Is getting old a state of mind?

[Kgs 69]

Getting old, is it truly a state of mind? Or is it ineveitable that father time catches up to us? When I was young I could eat, drink whatever I wanted. Beers all night, late night White Castle for sliders, McDonalds for breakfast. Rinse and repeat. The end result of such irresponsible behaivors.....
-18 yoa 5% body fat
-19 yoa 5% body fat
-21 yoa 6% body fat

Now, I did workout out all the time back then.

Fast foward. I workout if I feel like it, or find time. BUT I do eat very healthy, rarely ever drink. End results...

-37 yoa 14% body fat
-back problems can lay me up for days
-tore my knee up, had surgery
-had brain surgery (birth defect)
-2 vasectomys (take a sample in men)
-partial tear in biceps (refusing surgery at this time)

I think being young is a "state of mind". Reality is that we may think were not getting any older, but we truly are. Opinions please.

[goh33ls]

there's the mind, then there's the body! For the mind, it gets better with age, no doubt about it. Of course, if you count the tendency to be less daring (read less stupid by some! i.e. bungie jumping, ghost riding, etc.) then the mind get a litte creaky as well. But the bod, man, you got to work hard at it after 40 to keep any semblance of good shape. Even then, injury recovery takes longer, things break, tear, strain quicker. And things just break down a little more.

[Paydirt404]

I was at the gym the other day, and I wanted to make a cut, but my body wouldnt respond fast enuff to do it. I used to be a driver but now I have to come off screens and shoot more.

I dont listen to as much rap as I use to, I listen to more R&B music. I often find hip hop records like MC Lyte, Common, Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Slick Rick, Redman more appealing than the mainstream artists.

Your body and mind are joined together, and your body feeds of your thoughts and vice versa. To an extent you are only old when you accept you are old. BUt everything has its limitations.

[JPar]

I think that people who say getting old is a state of mind are really just being overly optimistic.

While it's true that you can still enjoy life as you get older, you still have to face the fact that your body is breaking down, regardless of how well you take care of it. That means your idea of how to enjoy life has to change a little bit.

I used to be able to play bball for 5 hours straight. Now, I'm lucky to go 2 hours without feeling physically beaten.

But I'm still enjoying myself, eating better and trying to figure out how to burn fat. :D

[Nevada_Ballin]

The aging of your body is inevitable, it can't be stopped, that's just how it is. How you approach it mentally is the kicker. I know getting older is inevitable so it doesn't bother me, I crack up when i see guys using Just For Men to cover their grey hair so they can "look" younger. But if your 45 yo, you're 45 yo. Hair dye isn't gonna do much for ya except feed your own vanity a bit. but that takes a serious hit when you realize dying your hair often will make it more grey faster...lol.

And we are living healthier & longer. But 45 is still 45. lol

But it's important to stay "young at heart" and in the mind. Ever see that commercial where it shows a rocking chair, shuffleboard and a few other things we have always related to old people adn then the guy says soemthing like "that may be how the previous generations retired but do you really think THIS generation is going to go out that way?" then it shows people in their 50's, 60's & 70's jumping out of airplanes & stuff like that.

Yea, we're gonna pay for all that activity we did when we were young but that doesn't mean we need to stop. Hell man, i constantly have aches and pains from things i did when i was younger... i've had 2 broken legs and 1 stress fracture of the same leg, glass go straight through my arm, major back surgery, broken shoulder in 3 places, several cracked/broken ribs, concussions, etc... there are days where i feel all of that and then there are days where i feel like i can still go out there and play ball (but i think that's the mental "glory days" in my head cuz i know the body will say "Excuse me sir, but YOU can't do THAT anymore" ...lol)

But in the end, that doesn't bother me. I think having sports video games actually helps me handle the switch from "player" to "spectator" a lot cuz i still get to be involved in competition - and i love competing.

.

[Skinsman 68]

I agree completely with what Nevada said. The aging process can be slowed by eating right, exercising, taking the proper vitamins, avoiding psycho women in you life, etc. etc...but no one yet has figured out a way to stop the aging process. Its ironic that as we approach our golden years, and start contemplating retirement and enjoying the fruits of our employment labors, we have to work harder than ever to keep our bodies in good shape. I am only 38, but I am now busting my butt to get back into the shape I was in 6-7 years ago. It can be done, it just takes harder work.

The mind is a different story altogether. You can keep a young state of mind and, to some extent, that will transfer over to your body. But, we all have physical limitations and no amount of mindpower can completely overcome Father Time. Thats one of the reasons I game. It keeps my mind sharp, keeps my reflexes up and you get to associate with many of the younger crowd, which in and of itself can make you feel younger. As long as my hands and mind are able, I will continue to game.

And no matter how much older I get, I do not feel the compulsion to give up listening to Metallica and Green Day in exchange for Perry Cuomo or Sinatra:D