What Is Your Best?

Top entertainers, athletes, and public figures depend more than most of us on their energy, appearance, and social validation and sometimes go to great lengths to ensure they remain at the top of their physical game. Conquering exhaustion and the aging of the body is more than just a want, it is intricately intertwined to their livelihood. Mary J. Blige, Mark McGwire, Keith Richards, Lyle Alzado, Wyclef Jean, Roger Clemens, Timbaland, Anna-Nicole Smith, 50 Cent, and Sylvester Stallone are just a few celebs who have been linked to performance enhancers like Human Growth Hormone (HGH), androstenedione, gene transfers/doping, vitamin B12 injections, transfusions of high altitude blood, and others techniques to counter biology. If you can imagine, usage has become so rampant in these circles that even the term performance enhancement is considered a misnomer and is replaced by the quaint and kitschy "performance enablement." An interesting slight of hand to say the least -- especially from someone like me who preaches "back-to-basics" and maximizing your natural assets.

All the enhancement techniques I am aware of involve some form of pill or injection that replicate or force a normal biological process. HGH for example is a naturally occurring pituitary gland secretion which is responsible for body growth (general, muscular, and skeletal) and which steadily declines as we get older. Medically, HGH treatment helps stunted growth and related ailments in children. Non-medically, the hope users have is that HGH will increase bone density, improve muscle growth, reduce body fat, and most importantly reduce the effects of aging. I have even heard of celebrities and athletes getting advanced blood transfusions with high altitude blood! This super blood improves performance by greatly increasing red blood cell counts, which oxygenate blood and giving the transfused huge boosts of energy. For top performers these make a huge difference when winning happens in a matter of seconds, when staying awake 36 to 48 hours straight on the campaign trail can mean presidential office, if you're 61 and have to look like a 30-year-old Rambo or Rocky, because your competition is doing it.

Unfortunately, these quick fixes are increasingly linked to serious long-term problems like diabetes, heart disease, and even some cancers. Every day research uncovers new long term effects of artificially "enabling" one's body and point to a growing list of negative consequences and serious health problems. The bigger question is then why our social icons take such risks with their health when they have the money and resources to live very healthy naturally. The reason is precisely because our bodies were not designed to handle the types of strain celebrities put on their bodies -- no one can stay 30 forever! The recent Heath Ledger tragedy is an unfortunate example of this. When the unrealistic expectations of society and social pressures to stay young and vibrant are mixed with huge financial incentives, long-term health and personal care take the back seat. Celebrities are the tragic victims of our unrealistic expectations and our yearning for permanent youthful life. We fundamentally encourage these behaviours by heavily rewarding self-flagellation and turning a blind eye to the how's and why's. As a health and fitness expert, I can attest that a careful balance of exercise and diet can boost energy, increase quality of life, and make one feel young and healthy. But I could never make Rambo 35 again, too bad we seem programmed to demand such an impossible goal.

Comments

[GreatWiLLHuntg]

THE ATHLETES and celebs and other who by cash or by stealth attempt to maintain prime functioning levels are not to be treated as criminals but as explorers of our ever looming bio frontier.

That these researchs and measures are clandestine either by law or by custom makes the experiment in which these foolhardy fellows are participating less medically cautious and far less monitored for personal bio effects than they must be.

RAther, I suggest we open up this area of bioscience and make it rigorously scientific.

[ISocrates456]

Although I enjoyed the argument put forth and think you have a point Jennifer, I disagree. I see have no issue with individuals making a personal decision to enable their ability; even if that requires the help of science and technology. It is a choice - and I don't think we should judge those that find that the benefits of enablement out weight the costs. If I could make millions more by looking 30 years younger I may not do it, but I would think about it seriously. As finance people tell us, a dollar today is worth more that a dollar tomorrow - in other words wealth now is worth more than wealth later.

[kmurtitowardchange]

Just as the rowdies, so named by Dr. Drew, on that Celeb Rehab, cannot assert (or most can't) an intellectual goal--as priority, or express the ideal body conscious moment when the ground of our being IS in fact integrated w/ physical responsibility i.e spirit in the material, these well-educated highly literate actors all live in a frenetic universe of plastic energy, and loose objectivity because the ego never will diminish & warn that it is about what we have become, rather than the vapors of vanity.

[ISocrates456]

I gave kmurtitowardchange's comment a double read just to be sure I was not being dense but no, it is an overly verbose expression of nothingness (to use similar language). I have a feeling you have something of value to say but make it simple and your point may have impact. Remember the genius of the brilliant is to simply for everyone, not high level rambling...

[mchalbe]

I agree with your view of the futile struggle of obtaining youth through non-natural alternative methods. Its great to hear someone give this perspective so effectively.

At the end of life, when there is no hope in recapturing youth, where is there hope? What is there to live for in the elderly years? I think our culture would be better served if we were to appreciate more highly the spiritual and realational aspect of life.