Anyone who can muster the endurance for an Ironman Triathalon gets my highest physical fitness respect.  And then this morning on Fox -Wow, the Fox TV hosts interviewed 38 year old James Lawrence, the man who on Saturday set a world record by completing his 50th full course Ironman triathlon across 50 states in 50 days.   IRONMAN = 2.4 mile swim, 122 bike ride and a 26.2 miles race without a stop all on the same day.  And then the same thing the next day and the next day for 50 days!  Wow.

Now put yourself in that picture.  Every day you are re-generating yourself. For example, all the cells in your legs renew themselves every three months. And each time those new cells come in, they are either stronger or weaker than the last ones, depending on the signals they get.

If you exercise, eat right and connect with other people, your cells get stronger – if you don’t they get weaker. So says Henry Lodge, M.D. author of the book “Younger Next Year.”  So every single day you make a choice to get a bit stronger or a bit weaker - a bit older or a bit younger.

How much exercise is enough?  Clearly the Iron Cowboy of Utah sets a ridiculously high bar and the common prescription is 3 times a week .  But Dr. Lodge says  that is not enough to stay vigorous and healthy into old age. According to Lodge 30-40 minutes per day SIX times a week is what is necessary.

That sounds like a warm routine for  James Lawrence!

Paul Gilham/Getty Images
Paul Gilham/Getty Images
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