Unlocking the Fountain of Youth
The Untold Stories of Jane and Melanie
By Ovanto.org Team
This article is in sync with our mission to contribute to the development of health culture and the growth of all disciplines of volleyball. We provide informative and educational content about volleyball training and the benefits of playing the sport.
Jane has always had an appreciation for healthy food and physical activity thanks to her parents teaching and treating this concept as a game rather than a chore.
As she grew older, Jane became more aware of the benefits of a healthy diet and made a conscious effort to avoid junk food and sugary drinks.
In high school, Jane discovered her love for sports and started volleyball practice regularly. It quickly became her passion and her dedication to improving her skills paid off in the form of a scholarship, to pay for her college and university tuition fees.
Her teammates would often joke that she was the health nut of the team, always bringing her own healthy snacks and drinks to practice.
As an adult, Jane found that keeping active and maintaining a healthy diet helped her not just on the court, but also in her studies. She had more energy than most of her friends and was always willing to offer advice on how to stay active and eat healthy.
As Jane entered her 30s, she continued to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle, trying out new sports like cycling. She never let age stop her from trying new things and pushing herself to stay active.
In her 40s, Jane’s habits were a stark contrast to her best friend Melanie’s, who had a more sedentary lifestyle with no restrictions on food or drinks.
As she entered her 50s and 60s, Jane continued to live an active and healthy lifestyle with no health problems. Her energy levels remained high, and she was able to enjoy her life to the fullest, even participating and finishing a marathon in her 60s.
As Jane passed her 70s, she realized that her dedication to healthy eating and regular exercise had played a crucial role in her overall well-being and physical condition. She felt proud of her choices and continued to inspire her daughters and grandchildren about the importance of a daily routine with just 30 minutes of physical exercise and eating healthy food.
Jane, now 78 has both a well-functioning brain and good mobility, thanks to the choices she made throughout her life.
Melanie has had a rough go of it when it comes to her physical and mental health. Throughout her life, she chowed down on junk food and sugary drinks like they were going out of style, and never made time for regular exercise.
As she entered her 50s, Melanie’s neglect of her health started to catch up with her. She struggled with back pain, making it difficult for her to move around and do daily activities. She also noticed that she was gaining weight faster than her friend Jane, really much faster!
And her energy levels were decreasing to the point that her friends and family noticed the difference in her appearance and well-being, often commenting on how much healthier and happier Jane looked compared to her, which made her worse than she was already feeling herself and that made her fall into a sort of depression.
Melanie remembered once, when she and Jane were having lunch together, but while Jane was eating her salad and fruit, Melanie was enjoying fries and burger, Jane said “You know Mel, I think that’s the secret of my good health”, Melanie replied “Sure, the secret is eating grass like a cow and a banana like a monkey.”
Thinking it all back, she could only justify herself with one of the most foolish phrases she had read on a pack of precooked saucy chicken wings: “So good, you can’t outrun your fork”.
As she entered her 60s, Melanie’s health problems continued to worsen. She was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, which required her to take daily medication.
She also started experiencing joint pain and stiffness, which made it difficult for her to participate in the activities she enjoyed, such as dancing and playing with her neighbor’s grandchildren.
In her early 70s, Melanie’s health problems continued to escalate. She had to use a walking aid, such as a cane or walker. She was also diagnosed with heart disease, which further limited her mobility.
Now, at the age of 75, Melanie’s health problems have greatly impacted her quality of life. She is unable to move around without assistance, she is dependent on a wheel chair for her mobility and is dependent on others for her daily needs. Her energy levels are low, and she struggles with chronic pain.
She often reflects on the choices she made throughout her life and wishes she had taken better care of her health. Though she tries to make the best of her situation and have a good sense of humor about it, deep down she regrets not having listened to her friend Jane’s advice on healthy eating and regular exercise.
She often jokingly tells people “I should have followed Jane’s lead, but I guess I was too busy following my cravings.”
