What Top Gun: Maverick Can Teach Us About Health and Longevity
Can we all look like Maverick?
I love Top Gun.
I remember when I watched it at the theater, back in 1986. Probably not the most appropriate movie for a 6 years old boy, but hey, it was the 80s! I was lucky enough to have the movie’s soundtrack vinyl long play (that was a device used for playing music, kids!). I listened to it so much that I still know every single music of that album by heart. I also play countless hours of the Top Gun video game on my 8 bits Nintendo, still remember the thrill of landing at the aircraft carrier for the first time! That movie caused an impression on me, enough to make me a lifelong aviation enthusiast.
So I was very excited when Top Gun: Maverick was finally released in the theaters.
And it did not disappoint! What a movie, ladies and gentlemen! The flying, the drama, the special effects, the finely dosed references to the original movie. It was all amazing! Amazing enough for this old fan, at least.
Even the old F-14 was there! And the way they brought in the Tomcat to the story was simply brilliant!
There was only one thing missing in the storyline, something we all missed: Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood, the civilian contractor instructor Maverick fell in love with.
Don't get me wrong. Jennifer Connelly did a great job as the new/old Maverick’s love interest, and her character was well written. But Penny is not Charlie! Charlie had a whole backstory with our beloved Captain Pete Michell, a story that we knew about. Bringing them together after all those years could bring the sense of closure that Maverick needed so much. So, if Charlie was such an important character, why not bring her back?
“I’m Too Old and Fat”
That’s what Kelly McGillis said about not even being asked about reviving her most iconic character. And we are not here to judge her, nor Hollywood casting parameters. Our sole purpose here is to try to learn something about health and longevity. Her actual words were: “I’m old and I’m fat and I look age-appropriate for what my age is, and that is not what that whole scene is about”. I would like to talk specifically about the “I look age-appropriate” part.
Kelly McGillis is 64 years old right now, and she does look like most ladies at her age. Nothing wrong with that, for sure. She doesn't need to look like the bombshell she was back in 86. Nobody does, buy the way. The matter is not about if people need to look youthful in their 60s, but if people can look youthful in their 60s! And the movie shows show us that yes, they can.
Because then came Tom Cruise.
Please don’t feel like that, you knew that it was inevitable to compare them, internet is popping with 1986/2022 pictures of them both. Tom Cruise will become 60 in a couple of weeks from now and shows up in an amazing shape, looking 20 years younger and fit enough to share the shirtless beach dogfight football scene with actors that weren’t even born when the original Top Gun was released.
I know, comparing them both sounds unfair, and even cruel to McGillis, and probably is. Tom Cruise is the exception, not the rule. After all, how many 60 years old people look like him? Kelly McGillis certainly looks age-appropriate.
And that is exactly my point.
Tom Cruise should not be a handsome exception, he is exactly how a 60 years old human being should look like.
We should all be able to look like him, at least health-wise. So I tried to find out what he is doing in terms of Diet and Exercise, two of the main factors in terms of health and longevity, so we could try to learn about it.
What does Tom eat?
There is not much available about his diet, but some pieces of information here and there. What I could find out is:
- During Mission Impossible shootings he was having only 1200 calories a day. Although that is not sustainable in the long run, it is well known that calorie restriction is a contributing factor to longevity.
- in 2018 his diet was about having 15 meals per day, mainly nuts and berries. Another diet that is unsustainable for a long period. Eating that frequently would keep his insulin level constantly high, leading to insulin resistance and eventually making him fat. But this shows us that he eats lots of anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant foods.
- He eats lots of good proteins, mostly grilled at lower temperatures. By doing this he avoids AGEs (advanced glycation end-products) with form when proteins are exposed to high temperatures, especially deep frying in vegetable oils. AGEs accelerate the aging process in our bodies.
- He avoids Carbs. Carbohydrates will spike your insulin and again, will lead to insulin resistance and eventual fat gain. Here, Mike Mutzel explains the link between carbs intake and the collagen in your skin, nails, and joints.
Tom’s workout
There is also nothing very specific about his workout routine. All we know can be condensed into these two points.
- He does weight training. The muscle loss that comes with aging is called Sarcopenia. And Sarcopenia is one of the greatest enemies of elderly people. We all know senior people that are not fat, but look extremely weak and fragile. That can lead to fractures and overall lower life quality. To avoid that we need resistance training with weights. Weight lifting is even better.
- He is generally very active. He used to practice several diverse physical activities, like running, cycling, fencing and kayaking.
So, can we all look as fit as Tom Cruise in our 60s? I truly believe yes. of course, training with David Beckham and having two personal chefs are a huge help. But by adding these few things to our daily lives we can get a lot to look like Maverick:
- Reduce carbs. Especially the refined ones, like sugar and flour.
- Add anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant foods to our diet.
- Eat good proteins, and choose the cooking method wisely.
- Do weight training.
- Be active. Just leaving your car at home and riding your bicycle to work or school will be a huge improvement. Don’t believe me? Just go to Copenhagen or Amsterdam and try to find overweight people…
Necessary disclaimer: Please, do not take health advice from a random guy on Medium. I am not a health professional by any means, just an enthusiast on the subject that likes to share what I have learned with the real pros. Please do your own research and look for professional guidance, especially if you have any medical conditions.
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