2017
Replies
-
Wow! I was going to get on here and sing my woes!! But because of all of the overwhelming above encouragement the two pounds I gained and thinking of all of the extra food I will be eating for the three holidays coming up Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, I am not doomed.
I will continue with my Sunday workout in the gym With massage and I have to get back to the calorie count. it was too difficult while away but became lazy and have not done since I am home. So I will start back.
Great going Snoozie and also Suzy I love the encouragements.2 -
I found an excellent new tool to use for portion control - drop half your scrambled eggs on the floor while trying to hit the plate!
Milove - love your attitude adjustment!! and excellent idea on continuing the Sunday gym and getting back to keeping an eye on the cals. Try not to worry in advance about upcoming holidays - just handle em when they come and let your mind be free of it for now lol!
1 -
Gwen, you’re not the Lone Ranger... I didn’t log anything for three weeks while on vacation. I’m finally back to logging and eating better. Now I just have to get back to exercising. Good for you for sticking with your Sunday workouts!
Yes...my mom used to say, “don’t borrow trouble.” Let’s not worry about the holidays just yet. I’m tired of thinking about and worrying about food!!! My plan is like Snoozie’s...handle the holidays when they get here.
We’re planning to go for a hike this weekend in the North Georgia mountains. The leaves are supposed to be at peak color. Hopefully the rain tomorrow won’t blow them all off the trees before we get up there.0 -
Thanks Y'all so right will not go too far in the future.
Enjoy your hiking Suzy
Funny pic Snoozie.1 -
I have been "lurking" here, but reading, and really appreciated your thoughts, Snooozie. I've been on a bit of a downer recently, but I'm not going to go into that after reading your inspiring posts! Instead I'll mention a postive - I found out that there is a walking book group (like a normal book group, but you talk about the books while going for a walk together) in my town, and I went along yesterday. I had a gym class just before, so I went to the gym, cycled along the river to the book group, went for a lovely walk through fields, talking about books, went for a coffee and more talk, and cycled home. It was really fun, and counts as four lots of exercise as far as I'm concerned!
Anyway, somebody from the book group also goes to a cycling group and that was meeting this morning, so I went along to that too. I'm really nervous cycling was so it was great to do it in a group. The road parts were scary, but most of it was on cycle paths. I felt a bit rude inviting myself along, but I'm glad I did! I'm hoping this is something I can continue when I retire. In fact, it made me think that I might treat myself to a decent bike when I retire, one that actually fits me (the one I have is too big for me).
There is another bike ride coming up with the book group, so I'm hoping to go to that too. I'm so pleased that there are groups like these. I know when I looked into it years ago, the groups were all for "serious" cyclists, whereas these groups have a mix, older people, people taking up cycling again after years and so on.
Have a wonderful hike, Suzy. I bet it will be beautiful. It's lovely here at the moment, with all the autumn colours.2 -
Vail !! I am completely jealous - omg a walking book group ??? TWO of my favourite things put together what a FABULOUS idea.. and huge kudos to you for finding it and having the courage to try something new - and apparently loved it!! that is totally awesome!!
and i'm totally proud of you for inviting yourself along to the cycle - GOOD ON YA!!! and as it turned out you were so glad you did!! I used to love cycling but its been years since I've been on a bike and like you, all the groups around here in Meetup and such are serious cyclers.. too intimidating for me... I LOVE this... both of em ... and holy moly yes on the exercise component 100%!!
Honestly your post made my day.. even with the jealous part!! Huge congrats Vail - and please keep us updated on how it's going??1 -
Thanks, Snooozie! Yes, I couldn't believe it when I found out about the walking book group! It's exactly the sort of thing I wanted to do! My previous hours of work meant that I couldn't go, but my hours changed recently and I sometimes have that day off. But what I'm really hoping is that the group is still going when I've retired, because it seems like an ideal thing for a retired person - ticking the boxes of free/low cost, exercise, outdoors, social, fun (if you like books and walking) and keeping your mind active! And local. I'm quite disappointed that I can't make the next one (because I'm working), so won't be able to do it again until January at the earliest. But I think every city should have one of these groups!2
-
I am so jealous!!! Walking book club?!?!! Brilliant!!! I would love that!!!0
-
Vail that is a crazy great idea. Usually, for book clubs, you are sitting around eating while conversating. Walking or cycling is a wonderful way to entice checking those extra pounds.0
-
I just read through the last several posts to catch up. I don't mean to be so sluggish about posting and checking in. I keep meaning to do it, and then think, Oh I'll wait until I have a little more time so I can give more detailed and engaging posts, and, well, you know how that goes. Anyway, I think what I'll do is just post when I first think of it even if it just a brief one so at least I stay in touch better.
Vail- when you first mentioned a walking book club I envisioned the group reading a book while walking - made me chuckle ! Sounds like a great group and glad you are talking about the books and not reading them while walking and cycling lol.
Snooozie- LOVE the cartoon and lol about the new portion control tool
Suzy- I hear you about making too ambitious of goals. I've definitively had to work on that area myself in the past. Right now, each morning, I try to make an appropriate and realistic goal for that day. An when I start to beat myself up for some things that maybe weren't the best choices, I have myself mentally list all the choices I made that were on track and focus on those achievements. Plus since it is a daily goal, if it works, great, if not, its easy to start again the next day. Of course I do set some sort of long term goal, but I try not to set deadlines. Of course in your case you do have deadlines as to the hiking dates, and it seems to me you have done a fantastic job with those hikes! So yay you!
Gail- sure hope your allergies are improving and you are feeling better
Milove- your dog is ADORABLE!
I'm plugging along here in the desert, and happy to say the temperatures are finally out of triple digits and just this week out of the nineties. This means the doggies get to be walked again, about which they are thrilled. My friend was pooping out on me walking at the indoor track anyway, and I haven't been going much, so it's probably good to switch back to walking the dogs around the neighborhood (although I had enjoyed walking with my hands free and not having to constantly remind my more ADHD dog to heel! ) But I do prefer to walk outside , and after Thanksgiving is my favorite time to walk them around the neighborhood because everyone is putting up their Christmas lights, and we all chat.
I have been trying to switch things up in my eating plan and eat more for breakfast and lunch and then have a really light dinner , like a protein bar, and it seems to be helping. I am slowly, and I mean slowly, losing some weight. The super frustrating thing , and I mean super frustrating, is that my weight keeps redistributing regardless of staying at the same weight in pounds or losing some. About a year or so ago all of a sudden my hip and tummy area got even larger- went up like a whole size and so many pants and dresses and things didn't fit any more, even though I weighed the same. Now, about three weeks ago, the same thing happened to my upper stomach area, so now I swear I look pregnant!!!!! I remember when this happened suddenly to my older sister a few years ago and I thought it was so weird. I thought she should go see a doctor cause maybe she had a tumor or something. Well now it has happened to me and it sucks! So I've had to buy new tops now too.
This aging is crazy and sure ain't for sissies. I've noticed the most changes since I turned 60. But I will say it sure beats the alternative, and I do remind myself to be grateful to and about my body. I am so glad I finally saw the light 5 years ago and embarked upon this healthy lifestyle journey. It often may be two steps forward and one back, or even one forward and one or two back on some days, lol, but in the long run and the big picture I think all of us have learned so much and made great progress physically and mentally. Raising a glass to all lovely hatters for all of our efforts on this journey!
1 -
You are so right about starting five years ago - how much harder would it be now if we hadn't started back then, despite all the ups and downs? And I'm with you on the posting - I tend to read the posts, but I'm rushing off somewhere so I think I'll wait until I have time to think about it and then something else gets in the way and so on!
That's a strange thing with the weight distribution. I have been getting a little of that, I think it means I'm now post-menopausal. The worrying thing for me is that it seems to be a sign of body recomposition - I have gone through all my weight loss and maintenance while maintaining muscle. I used my body composition scales just recently and for the first time I've not only gained fat but lost muscle, despite working at it. It's so much harder to make a positive difference now ... but as you say, I think that is partly because we've been working at it all along. If we hadn't bothered for the last few years, then it would be easy to make a difference - lol! It's just harder when you're already working on exercise, eating, etc., and you're fighting against the recomposition and decline that comes naturally with age too.
Have fun walking the dogs!
1 -
Thanks for your understanding Vail. Recomposition is the perfect word. It’s crazy to lose weight and go up a size at the same time ! I hear you about the gaining fat and losing muscle+ too- I had always maintained my muscle while losing weight before as measured for me at Canyon Ranch, but I highly suspect that is what’s going on with me now with this redistribution thing- it’s like the fat fairy came by one night and left a large deposit on me while I was sleeping! Oh well, it is what it is I guess.0
-
I have to laugh at myself, looool "biking and reading!!!!1
-
I keep reading that strength training and building lean muscle is key as we age. Now...if I can just figure out how to do that!!!
I thought I’d post a pic from my hike today. It was difficult to get back out there after a month off! The mountains here in Georgia are at their peak color for fall.
1 -
What an incredible view, Suzy! I hope you enjoyed the hike. You always impress me with your hiking. It's something I used to love years ago, but I think I'd struggle now.
The leaves here are maybe past there best, so many have fallen off the trees now. I went for a cycle ride with the new cycle group yesterday. They stopped for a pub lunch and I'm proud to say I didn't have lunch! Was kind of regretting that when it came and looked delicious! (Roast dinners with Yorkshire puddings).
I agree about strength-building, but it's so frustrating! I have been doing strength-building exercise all through my weight loss and maintenance, because I knew that women's muscle wasted in middle age and wanted to prevent that. And (according to my body composition scales) I was successful for the last few years .... but a change in hormones and the hormones win out. I suppose that even with a conscious effort it's difficult to fight against nature! I believe the hormone changes (less testosterone as well as the usual suspects) are not good for muscle and bone. I suppose we must continue to fight the good fight and recognise that we're on the losing side - lol!0 -
I stuck to my commitment and made it to the gym for a workout on Sunday. After the treadmill, I was able to lift weights 10 lbs to try to tighten those hanging triceps. Which is an increase of 5 lbs. Then my beautiful Swedish massage. Feeling like a queen.1
-
OMG, Vailara!!! Yorkshire puddings?!?!!! Yum! I’ve tried to make them and they just aren’t the same as the ones I had in England. Good for you for cycling and then having the strength to say no to pub food!
Way to go Gwen!! Sounds like a great Sunday!
I bought some books on women’s weight training and have yet to read them. I have some tendinitis going on in my elbow and can’t lift weights or put any weight on it right now. I guess it’s the perfect time to read the books and come up with a plan. I have weight training in my goals for the end of the month so we’ll see if I can do something by then. I’ve been taking off some of my vacay weight gain so that’s encouraging.
Let’s all have a great week!!!0 -
Well done on the workout, Milove, and on doubling your weights! I'm envious of the Swedish massage!
Enjoy the books, Suzy, and well done on the weight loss! I have several books, because it seems I would rather read than do - lol! I hope the tendinitis clears up. Could you just leg work until then? Maybe not ... It's really annoying how an injury in one part of the body can mess up exercising the other parts. Anyway, good luck. Oh, and I'm glad you've come across Yorkshire puddings and know what willpower it takes to resist, lol!0 -
Suzy- what a beautiful view! Thanks fir sharing your photo and great job on the hike
Milove - great job sticking to your commitment!
Vail- totally agree about hormones wreaking havoc on our efforts. On the more humorous side, thought I’d share a photo of how I picture you riding your bike and reading
1 -
Thank you! Yes, that is exactly what I look like, down to the figure! Lol! We don't actually take the books along with us to the group, and just talk while walking, but sometimes chat on the bike rides too, which makes me a bit nervous as I'm still nervous on the bike! But it's nice that it's sociable.0
-
Morning Hatters..
Been a busy week back at work; only 2 more to go for this shift and it is really the only shift I like anymore; I have my mornings free and am still home by 11pm so.... I did a short gig at the LAC yesterday morning; a big drug company here rented the theatre for their "way forward" convention thingie... but didn't know til I got there their guest speaker was Captain "Sully" Sullenberger - the airline captain who landed the U.S. Airways flight on the Hudson River back in 2009.. he was an AMAZING speaker and I was lucky enough to be posted inside for the gig so got to hear it all.. lovely surprise that made my day!
I had a pretty good week with my goals I set.. def got in the veg and fruit servings, did well with the portion sizes but didn't make all the exercise ones - and fell a little short of the 1lb a week weight loss goal but that's ok; I still had a loss and will tweak as I go along..
read the posts quickly but will go back and re read before replying:
Gail - sounds like an awesome idea you and YSGF tag teaming each other; sounds like both goals of less carbs more moving are excellent ones and will be great to have someone to do it with!
Susan - nice to see ya! Glad the weather is cooling down and both you and the pups get to enjoy it! and I totally agree about being grateful we started our journeys when we did; with all the changes in our bodies without it absolutely would not be where we are if we hadn't lol! love the bike pic too funny
Suzy - GORGEOUS pic.. wowsa!! and yep I bet it was hard getting back after a month, but a) you DID it.. and b) you got to see that gorgeous view - double win!! glad to hear the vacay lbs are shedding - as for the ST I saw something i on that subject.. for us over 50 types... gonna see if I can find it.. talked about how the hormone changes impact our body comp and what NOT to do exercise wise if I recall? but I know I also have to do SOMETHING in that area.. so will be interested to hear what you find in the books
Vail - huge congrats on skipping the pub lunch.. omg im not sure I could.. my mom used to make Yorkshire pudding... she made it in a square 8x8 pan and she always said the secret was putting the pan with about a 1/2 inch of oil in it.. in the oven at like 400 degrees to get nice and hot while you mixed the batter.. then pull the pan out, pour the batter into the piping hot pan and back in to cook.. hers always came out really high and puffy - we were piggies tho hence why she made it in the square pan.. she just cut it into 4 so you can imagine the size of the serving LOLOL... sigh.. ok now I want YP...
Milove - WELL done on getting to the gym and following thru on your commitment.. I absolutely love the post workout massage.... it might actually make me go to the gym if I treated myself to one of those after!! great job!
ok I found the video thing.. it's titled "what every woman over 50 needs to know about strength training" ... she has a couple of different videos but these aren't "buy my program" ones she does.. just information so might be worth a watch - I found it quite interesting
https://youtu.be/p-Cvp-sOGyc 1 -
Thanks for the video, Snoozie. I sometimes wish that I had enough disposable income that I could go to a personal trainer to work out. Coming up with an exercise routine and knowing the proper form and whatnot is so confusing!! I’ll let you know what I glean from these books. Hopefully they’ll be more helpful and less confusing!
How exciting to hear “Sully” talk! I’m sure it was good stuff! Good for you for keeping your goals in the forefront and working towards them. I need to finish refining mine and get to work on achieving them! I’m such a procrastinator!
0 -
Hahahahah laughing at the bike pic.0
-
Suzy I am the queen of procrastinators - I really should have a crown ! it's actually one of the things i'm trying to improve on.. but I keep putting it off. haaaaaaaaaaaaaa
did you guys hear on the news recently about the BMI being tossed out as far as a measurement for health now?? New research apparently showing that since BMI is only based on height and weight, its doesn't accurately show healthy as such.. we all know obese people can be "fit" and skinny people can be totally unfit... anyway apparently now they are saying that visceral fat - the fat around your belly and your organs, is the better way to determine at risk; they gave some waist circumference numbers for men and women as a guide but it was on the radio and I didn't catch it. Interesting tho as it further stated that the belly fat was an indicator for all kinds of health risks0 -
My!! you girls have been busy.... I'm playing catch up with reading the posts. It's been a busy time at work.
Allergies are still abound but not the awful yuck stuff.....so I say it is improving.
Trying to schedule some blood work since I am feeling better. My doctor put me on Crestor 3 days a week, but I didn't take it...trying to lower it on my own...so I need to see if it is improving before I go back to him... Trys were high along with total choles. number...
I took Lipitor about 15 years ago. I didn't know it at the time, but I believe it was the reason that I couldn't hardly walk 10 steps without feeling like I was going to fall down and pass out from fatigue and muscle issues... It was only after reading others symptoms in the last few years that I realized that must have been my issue....LIPITOR!! ugh! I thought I was dying from something... I spent much $$$ trying to find out....but no one asked me about taking it, so I didn't know to tell them. Any of you have bad reactions to statins?
Big day of work today so I better get started.
G
0 -
Gail - I've been on a statin for 2 years now.. when I was first put on it my doc told me that statins can attack muscles... and as your heart is a muscle, she put me on the co-enzyme Q10 as it protects the heart...
last year she ordered a blood test when I was having pain all over - the blood test actually speicifccally checks to see if there is any muscle damage from the statin.. I think it was called a CK test but I can't remember to be sure...and in my case it came back fine.
anyway it was one of the ones she ran along with the RA and other stuff trying to figure out why the overall pain but it came back fine for me. My sister was put on a statin after her stroke in March; I think she was put on 10mg (which is half of what I take) but even at that she found the fatigue and pain came with so the doc dropped her dosage to 1/2 and she's been fine since..
Am glad you're feeling better and are going to get some blood tests.. just remember while we may hate the thought of more meds, sometimes we have to look at taking them as a benefit.. protecting your body from more harm while we work on improving our numbers... please keep us updated on how it goes with the blood work0 -
Snoozie, yes I saw that also, they are saying that weight could be from muscle not always fat. Measuring your waste to weight was another option.
Gail, I went to the doctor over the summer and my cholesterol results were out of whack, I have a year to get it together before the doctor put me on meds.0 -
Milove - some tips I got from a dietician to lower my cholesterol included eating a handful of walnuts every day, and adding bran to your diet (I tried eating bran buds mixed with cheerios for a while). Info came from some recent studies apparently - but as always, depends on who paid for the study - if it was the walnut people or kellogs lol... but for me it was worth a shot!
Suzy - amen to having the $ for a professional trainer - I honest to god have NO idea where to start or how to start; I know people recommend Blender Fitness and a few other sites.. but honestly I would love to have someone who can address my individual needs... but its so easy here anyway for someone to call themselves a personal trainer.. a few weekend courses and whammo.... I did google strength training over 50 in my area and found a few places that supposedly specialize in programs for over 50... but it's one on one training and the cost is exhorbitant..
But.... gonna have to do something cause more proof all you Hatters were absolutely correct about the loss of muscle being the biggest concern we need to address after 50... AND how sitting has become right up there with smoking as being so bad for you.... this is one I've definitely been working on for a while as I tend to be a couch potato for long periods so several months ago started making sure I got up every 20-30 minutes... and at work have an email prompt come up saying GET UP every hour... anyway a recent article in Zoomer agrees with all of ya:
Is Aging to blame for weight gain?
Here, the real cause of weight gain -- and what you can do about it
Alas, age isn't the only thing that increases with each birthday. Call it "middle age spread" or "menopot", but you may have noticed the number on the scale creeping up over the years. The weight gain -- especially where we gain it -- can negatively impact our health.
You've likely heard the aging process is partly to blame. Rather, that our metabolism -- the process by which we break down fuel into the energy our body uses -- slows down as we get older. If that's the case, is there anything we can do about it?
Does our metabolism slow down -- or is it something else?
There are many reasons people gain weight, and the interconnected factors can be complex. However, when it comes to our metabolism experts say it does slow by about 2-5 per cent every decade after we turn 30. It's easy to imagine someone gradually turning down the dial on a machine. When the machine isn't doing its job as effectively, there are going to be more leftovers -- in this case, calories that get stored as fat. Nothing we can do about that, right?
Wrong, say experts. It's true our cells' mitochondria (the part that supplies the energy) can slow a little as we age, but the real culprit is something else. Our metabolism is linked to the amount of muscle we have. It's a complex process, but the more lean muscle mass we have, the more calories we'll burn.
Unfortunately, muscle mass is something that decreases as we age. In fact, experts at Johns Hopkins estimate we lose about half of our muscle mass between ages 20 and 90. That's a pretty big time span, but a lot of the loss occurs between the ages of 50 and 70. Less muscle mass means we need fewer calories.Less muscle mass means we need fewer calories.
The problem is most people don't decrease their calorie consumption accordingly -- and you can guess where the extra ends up. To avoid weight gain, we have to balance the calories we consume with the calories we burn during the day, so a loss of muscle mass can tip the scales against us. We might not notice a big difference in our actual weight, but experts note the gain in fat is often offset by the loss of muscle mass.
And more bad news: the more muscle mass we lose, the more fatigued we feel. When we're tired, we're less likely to exercise -- and physical activity is important for maintaining muscle.
Worse yet, health surveys show that older adults tend to be much less active than younger adults. When people hit their fifties, they may need 200-300 fewer calories per day yet they are still eating a similar diet. In addition as we age we're more likely to be affected by a health condition like arthritis that makes getting regular physical activity even more challenging.
Ways to fight the weight gain
Like it or not, our bodies are going to change as we age, and some influences aren't easy to overcome -- like our genes and hormone changes. The good news is we can make lifestyle choices to help. Here are some ways experts say we can give our metabolism and our waist lines a helping hand:
- Exercise. Let's start with the obvious: we need to get moving in order to burn calories and keep our muscles strong. Current guidelines from Health Canada and the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) recommend that adults get a total of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity each week -- or about 30 minutes most days of the week. Examples of moderate activities include a brisk walk or bicycling, while vigorous activities make you work a little harder -- like cross country skiing, swimming or jogging.
If your activity is more towards the light to moderate side, some experts say to increase the amount of activity to as much as 60 minutes -- especially if you're trying to lose weight.
- Build muscle. When it comes to muscle mass, it's a "use it or lose it" situation -- and cardiovascular exercise isn't enough. Experts recommend that muscle and bone strengthening activities should be part of our fitness routines -- at least twice a week and including all major groups, says the CSEP. As we gain more muscle, we'll burn more calories because the body uses more energy to maintain muscle than it does to maintain fat.
However, the benefits don't end there: strong muscles mean improved strength and endurance, and they'll protect us from injury as well as support our joints.
- Keep moving. Experts say the more we move, the better -- and that's in addition to regular exercise and strength training. Consider this permission to tap your toes along with the radio, or pace the floor while you're on the phone. (Headsets are a boon!) While fidgeting won't replace your exercise routine, people who do it burn more calories.
Recent studies have also shown that too much sitting can be deadly. The human body was made to move, say researchers.
- Eat breakfast. Consider it your metabolism's wake up call to go back into calorie burning mode. When we skip breakfast -- or any other meal of the day, for that matter -- experts think the body may conserve calories because it won't know when to expect more fuel. In other words, we're more likely to convert calories into fat. Skipping meals can lead us to overeat at other meals. (See Healthy breakfasts in a hurry.)
-
- Eat more frequently. Smaller meals throughout the day can also be a boon rather than relying on "three squares". For instance, save your serving of fruit from breakfast or lunch for a snack instead. Some experts believe this will help keep your metabolism running well throughout the day. Beside, we need a healthy, balanced diet to ensure we're losing fat, not muscle.
Another bonus: many people find "grazing" to be more satisfying and consequently consume less.
- Enjoy lean protein. What we eat can make a difference too. Some studies say that consuming about 30 per cent of our calories from lean sources of protein (like chicken or low-fat dairy) can help boost the metabolism. Protein also helps us feel fuller for longer, and less likely to overeat.
Also, avoid foods high in fats, sugars and processed starches. Aside from the empty calories, these foods can do a number on our digestive system -- which can impact our moods and energy levels.
However, take all this dietary advice with a grain of salt: not everyone agrees that skipping meals or eating smaller meals makes a big difference to your metabolism. However, other experts point out that maybe we could get away with dietary faux pas in our teens and twenties -- but not so much in our 40s and 50s.
Regardless, many experts agree to avoid eating if you aren't hungry and have a healthy snack if you are -- despite what the clock says.
- Get your Zzzzzs. Experts are still investigating how sleep affects our hormones -- especially the ones that help regulate appetite and metabolism. However, they do that know that when we're sleep deprived, it's hard to get exercise. We're also prone to craving those less-than-healthy foods like sugary treats.
-
- Talk to your doctor. There are many reasons why people gain weight, and diet and exercise may not be enough to make a difference. Some health conditions (like thyroid disease) or medication side effects can cause us to gain weight, and some researchers think chronic stress can be a factor too. If you suspect something is wrong, experts say to consult your doctor. Besides, experts always warn we should consult our health care providers before we embark on a new diet or fitness regime.
-
One strategy experts say we should be wary of is using supplements that promise to boost the metabolism -- citing safety concerns, questions of efficacy and unnecessary expense as major concerns. Right now there isn't a lot of research to prove any single substance can "rev up" your metabolism -- and weight loss supplements frequently appear on Health Canada's list of recalls.
Even if a supplement is safe and effective, experts say the effects wouldn't be permanent -- chances are you would stop seeing the benefits when you stopped taking the pills and the weight would return. If you're considering taking a supplement, talk to your health care providers first.
What about the future? Experts continue to investigate all the complex factors that affect our metabolism -- especially as we age. In the future, we may have even more ways to address weight gain and other health indictors related to metabolism.0 -
Wow, lots to read!
Statins ... I have known heart disease, and I'm told that statins aren't so controversial in that case (secondary prevention rather than primary prevention), and are recommended. I have been taking a statin for over 10 years now. I would love to stop as my cholesterol is low, but there's the chance of that they work in other ways rather than just lowering cholesterol, and statistically, I suppose, there is less risk of a heart attack if I take them. It's not just death I'm scared of, but living with heart failure. So despite so many people saying I shouldn't take them, that it's a con by Big Pharma, etc., I'm just too scared not to at the moment. I don't know about side effects - it's difficult to tell when you're on a lot of medication and also aging and having hormone changes and so on! But no dramatic side effects anyway.
BMI - if you think about it's obvious that it doesn't make sense - there's no reason why there would be a sudden change in health from a BMI of, say 29.9 to 30, but no change from 25 to 29.9! They are just nice round numbers which I suppose are useful for studies and statistics. I think it has been said for a while that waist measurement is a better indicator of visceral fat (either waist on its own, or waist to height ratio - sometimes waist to hip ratio too). (However, my heart disease started when my waist was about 25", so I suppose it's an individual thing too! My mother, who had heart disease at at young age, had a small waist). I do like my fancy scales which measure body fat and so on - I know they're not terrible accurate, but I do think they give an idea, and it's a way of measuring progress. They give a number for visceral fat as well as body fat.
Muscle - I've mentioned before that I made maintaining muscle a priority a few years back. It's just frustrating that it's such a losing battle at my age! I no longer do heavy lifting, and I'm not sure what's best to exercise lower body and posterior chain when I no longer do heavy barbell squats and deadlifts (I do lighter weights at the gym, but obviously that is not building strength and muscle in the same way that the heavy stuff does. Upper body is easier, with things like press-ups!
I did work for a while on the Mark Lauren book "Body by You" (he's the "You Are Your Own Gym" guy - Body for You also has bodyweight exercises, but more geared towards women, with whole body exercises), but haven't done that in ages. Maybe it's time to go back to it - he has strength building exercises that you can increase in increments, so don't need heavy weights.
Anyway, that's enough of my thoughts, before it gets endless and repetitive! Your volunteering job sounds great, Snooozie. I had forgotten Captain Sullenberger's name, but remember the event well - I would love to have heard that talk! Personal trainers, yes, if I ever win the lottery, I would love that! I have known of people hiring a personal trainer as a group and splitting the cost, which seems like a good idea, although I can't even afford that at the moment! I'm glad your allergies are improving, Gail. One benefit of winter, I suppose!1 -
Oh, and thanks for the video, Snoozie! It's really good! Interesting information about power - I was much less aware of that than I was of strength. I do think there's a gap in the market for classes/training for "older" women.1
This discussion has been closed.