Is Endurance Exercise the Fountain of Youth?

I found this article and was floored.  Time to get out my runners again.  Can't hurt to try right?

Endurance exercise on a treadmill prevented premature aging in mice that are genetically disposed to to aging faster. The mouse treadmill workouts were for 45 minutes, three times a week for five months. While the control group of mice showed the expected premature aging, "balding, greying, physically inactive, socially isolated and less fertile," the treadmill mice looked as young and healthy as regular mice.

"Many people falsely believe that the benefits of exercise will be found in a pill. We have clearly shown that there is no substitute for the 'real thing' of exercise when it comes to protection from aging," said Mark Tarnopolsky, principal investigator of the study in a press release from McMasters University. Previous studies with these premature-aging mice tried various drugs and calorie restriction with far less effect.

"I believe that we have very compelling evidence that clearly show that endurance exercise is a lifestyle approach that improves whole body mitochondrial function which is critical for reducing morbidity and mortality," said Adeel Safdar, lead author and a senior PhD student working with Tarnopolsky. "Exercise truly is the fountain of youth."

The mice age faster due to a defect in their mitochondria, which are the cell's powerhouses. As mitochondria age, every cell in the body has less fuel to run on. In humans, this happens as we age and defects pile up in the mitochondrial DNA. Endurance exercise kept the mitochondria youthful in this study.

The amount of exercise that the mice got matches nicely with the exercise recommendations made by health authorities worldwide. Previous human studies have found that regular exercise can give you more healthy, active years.
Source:
Adeel Safdar, et. al. "Endurance exercise rescues progeroid aging and induces systemic mitochondrial rejuvenation in mtDNA mutator mice," PNAS published ahead of print February 22, 2011, doi:10.1073/pnas.1019581108

If he can do it so can you

Don't you dare tell me you are too fat to run.  There is a 410 pound former US Sumo Wresting Champ planning on running a marathon. 

http://backseatfan.com/2011/02/410-lb-sumo-wrestler-to-run-la-marathon/

Update on Goals

Here an update on my goals.  I thought I will revist my goals on a semi-regular basis so that I can be accoutnable. 


I will reconnect with God. This one has not been the going the best. I had some wonderful advice from a dear friend but unfortunately have not taken it. School has been crazy and if I don’t commit to school work on Sundays that usually means I have spent most weeknight doing school work and miss my family so much we use it as a family day. I think for now, at least until this class is over, I will have to reconnect with God using by bible.

I will be a more patient mom. This one is working. I have to really try to consciously not get angry but it is working.

I will work on my relationship with my boyfriend. This too is working. We still need to find a councilor but we are working together. Plus we are getting closer to actually becoming engaged (I may or may not have already started to plan the wedding).

I will extend my friends network. Okay, so I have not really extended anything but have reconnected with some friends that I haven’t made the effort to stay in touch with.

I will run three 10k races and at least one half marathon. I may have found a training partner for the 10k races.

I will lose 50 pounds. So far this year I am not where I want to be but that just means I need to work harder.

I will work hard towards obtaining my masters in human resources. I have not been slacking in class. The class I am taking is kicking my ass but my head is above water so far.

I will make a budget that pays down debt and increases savings. I have not sunk further into debt. I have not really put a big dent into it yet. I need to stick to my budget better. Stupid expenses keep jumping up. Oh well. At least it is not a deeper whole than I started out with.

Who is that fat girl out the window?

Do I am sitting at school yesterday dutifully doing my homework.  I look over and think, wow that girls is fat.  Shit, I just say my reflection.  I was not in the best posture and was in my lulus and a hoodie so there was no support from my clothes as to were restriction.  I am taken aback.  It amazes me continually how far I have let myself slide.  According to my bmi, I am once again in the obese zone.  Shit, not even overweight any more. 

 I found this on the Internet today.  See I see myself between a 26-29.  So when you see a big ol' 33 looking back at you its a scary sight.  I did not freak out and drown my sorrows in a tub of ice cream.  Instead I finished my homework, came home and ate four prunes as I was hungry but didn't want to eat really bad.  I got my sweetness fix and some great fiber.

I did do my shred this morning.  I am trying my hardest to keep up with them and if I do take a break, I am only out for 5 seconds.  I am better today than on Monday so at least there is that progress.

Tomorrow I am taking the big plunge and stepping on the scale.  Honestly, I am terrified of the number that is going to show up on there but its my number and no matter what I have to own up to it. 

Confession and Committment

I am full of excuses. Full of them. I can think one up for anything, especially exercising.
- I am too fat
- I am too hungry
- I am too tired
- I don’t have a gym membership
- The free gym membership that comes with my (very expensive) University tuition doesn’t have childcare
- I feel bad leaving my child at home with her dad
- I don’t like running on the treadmill
- It’s too cold to run outside (today though it truly is, -48 with the wind chill is ridiculous)
- And on, and on, and on…

I worked out yesterday and today. I am trying to get out of the cycle of excuses.

There is a reason for this. On Sunday I went to put on a pair of jean to go out grocery shopping and ended up in tears. The size 12 jeans I had that have never been tight on me since I bought them two years ago were disgustingly tight. Lie on the bed to do up and have the most repulsive muffin top due to all the pressure tight. This makes me embarrassed to admit it out loud that I have let myself go this bad. I think I was this fat after I gave birth four years ago. I have been too terrified to step on a scale since Sunday. I don’t want to see that number. (Although I went to the doctor’s on Wednesday of last week for my physical and was weighed there so I know approximately how much it is.)
One positive about going grocery shopping when you are fat made me re-evaluate all my purchases. I did buy Fresca but have only had half a can since. Every time I picked up a deliciously fattening food item, I thought about how far I let myself slip and put it back. I don’t deserve a treat, treats are what got me into plus sized clothes. I deserve to start treating me better and taking care of myself. No filling it full of crap.

Last night to show myself how bad its gotten, I went through my closet and moved out all the clothes I am no longer able to wear. There is less than half my closet left. Again I came to tears. I am committed to not buying more to replace what I have outgrown. I will work towards getting back into the clothes I wore three months ago and the clothes I have bought that are in storage for ‘when I am skinny enough to wear them’.

A weird thing is I am not pumped to get going. I am calm about it. I know it’s not going to be easy and there is going to be a tonne of temptation to knock me off my goal but I am going to persevere. I am not going to buy size 14 jeans. I refuse to. I will become a healthier and better me. I will not try and take the easy route (which I seriously contemplated by asking my doctor for a prescription)

Once you say it out loud you can’t take it back. It’s a commitment and now I am committed. It will be done.