Do you fear your genetics?

Our last chapter in class was on heart disease and unfortunately there is a fairly large genetic component to it. However....it can be combatted with a healthy diet and exercise. These two things go a long long way in helping.

As far as the other things like thinning hair, elephant knees(whatever that is), and other things that are appearance related and do not hurt health, I honestly do not care. It is a part of aging, and I figure if I live long enough to have them, and I feel good, all is good.
 
Longevity running in my family is part of what got me started young eating better and exercising. I wanted to be old and functional. :D My Dad's parents both lived to be 96, my Mother's father lived to be 88 (this after believing he'd never see 60 because no males in his family had ever lived that long) and my other grandmother is approaching 88 and still living by herself. I fully intend to have a very long, very active life. They didn't eat that great in their older years, but they grew up on farms, had big gardens and I believe that really balanced the crap in their diets.
 
That's a great attitude Dorothy. I wish I could think that way. I know I'm too self conscious about my looks but I haven't found a way to cut it out. I'm starting to accept the rather unnattractive way my butt looks b/c I know there's nothing I can do about it.

Elephant knees are when the skin around your knees sag. It' ain't pretty. :eek:
 
The thing is Laura, only you know that your butt looks like that, because it is only you who sees it that way. The rest of us would see you and think what a beautiful, fit person you are.
And if they don't think that way, well they are not work knowing! :)
 
dorothyrd said:
The thing is Laura, only you know that your butt looks like that, because it is only you who sees it that way. The rest of us would see you and think what a beautiful, fit person you are.
And if they don't think that way, well they are not work knowing! :)
Click to expand...
*nods* :) She's right!
 
I try hard not to spend too much time worrying about appearance issues, but I have to admit, my elephant knees are really bumming me out. I'm 40, and I my elephant knees have arrived. I, too, think it's a genetic thing for me, seeing that I work out more than most 40-year-olds that I know (with the exception of all of the folks on this forum!) and the knees are still saggy. It doesn't help that the woman across the street is one of those people who have perfectly shaped legs (and always will) and doesn't so much as go for a walk. My mother has very saggy skin generally, so I probably have some more sagging to look forward to.

O.K. I got that off my chest. Now I'm off to appreciate all of the things I like about my body -- most importantly, my health -- and forget about the elephant (knees) in the room!

Have a great night, everyone!
Deborah
 
My mother was diagnosed with early onset Alz at the age of 58, and is still here with us, in late stage, and will be 71 on 5/25...so yes, that terrifies me! Although my mom's mom just passed away this past September at the age of 95, and although she had a few run-ins with cancer along the way, was in pretty good health at the time of her death...old age finally got her!
 
I do worry about genetics some. I try not to, but I can't help but worry about my kids. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol run in my family to name a few. But hopefully a healthy lifestyle can help keep them to a minimum. I however have thyroid issues and Sarcoidosis, so I always wonder if my children will be effected by that.
Otherwise, I just try to live by example for them, and so far they like eating good things and exercising!
 
I don't, I come from good genes! :p Actually, everything that runs in my family can, for the most part, be controlled through health and fitness. My dad died with heart issues, diabetic, etc., (he had about 5 major things wrong with him) but they could have all been controlled (or better at least) had he taken better care of himself. We also have colon cancer (I've had a colonoscopy) so I do every thing I can to take preventative measures to maintain good health.

And, I also just think...what if I didn't take good care of myself? But I do!

Jo :D
 
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