Old-school health advice (from detention)
Did you forget about us? The five fundamentals to staying sharp, post-40.
Beating fatigue in your 40s doesn’t have to be tiring.
THE BRIEF
Time to read: 2 minutes
Time to action: 5-30 minutes
Mantra: ‘Screws fall out all the time, the world is an imperfect place’ - John Bender
Main message: ‘You ought to spend a little more time trying to do something with yourself and a little less time trying to impress people.’ - Brian Johnson
Stat: 43% of UK adults don’t subscribe to the simplest definitions of health.
On 7th June 1985, we were all introduced to The Brain, The Athlete, The Basket Case (it was 1985), the Princess (again, it was 1985) and The Criminal (once again, 1985).
There was so much to love. The themes, the still-quoted dialogue, the way John Hughes captured 80s teenage emotions in a way that even the most hardened millennial has to admit remains timeless. The character arcs, the obligatory dance scene, the drive for emotional honesty, the promotion of empathy. Perhaps most of all though, the soundtrack and the iconography. Judd Nelson fist-pumping absolutely nothing in front of absolutely no one as he walks home, alone, to a song playing, presumably, in his head. Don’t you, forget about me…
As teenagers in 1985, the Breakfast Clubbers are roughly 55 years old now - a long time to not forget about anyone or anything. You may not be the same person now that you were in school. But some old-school lessons can last you a lifetime. To celebrate the anniversary of the world’s most famous detention, here are five simple fundamentals for your health and wellbeing, to remind you of who you really are.
Don’t forget about…The Brain: Skip for 10 Minutes Daily
Skipping provides a high-intensity cardiovascular workout that improves heart health, boosts metabolism, and enhances coordination. You lose explosive power as you age, but skipping has the power to offset age-related muscle decline, found a review in Sport Medicine. It’s the ultimate age eraser. At 40+ years old, it’s an efficient way to get in shape, improve agility, and increase overall stamina. Aim for around 5 minutes or just 4 sets of 60 seconds each to regain and make sure that you don’t end up ageing like your parents.
Don’t forget about…The Athlete: 4 Sets of 15 Press-Ups Every Other Day
You’ll be strengthening the chest, shoulders, and triceps and engaging the core. It also helps maintain upper body strength, enhance muscle tone, and support joint health. Guys who can punch out 40 press-ups in one session had lower risks for heart attacks and cardiovascular disease, found a paper in JAMA. Drop and give yourself 40, when you’re over 40, nothing says midlife crisis averted like starting your day with this easy win.
Don’t forget about…The Basket Case: 30 Minutes of Yoga Twice a Week
Those people who we think are the crazy ones are often the smart ones, and they often don’t mind dabbling in a little yoga. Yoga can positively affect cellular ageing, mobility, balance, mental health, and cognitive decline, says research. Go ahead, strike a pose—because even John Bender would agree that ageing gracefully beats detention any day.
Don’t forget about…The Princess: Cardio Once a Week
Aerobic exercise, even aerobics, improves cardiovascular fitness, and energy levels, and enhances coordination. It’s a low-impact way to burn calories, improve heart health, and boost mood through movement. Adding an interval training element to is also can reverse cellular aspects of getting older, says a paper in Cell Metabolism. Even Claire Standish knows a little sweat is the perfect accessory to any tiara!
Don’t forget about…The Criminal: Shadow Box for 20 Minutes, Three Times a Week
Whatever your ‘damage’, it’s hard to argue with boxing benefits, even from 80s training onwards. Combat sports of any type, not only uplift the body but have a massive uptick for your mental health to the point where it offsets ageing, says new research. Have you seen Tyson preparing for his latest fight? If ever there were proof of criminally good shape, it’s the boxing that’ll deliver and give you a renewed sense of power.
Don't be brainwashed, cover the bases properly and forget about nothing that matters to your sense of self for another 40 years - or more.
Sincerely yours,
the belly-off club.
