Trying to be HEALTHY

 

I am 77 years of age and on my 40th birthday, I woke up and quit smoking, quit drinking alcohol often, quit eating red meat, and quit eating fried foods along with sugars.

To be honest with you, since age 40, I have had 1-2 hamburgers a year, 3-4 pizzas a year, 2-3 glasses of wine during the holidays, fried foods once in a while along with candy...   so, it was not just a complete stop...  HOWEVER, it was a complete stop on smoking cigarettes.

Along with a change in those habits, I began a daily exercise program of 30-60 minutes for 5-7 days each week.  I tried to get plenty of sleep as well but that did not work out every night especially when there was something on my mind.

At age 60 (TWENTY YEARS LATER), I had a triple bypass level heart attack and was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins B Cell Lymphoma.  My cardiologist said my heart issue was an ANOMOLY and could not offer an explanation as to why it happens since there were no triggers or pre-existing conditions in me or in my immediate family.

SO...

was it necessary that I tried to get healthy at age 60?

YES!!!

Because I was healthy, my body created dozens of small arteries that acted as a bypass and that actually SAVED MY LIFE when I had my attack.

Interestingly, I was walking on the treadmill when I had my heart attack.

Two and a half years ago, I had 5 LUMBAR disks fused due to spinal stenosis AND... punishment due to an aggressive exercise program to remain healthy.

IRONY???

Of course it is...

You try to do what is right and then that behavior BITES YOU IN THE ASS when you get old.

On the other side of the coin, BEING OBESE IS WORSE from a health standpoint.