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LenDentonThrive Letter #41

Welcome to the LenDentonThrive Letter!

My mission is to help Guys over 50 to build thriving, healthy lifestyles. I call it the ThriveLife!

Is 75 The New 50?

We’ve all heard the term: “60 is the new 40.”

For some guys, that’s true!

I know that I felt healthier at 60 than I did at 40. (Note: That only happened because I made a radical change in my life at age 55 - which is when my ThriveLife experience began.)  

But now I’m 65. And my question is: Could 75 be the new 50?

I believe that it’s possible to be as healthy, vigorous, and active at 75 as you’d expect to be at age 50. 

Think about the possibilities of that for a moment. How many more adventures await? Or new friends to be made? Or even holding your daughter’s granddaughter! (Whoa! That one gets me!)

This might not seem very interesting to you if you’re in your 30s or 40s. But if you’re an Over-50 or Over-60 Guy, you know what I mean. 

I think this idea that 75 could be the new 50 is…

…A. 100% possible.

…B. Absolutely worth it!

So, this is my plan. I want to make 75 my new 50. But, it’s not going to just happen. It’s going to take some smart work on my part… and yours!

In many ways, this will be like swimming against the tide of our culture. In the USA, men’s life expectancy is actually declining! Since COVID, men’s average lifespan has decreased by 2 years to 73.5 years! Globally, the USA ranked 44th in men’s life expectancy.  

So, following the crowd won’t get us there. Only a few will achieve the goal of an extended life of health and vigor.   

The difference won’t be luck or genetics. Those certainly have a role in our lives. But, the real difference-maker will be this:

Our daily practices!

We ALL have daily practices, things that we do every day. Whether these are conscious or unconscious practices; healthy or unhealthy; they ARE the building blocks of our individual lifestyles.

Our daily practices are the reason for our current state of health, and the predictors of our future health. 

So, the question is: Are our daily practices pointing us toward a healthy and vigorous future, or one of decline, disease, and early death?

Fortunately, we get to participate in that decision by the actions that we take every day!

We need to think differently. We need to Age Smarter!

That’s what the ThriveLife is all about! And your ThriveLife is built on your daily practices!

Your Longevity Partner

Every ThriveLifer has a key ally in their journey to make 75 their new 50. This important longevity partner is your doctor.

Most of the Over-50 Guys I know avoid their doctor as much as possible. It seems to be an even bigger issue for my Over-50 friends who are “out-of-shape.”

Maybe they avoid the doctor because they’re just busy and haven’t made regular doctor visits a priority. (I’ve been guilty of that in the past.)

Or, maybe they’re afraid of what the doctor is going to tell them.

Whatever the reason, it's a really bad idea… especially if you’re working to make 75 the new 50! Here’s why:

The 1st Rule of Longevity is…Don’t die stupid!**

The polite translation is: Don’t take dumb risks with your life!

It's a fact that the onset of medical conditions, including chronic diseases, rises dramatically for men after the age of 50. And, this is especially true for guys who are “out-of-shape.”

It’s also true that the best defense against those chronic diseases is early detection and treatment. The best way to build that essential defense is to work with your doctor (aka your longevity partner) to create an early warning system of regular check-ups.

If you’re a ThriveLifer (like me) who’s working hard to make 75 the new 50, you’re not avoiding your doctor. Instead, you’ve partnered with your doctor to build your own personal Medical Early Warning System (MEWS).

The alternative is to risk violating the 1st Rule of Longevity!

You are the CEO of your health and fitness. So, be the BOSS and work with your doctor to build your own MEWS.

My Game Plan

My goal is to use my Thrivelife to make 75 the new 50. Here’s my personal 7-step game plan to get there:

#1. I’ve taken control of my health - working with my doctor, I’ve developed a Medical Early Warning System (MEWS) of regular check-ups to make sure that any onset of illness or disease can be detected and treated early. For me, that means an annual physical exam and blood tests every quarter (to manage my cholesterol levels).

#2. I’m Eating Smarter - I’ve eliminated the foods most likely to cause weight gain, replacing them with healthy whole-food alternatives. These banned Red Zone foods include sugar, white flour, white rice, white potatoes, corn, and High Fructose Corn Syrup.

#3. I’m Moving Smarter - Walking is my exercise of choice, so I get 10-12,000 steps every day. I target the Zone 2 cardio range, which means walking at 60-70% of my max heart rate. Most days I won’t break a sweat, but it’s great all-around exercise. (Don’t worry if you can’t do that much yet. Just start wherever you are, then keep going. That’s what I did 10 years ago.)

#4. I’m Training Smarter - Strength and muscle mass are important predictors of healthy aging. To be vigorous and strong at 75, we need to be vigorous and strong now. So, I’m doing moderate strength training 6 days a week. For me, this means a combination of bodyweight exercises and dumbells at my home gym. I alternate arms+shoulders days with legs+core days. It’s a portable and sustainable routine that fits my lifestyle.

#5. I’m Focused on Better Sleep - Good sleep is important to brain health. Sleep is a weak spot for me, so I’m focused on getting 7.5 hours a night. I’ve created a bedtime routine to help me get to bed earlier and sleep better. This is a work in progress for me.

#6. I’m Stressing Less - Stress is your enemy. I’ve learned that too much stress is unhealthy. So, I take steps daily to offload the stress that accumulates as we move through our day. For me, the best two ways to shed stress are a walk outside and quiet time in the morning.

#7. I’m Living with Purpose - Purpose is a Healthy-Aging Superpower. Do you have a big WHY (or mega-reason) in your life that gets you out of bed every morning, eager for another day? I do. I bet you do, too!

These are the 7 daily practices that form my game plan to make 75 the new 50.

In Closing

How do you see yourself at 75?

Are you the frail old guy, lacking the energy to do the things you care about? Or, are you the vigorous, energetic guy who seems 15 years younger than your friends?

I know which one I want to be.

You can be either one. You get to choose. I hope you’ll choose the ThriveLife!

Smarter, not harder!

Thanks for your time and attention.

Thrive and prosper,

Len

I write this newsletter hoping to make a positive impact on the lives of Over-50 Guys and and their families. If you found this information useful, please consider subscribing to receive new editions each week.

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