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[Clansgian AT wmconnect.com]

> You've got to be kidding...I can't believe you think this way.  A 40 
> year old just suffered longer.

YOU've  got to be kidding.  If I recall from Marie's example, the woman is 
now 60 and still with us.  In what way is that "suffering".

Do you recall James Fixx.  He is often pointed to by the astrolo-geneticists 
as showing what an important role genes play in determining health.  Fixx was 
a health and running advocate, in very top physical shape, and yet suddenly 
died of coronary causes at the age of 52.  No matter what you do, those stars 
...er I mean, genes,.... will get you.

The astrolo-geneticist will quickly point out that Fixx's father had a 
massive heart attack at the age of 35 and died of one a few years later.  His 
grandfather and uncles fared little better.  Coffin nail proof right there.

But here's what's usually left out of the picture:   James Fixx was hugely 
overweight and smoked two packs of cigarettes a day until he was 35.  His 
family 
history and his own condition concerned him enough that he changed his 
lifestyle.  And he lived seventeen vigorous years because of it.  He beat his 
younger sister in a long tennis match the day before he died (while running). 
 

The story here is that James Fixx beat the odds.  Because of his choices he 
lived far longer and better than the men of his family usually did.

Bev, your response sounds disturbingly like the old bit when someone is 
making terrible choices inspite of or in addition to any chance 
circusmstances they 
find themselves in and when anyone points out the obvious, as obvious as 
saying that if you are allergic to bee stings, don't take up beekeeping ... 
then 
there is a rending of garments and gnashing of teeth ..... how DARE you blame 
the victim!!  

What do you think?  If you have a genetic predisposition to something you 
might as well "lay you doon and dee"?   Improving one's overall health would 
do 
nothing to improve one's odds of beating that predisposition?   This sounds 
more astrology-like as it goes along.