My Resveratrol Experience

Resveratrol, Longevity, and Living Life to It's Fullest!

Recently a close friend of mine asked me why I was so focused on "living longer" and not on the "now." I thought to myself this person must not get me because I am just as interested in my life "as I live it" as I am at prolonging it.

After a deeper thought process I became more aware of how people perceived me versus how I perceived myself.  While I am much less concerned about what people think of me compared to how I feel about myself, it is nice for those who are close to you to be able to understand who you really are. This level of understanding is what builds a strong relationship.

So I decided to write out my thoughts regarding what I am interested in from a longevity standpoint, as well as, in my current life.

Longevity to me is important perhaps for selfish reasons.  I want to live longer so I can be around my family and friends longer.  I want to see what the world will be like in 50, 75, or 100 years from now.  I want to be here to experience what many call the "Singularity."

Resveratrol Use & Lifestyle Change Personal Update

15 Months Later, Goals Achieved and New Ones Set!

Many of you have followed my journey to a new Healthstyle. Getting started was by far the most difficult part, but once I got going the rest fell into place.  Now I am eating well, working out regularly, and have a much greater understanding of how my body works.

I am often asked from visitors of this site if I think resveratrol was the reason for my health successes.  For that reason I wanted to make my answer to this question very clear.

While I believe resveratrol has played a role in getting healthy it was not the sole reason.  I think resveratrol acts in a supportive role to a healthy lifestyle. What I hope for is that by taking it I am getting healthy from the inside out.

What does "inside out" mean?  Resveratrol is shown to work from a cellular level by activating Sirtuins, Sirt1 in particular, which helps our cells regulate themselves.  Damaged cells are either repaired or die off, and healthy cells work more efficiently.

My Resveratrol Experience Memorial Day Contest!

With all of the "serious" resveratrol and health talk lately, I thought it was time to have some FUN!!  How do we have fun on a blog you might ask?  CONTESTS and PRIZES of course!!  Who doesn't enjoy a good contest to liven things up a bit.

So I made a decision to run a contest that would benefit all of us as a community site.  That means more information sharing from the readers of MRE.  The terms will be rather easy to qualify for the contest prize. (I'll get to the prize in a little bit)

Step 1: You must be an email subscriber of My Resveratrol Experience. (it's FREE) Just enter your email address in the box on the left side of any page on the site. Remember you will need to confirm this address by clicking on the link you will be sent by email. (We do not sell or share email addresses at MRE)

Step 2: Contribute to the site in the form of a comment. Find an article interesting or want to share your own personal resveratrol experience? Just comment below the article.  **Note: the comment has to be relevant and not spam related. Just saying "Hi" or reciting the "Pledge of Allegiance" won't qualify you.

By completing both steps you will be entered into a random drawing for a "$50.00 Amazon.com Gift Certificate."  Yep, that's right, $50.00 to buy whatever you like. It's on MRE!

**The first 5 comments you make get you entries into the drawing.  That gives you 5 chances to get a $50.00 Amazon Gift Certificate!

(Existing email subscribers just need to complete Step #2.  Just remember the email address you use to post comments must match with the address you used to subscribe.)

The contest will run between now and will end Midnight (12:00am EST) on June 1st, 2009.  You have 10 days to get your 5 entries into the contest.

If you have any questions please post them below. (no, they won't count as contest entries)

The "Not So" fine print: The contest will be administered by Markus. You will have to trust he will carry out the contest fairly. If you are the winner Markus will contact you using the email address used to subscribe. You will have 72 hours to respond or I will choose another winner.

So get to posting some quality comments!!

Live Longer,

Markus

My Resveratrol Experience 1 Year Update!

A year has passed since I began my journey into Resveratrol, Anti-Aging, and an overall healthier lifestyle. My life has changed in so many ways over the past year.  I've lost weight, lost body fat, changed my diet, re-introduced myself to supplements & vitamins, and most importantly became a father.

I talked about making these changes for years, always thinking, "I would get to it."  The reality is I never got to it until "I GOT TO IT!"

It was easy to "talk the talk" because it was an excuse I convinced myself was sufficient. I was wrong, it was a terrible excuse! So when I actually started making the changes I was proud of myself and started feeling good almost immediately.

My resveratrol experience isn't just about taking resveratrol, it is about change, and the resveratrol was just part of it.  It was an outlet for me to express myself and share with others what I had learned.  It was, and still remains, my own personal therapy.

10 Months On Resveratrol & A New Human Study is Released!

I know, I know... I promised I would get updated blood work done in January.  The good news is I picked up the prescription form from my doctor, the bad news is I just haven't had a chance to make it to the lab.  With a newborn at home time has been a commodity I've had little of.

I will make it a point (pun intended) to get the blood test completed over the next week or two and post my results on my Cholesterol Page.  I will also be getting my body fat tested in the coming weeks as well.

Since starting the Nitro 250 Resveratrol two months ago I haven't noticed any additional changes other then some weight loss that may or may not be directly related to the resveratrol.  I have maintained  the same diet and exercise routine so there are possibilities the Nitro 250 has helped in regards to weight loss.  I am interested to see the results of my body fat analysis to compare it with previous tests.

The tricky part about analyzing whether resveratrol works or not is that if it is working, it may not be something you can feel.  If your cells are "more" healthy is that something you will notice?  It seems to me the only way to notice definitive, non anecdotal, changes would be with cellular testing, or living to be 120!  Perhaps the scientists studying resveratrol will come up with accurate ways of measuring the benefits and any potential side effects.

New Human Study Released:  Pharmacokinetic and Safety of Trans-Resveratrol in a Rising Multiple-Dose Study in Healthy Volunteers.

Funny Resveratrol Commercial, Good for a Laugh!

Just when I thought I had seen it all!  The other day I was doing my regular search on the web for information on resveratrol and I some how ended up on YouTube.  To my surprise there were hundreds of videos related to resveratrol.  A large majority were some sort of sales video, others were personal reviews, and a few were versions of the Barbara Walters and 60-Minutes specials that have aired in the past.

I of course wasted way too much time watching a bunch of them and actually was surprised by what I learned.  Just because a video is sales related doesn't mean you can't learn something new.  I digress.

A particular video advertisement actually stood out in my mind.  I am very interested in marketing and found this particular video to be quite funny and a step-up from other ads I've seen regarding resveratrol.  At least I felt it was worth the 49 seconds of my life it took to watch it.  (Note: I am not familiar with this company or their products, I just like the video)

  

2009 My Resveratrol Experience Site Goals!

In May of 2008 I started My Resveratrol Experience to share, learn, and spread the word regarding resveratrol.  It was slow going at first but over the past 3 months MRE has really begun to take off with over 10,000 visitors from 93 different countries!

I want to thank everyone who has contributed to MRE and helped to create a community filled with fun, anecdotal, and educational information exchange.  I've had the opportunity to learn a lot from all of you and look forward to learning and sharing more in 2009.  It has been a pleasure getting to know some of you over the past few months!

My Resveratrol Experience 2009 Goals:

It's Going To Be a GREAT Year!!

• I will post a minimum of once per week but will attempt to make two posts or more.  Please subscribe to stay up to date!

• Guest Writer Search!  I would like to find a few people who are interesting in writing the occasional article on MRE.  If you enjoy writing and would like to contribute please email me with topics you would like to write about (resveratrol/anti-aging related) and we can discuss in greater detail.  All credits will go to the author of the article and a link back to their site if they have one.

My Resveratrol Experience Update: Personal Dosage, Effectiveness, & Dr. Sinclair in the News!

Not so long ago I made a switch to RevGenetics new resveratrol product Nitro 250.  I thought it was time for an update on how this has been going.

So far I haven't noticed any changes, positive or negative.  I feel exactly the same I did taking the higher dose 500mg & 1000mg micronized resveratrol.  Only now I am taking a smaller dose which I am hoping is more bioavailable and as effective as the larger doses.  With the added delivery system provided in the Nitro 250 pills I am hopeful less will be needed.

For me, taking less can have two benefits:  First, it's cheaper then taking a larger dose.  Cheaper doesn't always mean better, but in this case I believe it's still a high quality product.  Second, it's less of an unknown (we still don't know much about resveratrol in humans) substance I am putting in my body. Less is sometimes more!  

I have decided to increase my dosage to 500mg on training days and will see if this helps with muscle recovery.  I will be taking one capsule about 30 minutes prior to working out and a second capsule within 30 minutes of ending my workout.  This means I will be taking a total of 500mg within a 1 hour time frame of each dose.

A Realistic Diet: Good Foods, Resveratrol & Supplements - My Story (Part 3)

I use the term "realistic" often when describing my routines.  It's not to make you sick of the term, rather I use it to emphasize how important it is to be realistic about your approach.  Whether it's your diet, fitness routine, or your goals, realism will keep you on the right track.  If you think you can lose 40% of your body weight in one month you're just not being realistic.

When it comes to diet I am not overly strict about what I can and can't eat.  I don't starve myself by eating tiny portions of foods with little substance.  I focus on eating foods I like, that just happen to be pretty healthy.  For me this includes eggs, chicken, rice, several types of fish, sweet potatoes, and an array of vegetables.

Here's an example of what a day of eating looks like for me:

Breakfast -A whole wheat bagel, egg whites, slice of cheese, and turkey sausage.  It makes for a great sandwich.  The local bagel shop prepares them when I'm on the run.

Morning Supplements - Multi Vitamin, Glutamine, Branch Chain Amino Acids(BCAA's),  & essential amino acids.

Lunch -I typically eat a pre-made microwavable lunch.  A favorite of mine is turkey with sweet potatoes and green vegetables.  They are easy when you have time constraints and are filling enough to get me through a workout.

Realistic Fitness Program, the Next Step! - My Story (Part 2)

In Part 1 of this series I discussed the mental process I went through in deciding to change.  For me, that part was easy, it was implementing it and sticking to it that was going to be a challenge!

I knew going into this I would have to make it fun and challenging.  I like challenges and I can't stand to fail.  I often feel like I am competing with myself in my head.  The conversations I have with myself help to push me to not give up and conquer the goals I set out.  You might say to yourself, "Markus is a little crazy, he talks to himself, and has inner competitions.  What's with him?"  Well, I think everyone can relate to talking to themselves, we all do it.  I just try and use it to my advantage.  Give it a shot... you may be surprised at how well it works.

The Fitness Plan

As I previously mentioned, finding a personal trainer was key to making this work for me.  So I can't attribute this fitness plan to something I came up with on my own, rather it is the fine work of my trainer.

The idea behind this program is to workout efficiently and effectively:

The workout consists of 3 training days in which I am put through full body workouts in a 30 minute period of time.  This typically consists of 8 different exercises targeting your legs, chest, back, and arms.  There is also a great deal of emphasis on your "core", or the trunk area of your body.  During any exercise you should maintain a solid core which gives you balance and stability to safely complete an exercise.

Taking Resveratrol, Getting Healthy, & Future Health - My Story! (Part 1)

After several requests for how I "got myself back on track" I thought it would be appropriate to detail my actions of the past 12 months.  My goal is to pass along a realistic approach to getting healthy. 

This past February I was out-of-shape, eating poorly, always tired, and feeling negative.  Never in a million years did I think in less then 12 months it would all change.  What surprises me the most... it wasn't that hard!

What causes a person to change?

You see the headlines on a daily basis, "Exercising Leads to a Healthier Heart," or, "A Low Fat Diet Reduces the Risk of Diabetes."  Headlines like these are the norm.  Most of us are conditioned to read them but do not fully take notice of what they are saying.  How many times has reading an article changed your life?  I'm guessing not many.

In order for most people to change their life one of the following circumstances needs to occur:

- A life changing event such as a bad accident, medical problem, or the death of a loved one.
- You need to stop making excuses as to why you can't make change happen.
- You need to act on your desire for change.  This means, "you have to walk-the-walk and not just talk-the-talk."

Many people think changing your life means you have to turn it upside down.  Well get those thoughts out of your head, it's just not so!  You need to enjoy your new lifestyle and you can't make that happen without a realistic approach to getting healthy.

What gave me the desire to change?

Resveratrol Experience: 7th Month Update

What a difference a week makes!

Every 8-12 weeks I like to take time off from all supplements.  I call it "Body Cleansing Mode."  For seven days I stop taking all supplements and vitamins in hopes to reset my body.  Some people say there is no need to do this while others claim it's beneficial to give your body a break.

I don't have any scientific reasons for doing this other then how it makes me feel and the feedback I get from my body.  I look at it like this.  When you are taking supplements and vitamins you get comfortable with them and it's difficult to know how they are working.  You get used to the extra energy or better nights sleep.  So when I stop taking them I am much more aware of their effects.

For the past 7 days I went through this cleansing and the differences I felt were extremely obvious.  As many of you know I have an intense gym routine that puts me through three sets of eight different exercises in a 30 minute period of time.  (I will be detailing my fitness & supplement regimen in a future post)  I do this 3 days a week as my body needs to recover in between each session. 

Resveratrol Experience Update: Six Months Have Past!

The past six months have been eye opening for me.  I've had the pleasure of getting familiar with my active side again.  I started a new training regimen, improved my diet, began using supplements, and started taking resveratrol.  I am feeling better then I have since my early twenties!

My resveratrol experience has been eye opening to say the least.  I've been fortunate enough to learn, share, and benefit from my resveratrol use.  I am hopeful that the long term benefits of resveratrol, and a healthy lifestyle together, will enable me to live a longer and more active life.

I usually talk about all the positive things I've found resveratrol does for me mainly because there weren't any noticeable negatives.  I believe I may have come across one and felt it was important to share it.  Over the past few weeks I've noticed a stiffness in my finger and toe joints.  Imagine trying to make a fist only its slightly difficult in a resistant way.  There isn't any pain involved but it is definitely something I've been noticing.

Why I take Resveratrol and a Small Regimen Change

The reasons we choose to take resveratrol are endless.  Some take it to treat major illness such as Cancer, Diabetes, or Alzheimer's, while others use it to help burn fat, promote longevity, or to mimic calorie restriction diets.  Many of you have asked me why I take resveratrol so I felt a public response would be appropriate.

I take resveratrol for more then one reason and those reasons keep on changing.  In reality they don't change as much as the list of reasons is added on to as new research is announced.

My list is as follows:

• Promote cell health via SiRT1 activation
• Regulation of my Cholesterol Levels - Lower LDL and Increase HDL
• Increased mental energy & focus
• Faster muscle recovery after weight training
• Longevity as a result of calorie restriction mimetic
• Reduction and maintenance of body fat levels

Doctor's and Resveratrol: Some know, some don't!

For the most part, when it comes to this site and my resveratrol use, I keep it to myself.  Very few people in my "circle" know about the site or that I take supplements.  For me, I don't want to defend my decisions to use these products over and over again to the people I see every day.  I am willing to take the time to explain it to those who are open-minded and interested in learning more.  That is why I enjoy sharing my experiences on this site with like minded people.  At the same time there are a select few close friends whom I've shared this site and my resveratrol usage with.

Recently I was having dinner with my parents, my father who is 60, and my mother who is, well, we'll just say she is a little younger then him.  My father is a private pilot who has been flying for many years now.  Each year pilots have to get a mandatory physical completed by an FAA approved physician.  This year it just so happens he was speaking with this specific doctor who recommended he look into taking this "new" supplement.  The doctor informed him it has been shown in studies to help a wide variety of diseases and anti-aging illnesses, amongst other things.

I basically finished my fathers story by saying, "I bet I know what it was he suggested... resveratrol!"  To my fathers, and my own astonishment, it was exactly what he was talking about.  Now I have never mentioned this site to my father so when I pulled up the home page to show him he was rather surprised.  I guess the apple doesn't fall to far from the tree after all.  I was eager to share my knowledge and offer some tidbits of information.  I also offered up a bottle of my favorite resveratrol for him to try.

This got me thinking...