Comments on: How Binary Thinking Could Mean “Chronic” Suffering In Old Age

By: Yusuf Clack

Yusuf Clack — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:37:50 +0000

Thanks Clay. I guess one first has to contemplate death and then work backward to how he’d like his end to be. The last 20-30 years are simply survived instead of
lived

by too many.

By: Clay

Clay — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:17:35 +0000

Really wise insights here. Thinking about my death has been some of the most important self work I’ve done . . . and I think part of being a strong father and a strong human being has to do with your ability to face your death. Thanks for sharing your excellent thoughts here.

By: Yusuf Clack

Yusuf Clack — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:46:33 +0000

@Scott – Thank you! Considering your track record, I know that once you have a goal it’s as good as done. So I look forward to hearing about your progress. Email me if you have any questions. I can point you to some excellent trainers or group classes in your area. It’s quite satisfying to know that you found benefit here, as I’ve read both of your books and listened to a number of your podcasts. So while I am far from repaying your mentorship in full, at least it’s a start. Keep up the good work in building fat wallets while I continue to build lean bodies.

Together we can reverse the alarming trend of lean purses and fat stomachs!

By: Yusuf Clack

Yusuf Clack — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:32:49 +0000

@Mike – Thanks for chiming in with an important contribution and personal examples as well. Real sorry to hear about the asbestos catching up with your grandfather. Nevertheless, it seems his life in construction kept him with a strong mind and body, until the end. He was able to keep his legacy in tact.

Really glad to see you putting in the work on the weights and the rowers. I especially like the rower. Way to be a leader for your family and peers. If you can, it would serve you well to hire a pro to help you learn how to correctly deadlift. There are drills he can take you through to help you be able to pinch your shoulder blades back. The deadlift is the Paretto Principle actualized in traditional weight training and will make all of the difference in functional strength, core strength, and back strength – plus: hams and glutes.

By: Scott Fox

Scott Fox — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 06:17:12 +0000

Insightful and compassionate post, Yusuf.
Better health and fitness is one of my goals in 2010, so very timely for me, too.
These issues are widespread and chronic so I really like the mission of your blog and look forward to more.
Thanks for tweeting me about it.
@scott_fox

By: Mike Stankavich

Mike Stankavich — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:55:34 +0000

Yusuf, thank you for sharing an intensely personal and moving reminder of how the choices that we make and the habits that we build today make a huge difference in our later years. I had one grandfather that was healthy and strong into his 80s until the asbestos from his days in construction caught up with him. My other grandfather didn’t take care of his health at all and ended up dying of a heart attack at 50. He never even saw his grandchildren.

I’m in my mid forties, and got serious about fitness a couple years ago. Today I work out with free weights three days a week and run intervals on a rower three days a week. It makes a huge difference in how I feel and how capable I am with coping with stress and challenges in my life. Yusuf is absolutely right – build fitness into your lifestyle, and don’t wait. Do it now.

By: Yusuf Clack

Yusuf Clack — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:34:32 +0000

@Josh – I love the “Mountain man elder” reference. What a strong image for the end of life. Also, blown away by your compliment – really lofty praise coming from a writer like you. I always tell people about your blog and story. You’re a living example of how a vigilant approach to training has allowed you to transcend and manage a condition that many would surrender to.

By: Yusuf Clack

Yusuf Clack — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:29:09 +0000

@Joel, THANKS! for sharing about your grandad. I think you nailed it in terms of an explanation. “working out” is somewhat of a modern remedy to us sitting all of the time. Not too long ago it would be absurd, unless you were an athlete or warrior, to try and burn extra calories. Calories were hard enough to come by without going out of your way to burn them. But that is the flip side to a knowledge based economy.

It sounds like your Grandad set a great example for you in this area. Keep the mind and body active and manage your attitude with every tool possible to avoid throwing in the towel. Thanks again for sharing. I follow your work and know that your work ethic will take you far in business and health. Just sign up for a Kettlebell class, will ya!

By: Josh Hanagarne

Josh Hanagarne — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 02:33:11 +0000

Powerful stuff, friend. You’re a really good writer. I’ve seen both sides of this issue in my two sets of grandparents. One has hung on frail and scared. On the other side, my grandpa spent the last year of her life hunting in the mountains, well into her 80s.

By: Joel Mark Witt

Joel Mark Witt — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 01:44:42 +0000

Up until 2 months ago all four of my grandparents were alive. My grandfather on my dad’s side passed away at 90 after about six months of health decline.

Up until a year ago he was nimble and strong. I attribute this to a positive outlook on life and a disciplined work ethic. He never “worked out” a day in his life. But he was from the generation where you worked hard with your hands and did things yourself. He owned a 12 acre property in Pennsylvania that he and my grandmother maintained themselves and with the help of us grandkids and our parents in later years.

There was snow to plow, grass to cut, fences to repair and other maintenance tasks to complete. I am convinced that all this work kept him in shape and healthy into his 80s.

He was an awesome grandfather and was able to give of himself to all of us grandkids – I believe because he kept his mind and body sharp through hard work.

My goal is to spend my life in a way now that will set me up to be a strong and disciplined dad and granddad for my family.

Thanks for a great post.

Joel Mark Witt