Why do they do it?

[Skids]

Let themselves go I mean.
Watching the State of Origin tonight and Mel Meninga looks like a big fat sack of shit. He's only 54. Eddie at 50 looks like a heart attack waiting to happen.

So many ex footballers (and Ed) in all codes just seem to let themselves turn into big fat beanbags when they retire. Surely the importance of looking after yourself is well instilled into these guys, yet they seem to not care?

Ed has all the facilities at his fingertips but obviously chooses not to use them. It just amazes me?

[David]

Well, Eddie was never a professional athlete, so I'm not sure what the connection is here. As for Meninga, he was always a bulky bloke, wasn't he? Perhaps the more pertinent question is, why did he stay fit for so long?

Let's face it: most of us aren't going to go running over sand dunes if no-one's making us. Getting fat in old age is a pretty normal thing to do.

[Dave The Man]

Because they been in such a Strict Meal Plans and eve thing they eat is Monitered.

So when they Retire they eat what the always wanted to eat

[think positive]

50 is hardly old, and by saying it's the norm, your accepting mediocrity.

It's more important to keep fit as you get older. It keeps your mind sharp, lubricates your joints, builds lost bone density, helps balance. Which all helps to protect you as you do get old, 70 plus, from broken hips and other things.

I get the Eddie comment. He made an effort to get fit a couple of years back. He can afford a nutritionist, he has state of the art equipment, and coaches on tap. Conditioning, massage etc, my idea of heaven

As for sporting poeople gaining weight, it's like gambling, ok have a flutter, but realise if you go in too deep, it's bloody hard to get back out! Being fit, being capable of exerting yourself without dropping dead, it just feels so good. Natural endorphins.

You go on about what the Government is doing to improve our minds, but what's the point if your body is dead at 50?

You might want to try those sand dunes, it's more fun than you realise! I'm 51, and I'm a long way from done yet! Cheers

[David]

I'd love to stay fit in middle-age and beyond, but I just can't see myself ever making the gym or serious running a priority (though I do enjoy competitive sports like tennis and soccer). Someone as busy as Eddie probably has other priorities as well.

As Dave said above, I completely understand the mentality of a sportsperson who has finally been liberated from their highly regimented lifestyle. Which is actually a good argument against too much perfectionism in this area (whether imposed internally or externally)—moderation should always be the key.

(BTW, always avoid nutritionists! They're mostly quacks. Dieticians are where it's at.)

[swoop42]

If you're rich who cares if you're fat.

The chicks certainly don't.

[think positive]

[David]

I always try to do the warm-ups, but I definitely could be a lot fitter. I can spint, but no endurance whatsoever.

Honestly, though, exercise is the last thing on my mind at the moment. I've only been to the cinema by myself twice in the last six months. Such are the sacrifices of new parenthood.

[partypie]

No wonder it seems so hard to get the athletes to swallow the stuff about being role models when their role models don't take it seriously themselves.

[think positive]

[think positive]

[Skids]

[pietillidie]

I err towards Skids here. When I get a beer gut, I have no other term for it but a beer gut. On the other hand, superfit is awesome (me: 2013), though a modest beer gut is still a useful warning (me: 2015).

But life is full of many priorities. E.g., what is better, an extra two years, or two of the best years of your life doing X which involved drinking like a swine?

These are not simple judgements.

[Skids]

It's all about balance. I'm a drinker with a running problem😂
I gave up smoking on my 40th birtday and the scales didn't take long to creep up to and beyond the 100kg mark😲
I started walking/running and soon became addicted to it. I've run 16 half marathons and a full one since then and have the Gold Coast marathon the day after my 48th birthday on the 5th of July.
I feel so much better and it's great when people guess your age to be late 30's 😊

I hope Ed pulls his finger out, no good being the richest bloke in the cemetry mate.

[pietillidie]