feedback for a newbie

[Guest guest]

Hello fellow CR's,

I have a few questions to raise. I am not of a scientific bent at

least in a technical way. I have been on CR a few months. I am 10

pounds below my weight at 20 years old. My blood pressure problem is

much alleviated, and soon I will find out if my blood profile is

better. I am a rather casual adherent. I don't count calories but I

weigh myself everyday. If I stay at 170 I am okay, eventually I would

like to get to 165.

Metabolism.

I have to admit that my general energy is a bit down. I think this

is due to metabolism slowing down. Something I can live with to make it

to 80 years old instead of a heart attack in a few years.

Alcohol, no one talks much if anything about it! I know it is empty

calories, except as a long time moderate drinker I am wavering between

I drink a day, or 3 or 4 like in the old days! I think alcohol keeps my

arteries from clogging but this is still an open question. My

grandfather had a massive heart attack after quitting cold turkey.

No sense being too shy as I am in my 50's but I already had a low

testosterone before CR, since I have lost fat according to Barry Sears

of the Zone, I should have more free testosterone and less estriol. I

am on a very moderate calorie reduction, but who wants to lose

testosterone if they go a bit more deeply into it? By the way my sexual

desire is not stronger but the blood flow to that part of the anatomy

is actually improved somewhat so I don't always reach for the viagra

which is nice.

My exercise pattern has changed. I had a powerful musculature, with

high blood pressure and a bad blood profile. I also was an aerobic

exercise afficionando loved to bike, jog and in line skate at high

intensity. I think I had to to keep my system going. Now I am 20 pounds

lighter, and I would rather go for a walk than a jog, or I skate in a

more relaxed fashion. The truth is I don't have the energy in my

muscles to do this kind of intense exercise anymore. I don't miss it

too much because I think I am healthier anyway. My overall strength is

not so much reduced more my exercise capacity, maybe less glucose in

the muscles.

So doesn,t one or two drinks a day, protect the heart, and the brain

too I have read? It also seems to slow the metabolism even more!!

Is CR going to help most aging men sexually in terms of circulation

to the penis or since it lowers the testosterone will it reduce or

eliminate their sex life?

Exercise, well I have read that a lot of CR ers need less exercise

and that intense aerobic exercise is not necessarily going to help you

live longer due to oxidation. I am just a tiny bit disappointed that I

do not have the vitality to do that marathon or that triathalon when I

finally have the streamlined physique that I thought I needed to be

able to do it, but I can live with that if I live longer and healthie

r. Do you have personal experience or info on one of these questions?