“All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms.
And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper’d pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.”
From: By William Shakespeare via WikiPedia
Hi folks! Thanks for stopping by!
The diet and exercise plan you accept in your 40s will determine, to a large extent, your general level of fitness in your 70s and 80s, so beware!
William Shakespeare, or whoever wrote the Shakespearean plays, sure got it right when it came to the ages of man. It is the ‘fat dude’ that gets me: “In fair round belly with good capon lined,…” because you don’t have to become overweight in your middle age. You see overweight men, in their 40s and 50s, all over the USA, and it isn’t because they eat too many capons (do they still caponize chickens I wonder?). The problem is excessive carbohydrates in the standard American diet, combined with inadequate exercise. But I understand why – the pressure of life. Childhood, teenagerhood (at your fittest), mating (boy, that’s fun but difficult), helping to raise the kids, buying a home or making the rent, whilst simultaneously building a career in a high-pressure world. No wonder guys get out of shape during the period between fit teenager and overstressed middle-aged guy.
FitOldDog’s advice to guys in their 40s, or their, wives, partners and kids:
Read, or get your husband, partner, or dad to read, The Primal Blueprint, and subscribe (him) to Mark’s Daily Apple, start building gentle exercise into your lives (no, you don’t have to be an Ironman, just a Healthyperson), and cut back on carbohydrates wherever you find them.
If you are having trouble with the safe exercise part, just search this blog or visit our video store for insights.
This is a family project!
It’s now or never, guys, or diabetes and heart attacks here you come!
OK! Got to run (Or was it swim? Too cold to bike!).
-k @FitOldDog
Macbeth:
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps on this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
Not a very positive attitude to this wonderful adventure on planet earth, which might never have happened. Guess the message might be, don’t take yourself too seriously – he should have added a note about having fun when you can. -kevin