Author Topic: Fake-seeming advice becoming true with age?  (Read 10057 times)

Debbie M

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Fake-seeming advice becoming true with age?
« on: October 28, 2012, 08:53:39 PM »
A lot of mustachian techniques depend on being active, energetic, and strong.  Those things can get harder with age.  I'm starting to think that some seeming lies I've heard turn out not to be lies once you get older and less flexible.  For example, here are some things that were never true for me as a youngster but either are true now or I suspect they might become true soon:
* Lift with your legs, not your back (prevents back problems)
* Always warm up and cool down before doing aerobic exercise (prevents strains and tears)
* Replace running shoes regularly (prevents plantar fasciitis)
* Sleep at least 8 hours a day (lets you be more energetic and a better thinker)
* Wear shoes with ankle support (prevents sprained ankles)
* Maybe I should learn to roll when I fall, too.
* Vitamin deficiencies build up, too.

Any more?  Any thoughts?

arebelspy

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Re: Fake-seeming advice becoming true with age?
« Reply #1 on: October 28, 2012, 08:59:23 PM »
* Always warm up and cool down before doing aerobic exercise (prevents strains and tears)
...
Any thoughts?

Not sure what you count as "warm up," but studies show stretching increases chance of injury.  Just FYI. Most of that list seems accurate, and yes, youth forgives one ignoring some of that.
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kkbmustang

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Re: Fake-seeming advice becoming true with age?
« Reply #2 on: October 28, 2012, 09:01:24 PM »

* Lift with your legs, not your back (prevents back problems)


+1 for this. It's how I ended up with a brand new metal spine. I am now the bionic woman. Can't wait to go through airport security and see if I set off alarms.

sheepstache

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Re: Fake-seeming advice becoming true with age?
« Reply #3 on: October 28, 2012, 09:24:04 PM »
Unless you have perfect posture habits or extraordinary core muscle development, shoulder bags or off-the-shoulder backpack carrying is not worth it just to look cool.

clarkai

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Re: Fake-seeming advice becoming true with age?
« Reply #4 on: October 28, 2012, 09:27:56 PM »
* Wear shoes with ankle support (prevents sprained ankles)

I've twisted both my ankles several times, and I'm only 24. At this point, I'm starting to do ankle exercises to strengthen the surrounding muscle to help prevent it in the future.

I've always gotten 8 to 9 hours of sleep, even in college. I just don't function as well without it. I don't take a vitamin supplement, but I eat a diet very high in vegetables and fruits.

TwoWheels

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Re: Fake-seeming advice becoming true with age?
« Reply #5 on: October 28, 2012, 10:22:54 PM »
I've always gotten 8 to 9 hours of sleep, even in college. I just don't function as well without it.

Same here. One semester I tried cutting down on sleep to save time and it was a horrible experience. I've learned that in order to be extremely productive, I need to make sleep my first priority.

Jamesqf

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Re: Fake-seeming advice becoming true with age?
« Reply #6 on: October 28, 2012, 11:02:51 PM »
* Always warm up and cool down before doing aerobic exercise (prevents strains and tears)

Never really did that much, though nowadays some of it is forced on me be default, as it takes about a quarter mile/15 minutes to really get going.

Quote
* Sleep at least 8 hours a day (lets you be more energetic and a better thinker)

I wish.  Unfortunately I seem to be going into a pattern where I wake up in the middle of the night, and can't get back to sleep for 2-3 hours.  Some people claim this is actually normal for humans - see "second sleep".

Quote
* Maybe I should learn to roll when I fall, too.

Good advice at any age.  I credit yoga & judo practice with saving my life (or preventing really serious injury) at least twice.

Nords

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Re: Fake-seeming advice becoming true with age?
« Reply #7 on: October 28, 2012, 11:34:05 PM »
I wish.  Unfortunately I seem to be going into a pattern where I wake up in the middle of the night, and can't get back to sleep for 2-3 hours.  Some people claim this is actually normal for humans - see "second sleep".
Welcome to the "Security watchstanders on duty" club... sometimes I wonder if it's oversensitive hearing or a mild case of PTSD hyperalertness.

It's caused by various things.  You could start by tinkering with anything you eat or drink after 6 PM.  There's also "sleep hygiene" of getting rid of disruptive things in the bedroom like TVs, Internet access, or anything else that would cause you to bolt upright after just one sleep cycle.  I also tend to sleep through the night after a really hard workout, although there's a fine line between "hard workout" and "need two days to recover".

Overall I've found things that I could do to screw up my sleep, but I haven't found anything to guarantee reliable sleep.  OTOH I've learned to cherish how quiet and serene the neighborhood seems at 2 AM.

Nudelkopf

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Re: Fake-seeming advice becoming true with age?
« Reply #8 on: October 29, 2012, 04:33:58 AM »
It's how I ended up with a brand new metal spine. I am now the bionic woman. Can't wait to go through airport security and see if I set off alarms.
Whaaaaa? A full metal spine? Oh man, the image I have in my head is INCREDIBLE. I so wish it was true.

kkbmustang

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Re: Fake-seeming advice becoming true with age?
« Reply #9 on: October 29, 2012, 07:01:19 AM »
It's how I ended up with a brand new metal spine. I am now the bionic woman. Can't wait to go through airport security and see if I set off alarms.
Whaaaaa? A full metal spine? Oh man, the image I have in my head is INCREDIBLE. I so wish it was true.

Okay, not a FULL metal spine. I've got a prosthetic disc, a large, rectangular metal plate keeping two vertebrae stable and 4 scary looking metal screws drilled into the bone keeping the plate in place. (I saw the x-ray and it creeped me out.)  Oh, and a ginormous incision in my belly. Nice. Still recovering from surgery. Apparently, full recovery will take a year. Fun times.

caligulala

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Re: Fake-seeming advice becoming true with age?
« Reply #10 on: October 29, 2012, 08:04:56 AM »
* Always warm up and cool down before doing aerobic exercise (prevents strains and tears)
...
Any thoughts?

Not sure what you count as "warm up," but studies show stretching increases chance of injury.  Just FYI. Most of that list seems accurate, and yes, youth forgives one ignoring some of that.

It isn't the stretching that is the problem, it is the lack of sufficient strength to support your increased range of motion after stretching. So if you are planning on doing a high intensity workout and haven't been stretching regularly, it is probably best to save stretching for afterwards. But stretching and maintaining your range of motion is a good thing, it just needs to be done on a regular basis, not sporadically.

Debbie M

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Re: Fake-seeming advice becoming true with age?
« Reply #11 on: October 29, 2012, 09:05:00 AM »
Warming up means doing a less strenuous version of your exercise before you get started such as walking before jogging, jogging before running, and lifting light weights before lifting heavy ones.

Debbie M

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Re: Fake-seeming advice becoming true with age?
« Reply #12 on: October 29, 2012, 09:12:42 AM »

It's how I ended up with a brand new metal spine. I am now the bionic woman. Can't wait to go through airport security and see if I set off alarms.
...
Okay, not a FULL metal spine. I've got a prosthetic disc, a large, rectangular metal plate keeping two vertebrae stable and 4 scary looking metal screws drilled into the bone keeping the plate in place. (I saw the x-ray and it creeped me out.)  Oh, and a ginormous incision in my belly. Nice. Still recovering from surgery. Apparently, full recovery will take a year. Fun times.

Bummer about taking a whole year.  I like the part about the "full recovery" though.  And all from lifting with your back?  I do that ALL THE TIME.  I don't even know how to lift a big load with my legs.  How do you even reach?  I know I'm not supposed to put the laundry basket next to me when squatting, because twisting is dangerous.  But in front me, my knees get in the way.  Am I supposed to kind of straddle the basket (or big box of books or whatever) and keep my knees apart when I'm squatting?

Debbie M

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Re: Fake-seeming advice becoming true with age?
« Reply #13 on: October 29, 2012, 09:16:16 AM »
I've twisted both my ankles several times, and I'm only 24. At this point, I'm starting to do ankle exercises to strengthen the surrounding muscle to help prevent it in the future.

What kind of ankle exercises?  I've only heard of heel lifts and just flexing your ankle in different directions.  Anything else?

And now you're reminding me that strengthening the quads is supposed to help reduce knee injuries and strengthening the belly (and probably the whole core) is supposed to help prevent back injuries.

caligulala

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Re: Fake-seeming advice becoming true with age?
« Reply #14 on: October 29, 2012, 10:07:29 AM »

It's how I ended up with a brand new metal spine. I am now the bionic woman. Can't wait to go through airport security and see if I set off alarms.
...
Okay, not a FULL metal spine. I've got a prosthetic disc, a large, rectangular metal plate keeping two vertebrae stable and 4 scary looking metal screws drilled into the bone keeping the plate in place. (I saw the x-ray and it creeped me out.)  Oh, and a ginormous incision in my belly. Nice. Still recovering from surgery. Apparently, full recovery will take a year. Fun times.

Bummer about taking a whole year.  I like the part about the "full recovery" though.  And all from lifting with your back?  I do that ALL THE TIME.  I don't even know how to lift a big load with my legs.  How do you even reach?  I know I'm not supposed to put the laundry basket next to me when squatting, because twisting is dangerous.  But in front me, my knees get in the way.  Am I supposed to kind of straddle the basket (or big box of books or whatever) and keep my knees apart when I'm squatting?

When in doubt, stick your butt out when lifting. You want to be using all of your lower body to help lift things - quads, glutes, hamstrings. A good way to strengthen your lower body is to simply be conscious of where you are holding your boy's weight. You want it to be stacked up over your heels, but most people lean forward or stick a hip out, which reduces the load on the lower body. A good way to test whether you have your weight on your heels is to pick up your toes. If you can pick them all the way up easily, you are good. If not, move back. You might feel off balance standing back, but that will help improve your balance and build strength through the whole leg.

clarkai

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Re: Fake-seeming advice becoming true with age?
« Reply #15 on: October 29, 2012, 11:00:36 AM »
I've twisted both my ankles several times, and I'm only 24. At this point, I'm starting to do ankle exercises to strengthen the surrounding muscle to help prevent it in the future.

What kind of ankle exercises?  I've only heard of heel lifts and just flexing your ankle in different directions.  Anything else?

And now you're reminding me that strengthening the quads is supposed to help reduce knee injuries and strengthening the belly (and probably the whole core) is supposed to help prevent back injuries.

Like this, http://physicaltherapy.about.com/od/strengtheningexercises/ss/ankleexercises_4.htm only with resistance or with some weight on the ankle. I'm staring off slowly, as I just twisted my ankle weekend before last and it's still sore. 

Nords

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Re: Fake-seeming advice becoming true with age?
« Reply #16 on: October 29, 2012, 12:09:26 PM »
Okay, not a FULL metal spine. I've got a prosthetic disc, a large, rectangular metal plate keeping two vertebrae stable and 4 scary looking metal screws drilled into the bone keeping the plate in place. (I saw the x-ray and it creeped me out.)  Oh, and a ginormous incision in my belly. Nice. Still recovering from surgery. Apparently, full recovery will take a year. Fun times.
At a certain rank in the military, you'd be under suspicion of having had your spine removed...

 

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