This thread continues to rock, thanks brothers!
I've got to step up my style, thanks for the tips rudebwoy. Also, I like your stages J_S. Just a quick status update on my journey into becoming the best version of myself in my early 40s. The changes I've made that have made a BIG difference in my quality of life are:
#1 Getting to sleep earlier. The info from Lizard of Oz on light box therapy is awesome, got to have a healthy circadian rhythm or you're just not recovering from your day.
#2 not overdoing a workout and making sure I allow time for recovery. I'm turning 43 this year and have been careful about lifting hard / heavy. I won't quote my 'max rep' numbers because I don't want to damage myself. I'd rather focus on daily outdoor cardio (a brisk walk with sprints mixed in for HGH production) and more reps / less weight IIRC aka pyramid stack workouts so I fatigue the fast twitch muscles before working the slow twitch (hat tip to Art de Vany for that). I only lift a few days a week while I get walks / cardio in nearly every day.
#4 after working out I get 'grounded', and sleep with a grounding strap on my wrist. Earthing or grounding is REALLY important as part of workout recovery (balancing inflammation response with free electrons from the earth). Look it up, it works and it's IMPORTANT! You can also ground for ~15 min when you travel to a new place a few (or many) time zones away to help reduce or prevent jet lag. Pretty amazing recoveries of people with debilitating conditions when they earth. Check out the documentary 'Grounded' from earthing.com.
#5 cutting out ALL gluten, soy, diary, and coffee (only occasional de-caf), while also minimizing refined sugars in favor of whole fruits, occasionally maple syrup and raw honey in a protein shake. Oh, and I really am careful about phytates. I'm blood type O which from the Blood Type diet site/book is not supposed to have any of the above. I also watch how my body responds to various fruits and being aware of FODMAPS (foods / fruits that can ferment in your digestive tract). Can't do melons, I avoid beans both for phytates and gas. Everyone can tailor their diet to their needs but you gotta pay attention to how your food affects you. I definitely noticed I had to cinch up my belt a couple more notches a month into the 'no gluten, no dairy, no soy' commitment. I also find I
#6 intermittent (-ish) fasting, generally planning to wait at least 10 and preferably 12 hours between dinner and first meal the next day. I'm still tweaking this and it varies daily but I always make it 3-4 medium-boiled eggs, lots of garlic salt (with iodine, very important) a few other spices and sometimes a few slices of nitrate/preservative-free pastrami. I try to keep my carbs toward the evening meal. I take the majority of my supps in the morning after that meal (minus the evening ZMA / magnesium / calcium / MSM). I drink a lot of water and with the Simply One male multi-vitamin, I'm still peeing a bit yellow throughout the day but that's fine - whatever I need is being absorbed. I want to make sure my system is more fat-adapted which I believe I am now, so I can metabolize the fat stored in adipose tissue instead of storing it and depending upon carbs. Again, everyone is different, but a delay meal and not having carbs first thing helps my mental clarity and maintains a natural, calm yet productive energy level without needing stimulation (like from coffee). Intermittent fasting is also a crucial part of longevity which is what I'm working on. The concept of 'biological immortality' caught my attention and it suggests that once in your 30s and 40s a Paleo diet is really best for men.
#7 getting my supplementation on point. I had labs done two years ago which helped realize I had low T (just under 200 ng/dL IIRC units correctly). I made a commitment to losing weight by diet first then sleep then exercise and proper supplementation. There's a lot of research to do, but I find that 600 mcg of selenium a day works great to stay health (great video about the crucial importance of selenium:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uV-upp1YSBI). I'm watching my uncle struggle with stage 4 liver cancer after decades as a type 2 diabetic. He's a fighter and wants to live but all this would have been much easier (or prevented) if he'd made changes years ago. Watching someone you love suffer so badly is a damn good reminder of why we do what we do. I was aware of Andrew / The Private Man and felt inspired to really savor my life, both to enjoy and give back to others. BTW, I was recommended to use MSM (powder form) and the stuff REALLY works better than glucosamine/chondroitin at repairing / preventing aches and pains. I mix 1/2 teaspoon in my nightly magnesium calm and it helps me sleep like a baby. Oh, and I toss back 2-3 ZMA every night before bed, thanks to this forum for that recommendation too. I wake up feeling good and ready to go! I haven't done labs but will pretty soon, curious to see how it all looks.
#8 I listen to music from my teens/20s more than anything 'new', which I've read helps you feel younger and was demonstrated in elderly studies. I also just like the classic stuff, from Zeppelin to Paul Oakenfold to Beethoven to Beastie Boys. I like to sing along and even dance sometimes in my work space. I leave my shop with a smile so when I engage with people I generally feel neutral to positive.
#9 I guard what I put into my eyes and mind, whether from inside or out. With the environment so anti-male it's essential to stay upbeat, connect with your soul, stay with your passion, and let your life be a testament to your determination and joy and gratitude for this gift of life. I avoid most TV, only watch some shows on Netflix, and prefer to read the forum for news, a book (like 'Art of the Deal'), watch documentaries, or a classic movie that shows strong male characters.
#10 I'm going to be relocating from CA to somewhere in TX fairly soon, hopefully before the end of the year. That change is something I need and am ready for. We all need a campaign, this is one of the big ones for me this year as I've never lived more than 30 miles from the bulk of my family. Do one thing every few years that scares and excites you - I can't wait to be in even better shape, with stories and getting looks from cute college girls. It's already happening here but the majority have blue hair!
Thanks again for the motivation and support. I'm happy to share info via PM esp. regarding supplementation. Tomorrow is guaranteed to no one and life is full of surprises but if we challenge and maintain our bodies we're more prepared for what arises.