The knowledge that regular exercise, good food choices, limited alcohol and mental stimulation have positive effects on reducing illness, and the maintenance of health in later life is not new, in fact this thinking has been adapted and promoted for centuries. Texts from ancient Greece and Egypt (as examples) give reference to lifestyle, nutrition, exercise and even methods of therapeutics; texts describing the lower back have been dated as far back as 1500 BC!
Of course these subjects remain as important now as ever. Despite the passage of time and the progress of science, we all remain in search of something; improved fitness, smaller waistlines, less wrinkles, greater vitality... Perhaps the longed for solution to our concerns is not something new, perhaps we need to look towards an older wisdom for some answers.
Revelations in lifestyle, exercise and food trends spring up with inevitable regularity. Scour the magazine aisle on any given day and you will be greeted with at least a handful of headline articles, teasing us with the promise of 'a new you'.
Every now and then a seemingly new theory emerges and really takes hold, captivating and charming us. The claim so simple we are all drawn in, we're preaching the mantras, we're wearing the t-shirt, we're recruiting everyone we know to the cause. We've all been there... Keto, Atkins, kettlebells, HIIT, fasting, juicing, low-fat, low intensity cardio, protein shakes, gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, IIFYM, core training...
What is really interesting is how easily we are sold on the originality of these 'new' solutions. In fact fitness routines and food choices have been re-packaged and re-branded continually for years, a bit like fashion - flares today, gone tomorrow (just don't throw them out because you know they will come back again)!!
But what exactly are we looking for in following these trends? The the sporting excellence of our youth? The former firmness of our skin? The ability to forego a crushing hangover? Or just the vitality to stay up beyond 10pm?
Cicero (106-43 BC)
Cicero was a Roman lawyer and politician, amongst other things. His essay 'On Old Age', considering he wrote it over 2000 years ago, may be just as relevant to us now in our busy 'modern' lives.
While Cicero acknowledges that ageing negatively affects the body, he also goes on to say,
“At my age, I don’t yearn for the physical vigor of a young man …any more than in my youth I yearned for the vigor of a bull or an elephant. Use whatever you have: that is the right way. Do whatever is to be done in proportion as you have the strength to do it …Use the advantages you have while you have them; when they are gone, don’t sit around wishing you could get them back.”
So let us take a moment to ensure we are not comparing our current abilities with that of our youth. Not to say we should give up entirely, but we should be exercising for the decade we are in. How often have you, or maybe a training partner said "I used to be able to ..."'? It's just not productive to think this way, and can lead to disappointment. Instead we need to adapt. You can still exercise, effectively, progressively, safely and enjoy it, but you should also be realistic with what you can achieve. Yes you can still make gains in muscular density, endurance, strength etc, but train for the here and now, and let go of competing with yourself at your 20 something peak!
Cicero was clear to state that the foundation for old age is built when we are younger,
"...it is our duty, my young friends, to resist old age; to compensate for its defects by a watchful care; to fight against it as we would fight against disease; to adopt a regimen of health; to practise moderate exercise; and to take just enough of food and drink to restore our strength and not to overburden it. Nor, indeed, are we to give our attention solely to the body; much greater care is due to the mind and soul; for they, too, like lamps, grow dim with time, unless we keep them supplied with oil".
So while we all have goals in mind when it comes to our lifestyle, diet or exercise, preparation for our future should be factored in. Were you consciously thinking about your overall health now in the choices you made 10 years ago? We certainly weren't, but maybe this is where our focus should now be, looking forward not back. We can can proactively impact our future health and wellbeing by taking important measures now, further more we can ensure such important messages are passed on.
We believe that taking more time to educate our younger generations on the benefits of making better food choices, limiting alcohol and other temptations, and the importance of exercising, ensures they are better equipped to lead healthier, more active lives. Providing the skills and knowledge at a younger age could help to reduce their likelihood of lifestyle related health conditions, and may even go some way to help in reducing the massive cost (10 billion pounds a year), in healthcare for avoidable conditions like type 2 diabetes and it's associated co-morbidities. Not to mention a healthier population of teenagers could result in a healthier population of adults, parents, grandparents and so on...
The UK Government have just launched their new health drive, the essence of it is to make better food choices, be more active, and reduce alcohol consumption. Can you spot the comparison? Nothing 'new' here except of course in Cicero’s time they did not have an app to download!
What is interesting is that Cicero goes a long way to stress the importance of caring for the mind and intellect, something we have not seen in the Government’s campaign. With the ever growing focus on the importance of looking after your mental health we could argue it should be.
If you're interested in a summary of Cicero's essay, follow the link below
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