Jeffry S Life - The Life Plan: How Any Man Can Achieve Lasting Health, Great Sex, and a Stronger, Leaner Body

THE LIFE PLAN

ATRIA BOOKS
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Copyright 2011 by Jeffry Life, M.D.

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Atria Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

This publication contains the opinion and ideas of its author. It is intended to provide helpful and informational material on the subjects addressed in the publication. It is sold with the understanding that the author and publisher are not engaged in rendering medical, health, or any other kind of personal professional services in this book. The reader should consult his or her medical, health, or other competent professional before adopting any of the suggestions in this book or drawing inferences from it.

The author and publisher specifically disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this book.

First Atria Books hardcover edition May 2011

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Designed by Jason Snyder

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Life, Jeffry S.

The life plan: Dr. Lifes guide for men to great health, better sex, and a stronger, leaner body/Jeffry S. Life.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. MenHealth and hygiene. I. Title.

RA777.8.L54 2011

613.0423dc22

2010041265

ISBN 978-1-4391-9458-4
ISBN 978-1-4391-9460-7 (ebook)

This book is dedicated to my dear friend Alan P. Mintz, M.D., (May 5, 1938June 3, 2007), The Father of Age Management Medicine, whose wisdom and vision inspired me to create this book.

PART ONE
GET WITH THE LIFE PLAN

CHAPTER 1
Taking Control of Your Health

CHAPTER 2
The Life Plan for Healthy Eating

CHAPTER 3
The Life Plan Diets

PART TWO
THE LIFE PLAN WORKOUTS

CHAPTER 4
The Importance of Exercise

CHAPTER 5
The Life Plan Flexibility, Core, and Balance Workouts

CHAPTER 6
The Life Plan Resistance Training Workouts

CHAPTER 7
The Life Plan Cardio Workouts

CHAPTER 8
Putting It All Together for a Complete Life Plan Workout

CHAPTER 9
Silencing Your Inner Demons

PART THREE
THE LIFE PLAN FOR OPTIMIZING YOUR HEALTH

CHAPTER 10
Why Hormones Matter

CHAPTER 11
The Growth Hormone Controversy

CHAPTER 12
The Importance of Nutraceuticals

CHAPTER 13
The Life Plan for the Future: Breakthrough Medicine

CHAPTER 14
Share the Life Plan with Your Doctor

THE LIFE PLAN

M ost men, including myself, define themselves in two distinct ways: by what we do for a living and by how things are going in bed. If either one goes awry, we instantly feel less manly. Thats true whether youre 25 or 80. We need to know that we can still compete, that we are still in the game, and that theres much more to look forward to even as we approach or pass midlife.

Yet men dont realize that both of these barometers are directly connected to their health. When we feel healthy, vibrant, and young, we excel in the workplace and can keep up with our sexual instincts. But when our health begins to decline, everything about life suffers. Thats why I recommend a proactive approach to health, which is exactly what age management medicine is all about. Sitting back, not taking control of your health, and simply accepting the status quo is a guarantee that youll age faster and be at much greater risk for disease. Healthy aging begins by taking care of yourself now, so that you dont pay for it later when chronic disease rears its ugly head and surprises you. Take it from me: When I was in my 20s and 30s, I was already developing heart disease without even knowing it. And by the time I woke up to this realization, I had wasted many decades of good health and had to work very hard to get it back.

Regardless of whether Im speaking with the media or a new patient, the first questions anyone ever asks me are always: Are your photos real? How did this happen? How did you turn a 50-something potbellied body into a healthy, 30-something physique? Im not offended or embarrassed: With our programmed view of agingand our overexposure to airbrushed tabloid photosits easy to understand the doubt. A 72-year-old with a strong physique, low body fat, lots of lean muscle mass, and optimized health goes entirely against conventional thinking.

Im also not embarrassed to say that I could have easily continued my life the way it was and completely missed the boat to great health. And thats why my story is so important for every man to hear, because I was you, and I know how to change the way you age because I have done it and am continuing to do it today.

In 1994, I was going through a divorce and had reached an all-time low in terms of my self-esteem, mood, level of fitness, and appearance. I had been working in my family medical practice for 16 years, treating people of all ages from all walks of life. Even though my business was thriving, I had really lost enthusiasm for my work. I was living under a dark cloud, but there was a silver lining. In December of that year I met the love of my life, Annie. Over the next few years Annie and I were together constantly. I was happy most of the time, yet I continued to struggle with poor self-esteem, lousy fitness, and excess body fat.

Then in 1998, I came to the frightening realization that I looked and felt like an old man. My joints and muscles ached, I had shortness of breath whenever I climbed just one flight of stairs, my clothes were tight, and my stomach was huge. My LDL (bad cholesterol) scores were sky-high, my HDL (good cholesterol) numbers were rock bottom, and I was well on my way to becoming a full-blown type 2 diabetic. At 59 years old I was already a senior citizen with a pot belly, fatigue, sluggish thinking, out-of-control blood sugar, and undiagnosed heart disease. My self-esteem had never been lower and my waist never bigger. I, like most men my age, had devoted my time and energy to my career and family, which meant putting myself dead last.