Re: Does weight really matter to you?



Lord Slime wrote:

> "A. Cairns" <lekker@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> > Lord Slime wrote:
> > > Sure, metabolic rate changes with age, but is it nature or nurture?
> >
> > Whoops. Slipping into the either/or frame of mind?
>
> I'm not sure what you mean by that.

Only that metabolic rate and other physiology probably isn't just nature
or just nurture.



> I was alluding to the
> famous debate (still raging) of whether human characteristics
> are more determined by genetics (nature) or training (nurture).

As you qualify here by saying "more determined".



> These days most people believe that getting fat as you get
> older is inevitable. But when you see terribly obese teenagers
> and twenty-somethings, and incredibly fit 50- and 60-year-olds
> (especially in other cultures), then the "nature" argument
> becomes untenable.

There are cultures in which people tend to become thinner as they cross
from maturity into old age. Their genetics might be different, too.
Personally I wouldn't try to tailor my lifestyle according to studies
unless the investigators cloned me and ran 500 versions on one regime and
500 on another. Of some small relevance here are reports that athletic
types may not live as long as more sedentary types, perhaps because the
athletes generate more free radicals. But how much do you care about
living as long as you could versus having a good time now?


> I think losing your "drive" is the number one thing. Most of the
> population in the 30 to 50 age bracket is married/divorced with
> children, unsatisfying jobs and truckloads of societal baggage.
> Any athletic goals or aspirations they may have had have been
> replaced by the social imperative of trying to excell in the
> job/family/home-owner competition (aka The Rat Race).

Congratulations too on winning the Rat Race.

"Drive" decreases because the parts of you that make testosterone,
endorphins, growth hormone, and other good things age, too. And also
because, as you say, a lot of things people do aren't "satisfying".

But when my ancient friends and I go climbing, which we do fairly often,
we feel 17 years old again. I have one partner who can't seem to leave
worries about his business behind him. He has lots of drive but too much
baggage.



> Any
> left over sexual drive (to remain fit and attractive) has been
> replaced by resignation since both parents have committed
> themselves to at least 20 years of raising children and a 30 year
> mortgage, with no end in sight. You don't have to be physically
> fit to do that.
>
> The other piece of the puzzle, as Sue said, is that most people
> have sedentary jobs. Even today you almost never see fat
> farmers. But you see tens of thousands of fat people who sit
> on their asses eight hours a day.

Passivity breeds passivity. Too much canned entertainment, etc.



>
>
> > Congratulations to you and happy birthday to the evil twins.
>
> Thanks.
>
> - Lord Slime

I'd bet you've got many more good years ahead.

Andy Cairns


.

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