way up to my late 30’s, I struggled with pain, both physically and mentally. With chronic inflammation, weighing over 300lbs., most of my joints were in constant pain and I was taking several prescribed medications for blood pressure and depression. The idea of running a 10k or longer would have never crossed my mind. A run in my 20’s and mid 30’s would be forced, and the roller coaster of diets was ridiculous and unsustainable. Yes, I competed in bodybuilding in the early 2000s but I was uncomfortable most of the time. My mental status was clashing with the physical exertion I had to endure in order to compete. Something broke. Inside I felt like an imposter, and I was not happy.
When I turned 40, I started to realize that I wanted to feel different, become a better person and step away from the groups that society places on us. I wanted independence from everyone and to stop caring about what other people thought. So, I started asking questions and doing research on how to feel better both physically and mentally. Trial and error became a staple of my life moving forward. If a supplement worked great for one person but established nothing for me, I wanted to know why. I did the same with eating habits, how I slept, and questioned why my body was sore after eating. Instead of accepting that I am a moody and an aggressive person, I challenged myself to figure out why and what could do to change it.
I began to read more books. Inspirational books that catered to me. One book that I have read at least five times was “Atomic Habits”, written by James Clear. I challenged myself by breaking negative habits such as eating late. But I went even further… timing my eating habits and changing the frequency of how many times I ate daily. I began to incorporate intermittent fasting and from six meals a day to one meal a day. I have continued this habit for seven plus years. I tried various meal plans but what I noticed was that my body craved fat and protein. I am now 90% carnivore. I love salads and date night with my wife allows me to venture away and enjoy something sweet, without any negative impact on how I feel. This works for me. It may not be an idea for your lifestyle but it has changed mine for the better.
Due to the sleep apnea I once had, I adapted to four hours of sleep. Now, focusing on my circadian rhythm, I listen to my body and fall asleep earlier than I have in the past and I rise when my body is rested. I now average seven hours of sleep. It has been over five years since I needed to rely on the alarm waking me up. That’s right, I no longer need an alarm clock to wake up. If I want to wake up at 3am to make it to the gym before work, my heart rate is elevated, and an increase of cortisol is activated and my eyes open at 2.55am. If I want to sleep in on the days, I am off, my circadian rhythm awakens me at 4am.
In the past, I thought that having a heart rate variability (HRV) of 50ms was considered effective. Today, I averaged 105–140ms. My workouts are amazing, and I run like a gazelle. I started running last year in 2022; my first mile at a 5.5 mph pace. I now warmup at 8.2 mph and my goal by the end of the year is to run a 10k at a seven-minute mile pace or faster.
Cognitively speaking, I am sharper mentally and my memory is amazing. There is no sense of fog or forgetfulness. Comparing my current 48-year-old self to the younger me, I am physically stronger and faster. My mental awareness is keen and the chronic inflammation I once had has been downgraded to the bare minimum. I am living my best life ever and I would not trade my present self to the younger guy I once was.
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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From The Good Men Project on Medium
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Photo credit: Gordon Cowie on Unsplash
