Re: Re: [CR] Lane Paper on CR in Primates

November 20, 2002

I first encountered cr on the Merv Show.

Two clowns with high IQ's were pitching anti-oxidants and other compressed

nutrients as a way of extending life span.

They were honest enough to concede that on calorie restriction had actually

been proven to work, and that proof in animals and not humans. They

referred to a guy named Walford and his book " Maximum Life Span " . I began

taking a lot of pills, which bothered my stomach, and got the book. I'd

have to check the publication date of MLS to know when this was. I found it

interesting, and tried the computer derived salad. Too much work. I loved

the idea, and the writing. His sense of humor. I did not do cr,

nowever. A few years later, the 120 year diet was published. I read it

eagerly. When I called to order an early version of DWIDP, I happened to

talk with on the phone. She asked if I was on " the program " . I

confessed that I was not. She said " oh " and sounded so very disappointed.

I resolved to try it. Eventually. But, at the time I was busy drinking a

lot and getting a lot fatter as I worked my way through some other

challenges in my life.

Then the Anti-Aging plan came out. By this time - some years - I had

serious intention to do something because I didn't like the very apparent

effects of booze, excess food, and agin. So I tried vegan vegetarianism.

Then Ornish. Finally, almost exactly 6 years ago, I decided to " go for

it " .... since I was clearly dying slowly. Death didn't bother me much,

but I didn't like the long, involved, uncomfortable process...the " dying of

the light " as the poet called it. I decided to rage against it and vowed

not to gain any weight through the end of the year. I lost a pound. Six

years ago. I developed an Ornish-based approached to cron. Joined the

group. Overall lost fifty pounds over about 3 years. Hubris set it. I

regained 20 pounds as I tried to incorporate fish into my diet ...and

desserts...and binge now and then....

that went on for about 2 years. I was on ON but not consistently on CRON.

But, I was paying attention. About a year ago, again I said " enough "

and since then have been quite consistent on cron, although not in the

macro nutrient balance, as I search for a pattern that keeps energy and

motivation up. I've dropped 10 pounds this year. My bodyfat percentage is

about where it was at it's lowest, although my total weight is still 10

pounds more than my low point.

The point is this.

Some of us are very slow learners, and I volunteer to be a paragon of

slowth (sloth?).

I'd guess I knew about cran for 10 years before I started, and I've been

doing my best for the past 6 years and that totals about 16.

So if it's taking you a long time to get started. Fine. Start when you

can. If you fall off your program. Fine. It's just a learning

experience. Although the principles are simple, the details of this effort

are complex. For some of us, it'll take 10 years to " master " the

implementation of this method. If you're one of us, simply think of this

as a learning/training experience. Every mistake teaches you what doesn't

work. Every success reinforces actions that lead to future success.

The rewards far outweigh the effort. While i am not healthier every day,

I am healthier each year. My average health improves. I started at age 64.

I am now 70. My memory is a little better than when I started, although

still definitely " senior " at time.s My energy varies with my diet, and

I'm still working on that. But, the record of consistent exercise over the

past year demonstrates clearly that I am better than the year before.

Getting started is hard each time, but not as hard as a year ago, let alone

6 years ago. Oh. And my libido. while not the problem (testosterone

affliction) it was in my younger years, is still quite evident.

So, if you lurkers understand all too well about diving into the Dunkin's

and coffee, take heart. You can do it. You can re train yourself, if you

give yourself time.

Ed S.

----- Original Message -----

From: " Alan Pater " <apater@...>

" CR Support Group (E-mail) " <CRSupportgroup >

Sent: Wednesday, November 20, 2002 6:15 AM

Subject: [ ] Re: [CR] Lane Paper on CR in Primates

> Hi All, I thought you might like the below. I guess it more or less

> explains where CR stands in even those we would think care about it.

>

> Cheers, Al.

>

> On Tue, 19 Nov 2002 14:06:57 -0800, zod <scalzod@...> wrote:

>

> > I heard Lane present this data at symposium honoring 's

> >upcoming retirement. Slide after slide of the data showing the benefits

of

> >CR (and the converse for the controls) in primates.

> > His session was just prior to a break. As soon as he finished,

> everyone

> >dove for the Donuts, Pastries and Coffee.

> > Damn funny.

> >

>

> Hi Dave and all,

>

> I can understand this as funny as it sounds. I remember how I had for

> several years been reading anti-aging research and kept coming across cr

> studies, and the most powerful thing about it was that no one was selling

> it or making money on it which made it all the more creditable. However,

> even with this knowledge I merely accepted the conventional wisdom that it

> was undoable. It wasn't until I read Walford's original book on the

subject

> that I considered doing it myself. Which is I think a testement to his

> greatness. He was willing to break out of the conventional wisdom and

> forge new ground, although Biosphere helped.

>

> I think most of those people at the conference you write about are the

same

> in that as much as any rationale person would want the benefits of cr, as

> long as they were willing to put up with the few downsides, they are

> conventional and herdlike in their mentality to the point that they

beleive

> it is undoable or very painful when in fact for many it isn't. In fact

> some on the list, including myself would say it greatly improves life

> quality.

>

> The more of us who succeed at cr there are the more that herdlike

mentality

> will be broken down. but it will take time because of so many

> misconceptions and confusions.

>

> Regards,

>

> Mike Colella

> >On 11/18/02 6:21 PM, " Dean Pomerleau " <deanp@...> wrote:

> >

> ><SNIP>

> >>

> >> But probably justifiably, they aren't optimistic about the potential

for

> >> many people to follow a CR diet. Instead they focus on the search for

a

> >> CR-mimic, an intervention that will provide the health/lifespan

benefits

> >> of CR without reducing in food:

> >>

> >> " Even if CR is eventually shown to retard human

> >> aging and to enhance the quality of life in later years,

> >> it is not likely that the strict dietary control needed

> >> would become a widespread practice. The popularity of

> >> fad diets, weight loss pills and programs in addition to

> >> the well-known difficulties in maintaining weight loss,

> >> argue against the likelihood of a large-scale application

> >> of a CR regimen among people. Thus, we have chosen

> >> to investigate the possible development of " CR mimetics "

> >> as an alternative to the strict diet regimen of CR. A

> >> CR mimetic can be loosely defined as any intervention

> >> that produces selected beneficial effects of CR on aging without

causing

> >> or requiring a significant reduction in caloric intake. "

> >>

> >> --Dean

> >>

> >> ------------------------------------------------------------

> >> [1] Microsc. Res. Tech. 59: 335-338, 2002.

> >>

> >> Caloric Restriction and Aging in Primates: Relevance to

> >> Humans and Possible CR Mimetics

> >>

> >> MARK A. LANE,* JULIE MATTISON, DONALD K. INGRAM, AND GEORGE S. ROTH

> >> PMID: 12424798

> >

> >------

> >Your " Good Point! " response will go to 800+ people. Reply to the author

> instead.

>

> ------

> Too much email? Change to the " Digest (HTML Format) " version at:

> http://lists.calorierestriction.org/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=crsociety & A;=1

>

> Alan Pater, Ph.D.; Faculty of Medicine; Memorial University; St. 's,

NL

> A1B 3V6 Canada; Tel. No.: (709) 777-6488; Fax No.: (709) 777-7010; email:

> apater@...

>

November 20, 2002

Wow does this ever sound familiar to me. It has taken me four years to lose

sixty pounds. I normally jump into things with both feet but my excessive

tendencies have definitely set me back a time or two (or a hundred). Although I

would like to just lose the weight quickly and be done with it I haven't been

able to. As it turns out I've managed a fairly steady fifteen pounds per year.

Most of the veterans here would probably say that's pretty good but I find it a

little disappointing sometimes. That excessive side of me wants more. The

important thing is that I have made many improvements in my diet and my overall

health has improved greatly (it's very evident to me). I'm still twenty pounds

away from my tentative goal of 180 lb (I'm shooting for my that as my goal on my

fortieth birthday in August). Wish me luck (or strength of character). I just

wanted to reiterate some of what Ed said. Even us thick-skulled individuals can

adapt to, and benefit from, this cron program. It is definitely doable if you

set your mind to it. I believe it does get easier over time too. That's my

observation so far though I might not be officially croned yet. My binges have

gotten fewer, smaller, and farther between. I definitely like the results so

far.

Thanks Ed for your post. I found it inspirational.

" Ed Sullivan " <Sully@...> on 11/20/2002 12:49:08 PM

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Subject: Re: [ ] Re: [CR] Lane Paper on CR in Primates