I promised a new blog series and here it is! I’m bringing you tips for longevity from my favourite authors to begin. Here are some tips inspired by Peter Attia’s book, “Outlive”
- Prevention first! Prevent damage to your body and brain by wearing a helmet and a seatbelt when necessary. My mom has started wearing a helmet to ice skate since the grandkids started skating and helmets were mandatory for them. Makes sense right? Another great tip is to avoid falls around the house by having railings on stairs, a non-slip mat in the bathtub. A concussion now, may mean faster deterioration as we age and a lack of cognitive independence. If you want to be able to independently manage your finances and learn new things in your older years, protect your noggin today!
- On the note of falls, prevent falls! Dr. Attia specifically points to eccentric quad loading to prevent falls. That’s a fancy way to say that many falls happen when someone steps forward and their quadricep muscle can’t work effectively to stop them from falling forward. So what are some steps you can take to prevent falls?
Forward lunges, squats, walking down stairs, walking down hill, pistol squats and my personal favourite, vertical jumps. Practice modifications of these to meet your fitness level. Add weight to make it more difficult and practice next to a wall or sturdy chair to support your balance. - Make life ENJOYABLE! Why would you want to live to a ripe old age if you’re not enjoying it? Attia recommends managing stress through formal therapy. He describes looking at different parts of his mental-emotional selves and giving them names to work with them. This process of whole-self integration is very popular right now and can be very effective.
If you’re interested in learning more about the different parts of yourself, I just listened to a fabulous interview with the creator of Internal Family Systems on the Being Well Podcast that I highly recommend. Season 3, episode 293. Check it out here https://www.forresthanson.com/being-well - Dr. Attia recommends way more than this, but I wanted to keep this blog short! For information on heart health, cholesterol, and neurodegenerative prevention, get the book: https://peterattiamd.com/outlive/
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