What happens to use biologically that slows us down as we age?

Is that all ;)

I wanted to add one thing... Even though I eat the same thing (I have training logs where I tracked my diet) now as I ate 20 years ago, I weigh 20 lbs more than I did at 30.

I know, I know, it is "my fault" for not starving myself, but something happened to my body where the same diet and mileage results in a 20 lbs gain since my college/30s weight.

Not much...like I said, I can't even afford a hair transplant so any plastic surgery would be out of the question. Lol.

Cruise is interesting because I've always wondered what plastic surgery/procedures he's done, and if he's on any HRT, TRT, etc. Unfortunately, not much is revealed from his camp (why is he so hush-hush?).

Some sites say he's had botox & a hair transplant. And some sites speculate that he's using HRT but nothing officially confirmed from him personally.

Now here's a none-celebrity that looks absolutely amazing for his age (he's 64 & could easily pass for 50, IMO):

Amazingly, this guy says he works out for four (4) hours every day! 😯. And surprisingly he says he doesn't take any HRT/TRT or any supplements for that fact. This guy has conquered the aging pill. 👍

A lot of good answers, but they dodge how much we don't know. Speaking as a 76-year old runner and retired biologist, age happens. A lot of researchers are trying to figure out how/what/why. As others mentioned, big factors are loss of muscle mass and "tired" mitochondria. My favorite theory is loss of elasticity, a big deal for running economy but also important for heart and lung function. In 20 years they'll know more.

Just Do it. !!!

Not really. The key is circulation. I have good circulation because I've been running and eating healthy for over 50 years.

Mu doctor told me to take taldalafil for circulation. It hasn't made a difference and I've gone periods of time without it and have seen no difference.

He said to take it daily not as a OH!!! I need this now!!! thing.

But I've gone over a month without it and haven't seen any difference.

IF HRT does help you age, why in god's name is it not a normal part of health care? Why isn't it considered normal maintenance? Why is this only for the rich and well to do?

If we started addressing this at middle age maybe the elderly would be less of a burden on the health care system?

Because as a male as soon as you talk to people about it the first thing out of their mouth is 'steroids' bro or 'cheating bro'.

TRT has made by far the biggest improvement in my life as an older guy. And the MAIN thing it does is allow my body to recover from exercise. I could do a hard workout w/o TRT - but then it would take me days to recover - now its still not as good as when I was young, but I can recover in 48 hours almost always. There are other benefits - makes my mind sharper and I had a lot of trouble with getting cold as I got older - shivering in bed at night - thats gone away with TRT.

Since no insurance covers this you generally have to find it on your own. There are quite a few online clinics for TRT in Florida because the regs are looser there. I recommend the lipo creams not the shots but you need to be careful you dont inadvertently transfer it to someone else. There are clinics offering it for about $100 if you dont mind the shots so its not only for the rich - just for those willing to think outside the box and go against the mass societal consensus.

Also its pretty well documented T levels are falling worldwide (nanoplastics, pesticides etc) - mine was low in my 30s - I would guess most 40 year olds already have low T since 70 percent are overweight or obese and ED meds are handed out like candy.

I am in my mid-60s and it made my overall health feel like I was in my early 30s. Worth every dime.

If even mildly increasing test. levels in men helped them maintain muscle mass, burn fat and aid in mental clarity, it just seems like a no brainer that this should start for most men 55+. It wouldnt stop you from aging, but it would decrease a lot of the issues associated with aging.

We give people shots to address their insulin levels, why not testosterone or estrogen?

I will add - most women are aware of the hormonal problems they face as they get older and for the most part HRT for women is widely encouraged and practiced as women approach and reach menopause.

For men its the opposite. Men mostly face ridicule if they bring up the idea that some of their health problems as they get older could be treated with HRT/TRT.

I saw a fascinating Utube vid from a women's health specialist that said virtually ALL of the divorces that occur among women in their 50s and 60s were the direct result of untreated homonal problems - she said more widespread HRT treatment for women that age would slash the divorce rates in that age group.

lots of reason but by far number one reason is decrease in max hr

Yes! My daughter is working in the field of myonuclear imagining, specifically the biopsy of and study of muscle cells. This is for her degree and she told me that the old people's cells and the young people's cells look very different! It was shocking when she showed me the slides!

I know two couples who divorced for no reason other than what you are describing. Men can be (and are) often jerks but they are jerks the whole time. These two women "lost it" all of a sudden and became totally different (angry) people. It was shocking and sad. Hormones are real.

I also know women for whom HRT was a game changer that helped regulate mood, periods, and many other factors that contribute to the quality of a person's life (and marriage).

What was your test numbers before you started TRT & what are they now?

I know some middle-aged guys at my gym who claimed they were hypogonadal (according to the AUA - that would be less than 300 ng/dL) & couldn't even get out of bed to function let alone work out/excercise. When they started TRT they went with some higher dosages boosting way up to the high 800s/900s - levels more representative of when they were in college & early 20s.

One acquaintance of mine (63) boosted up to1200 + & started setting all kinds of PRs in the bench, squats & DL! He's body transformed into more like a 25 yr bodybuilder (he went from 145 lbs to 187 lbs with about ~12% BF! 😲). He even started a YouTube channel as a fitness influencer showing off his newfound physique & PR lifts. Sadly, this guy has become a real narcissist.

We will need confirmation of your claim from the woman in question.

First thing to go is a desire to do things well, like proofreading. Or maybe that's merely a carryover from being a hack growing up.

Surprised this got so many down votes. After about 15 years of hard training even the most dedicated lose interest in the grind.

Of course it is down-voted. You never get age till it happens.

George Sheehan said every person has his own natural lifespan. You can shorten it but you can't lengthen it.