In this YouTube video titled "Age is Just a Number" I talk about how your age really effects your ability to do pretty much anything physical.
Some people look at me and wonder how at 46 I can be in better shape then most people in their 20's? I ask what is stopping me from being in better shape then people half my age, is it my age? And if it is my age how does my age factor in to all of this?
The preset notion is that as we get older our bodies get weaker and more run down, and yes there is some truth in this but why does this happen? Sometimes genetics play a roll and even some very young people can end up with the short end of the stick and receive some disease that effects their health and ultimately effects their physical condition which can put limitations on what they can do in terms of exercise. As we get older the possibilities of sickness, disease and injury are more prevalent than a person much younger. But if we take care of ourselves through health, nutrition, fitness and being kind to our bodies, then we don't open ourselves up to the effects of aging as much.
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There are also people in their 50's, 60's, and 70's that are still running marathons or doing power lifting or biking or what ever it is they enjoy doing physically. So yes if your genetics are on your side and you take care of your body then age becomes just a number, not the determining factor in what you should be capable of doing.
On the other side of the coin, a limiting factor may be time, perhaps you work 60 hours per week and come home to family duties at the end of the day that leave you beat tired with no interest in doing anything physical, but then again this has nothing to do with age? Anyone can be in this situation at any point in their lives. Perhaps it again is simply understood that younger people have more free time so they can use that free time to achieve their fitness goals more effectively.
One last point I want to make is the excuse factor. At any age a person can have an injury, physical disability or responsibilities that make achieving their physical goals harder than for others. Perhaps this happens a bit more as we get older. If it is important to you, you will find a way to make it happen, there is always something you can do even if it's not your fist choice, there is always at least a little bit of time in your day that you can commit to health and fitness.
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I guess my point here is that age does not determine what you can do, other factors are much more important, and even if age has caught up with you and put limitation on your life, you still have options and choices that include health and fitness. You may be surprised at how you can turn things around just by making some small positive mental commitments to make your health and fitness a priority in your life regardless of age.