Over 60 still trying
Replies
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ourbestlife wrote: »@AnnPT77 It was the first! But both are great to bookmark for later!
Thank you!
For the record, they're both in the "Most Helpful Posts" sections, one in the "Getting Started" forum topic, and the other in the "General Health, Fitness and Diet" forum topic . . . along with a bunch of other excellent posts that are very much more worth reading!1 -
Pamela_Sue wrote: »I am curious about something. I am now 60, and asking myself what changes in my mobility, strength, etc. have I noticed since I was ages 40 or 50? I carry good muscle but am not very fit, and need to lose another 50 pounds or so. While I do have more backaches, arthritis in my hands, and some difficulty squatting down (I hyperextended both knees 5 years ago), I just don't see a lot of other physical changes except less flexibility due to my lack of activity.
Is this typical of aging? What should we expect as we age? I feel fortunate that I have had few injuries in my life, and believe that my body still seems capable of doing more and becoming more fit as I age. I have been doing cardio and stretching, and plan to add some moderate weight training in the coming months (one thing at a time).
What is your experience with aging and physical changes?
What we should expect as we age depends - for many of us - on what we do as we age.
I'm 63. Many of my friends are in one of two groups: On-water rowers, and artists. Most are my age, +/- a few years, up to a decade or so off my age in either direction.
On average, the artists are sedentary, overweight to obese. To the extent that they are overweight + inactive , they require more medical interventions (surgery, drugs - all with side effects, especially as drugs interact!). They can have less fun (via things that require walking or stairs, like art and music festivals, sports/concerts in stadiums, etc.). They have hard-barrier eating prohibitions due to diabetes or drug regimens, unless they can tolerate significant health risks or consequences from an indulgence They recover much more slowly from surgery. They need more help from others (children or paid workers) with routine chores like yard work, flipping mattresses, moving furniture, painting. Their lives (financially, socially) are, frankly, stunted as they age. This makes me sad!
The rowers, at the best edge, can do what daily life requires (including purely-fun stuff). My poster gal is my frequent rowing-double partner. Four weeks to the day after hip replacement surgery, and 5 days after her 73rd birthday, she was back in a boat rowing with me. She's been weight training regularly since her 40s, running, doing Pilates and more. Last weekend, she and I went to a community festival, drank craft beer (plenty!
), ate crazy nonsense, danced, walked miles. So fun! 
None of us have a time machine to go back and do more retroactively, but we have choices now. Good choices matter, in a big way. We can always start now, and build, with what we can manage.
The artists are definitely more creative, and accomplish more in the realm where they focus. They impress me significantly, in that way. That's useful, and important, too - no deprecation or diss intended or implied. I value them as friends and people: Balance is vital.
Most common aging-related consequences, for many people (not everyone) can be mitigated, at least for a time. Older fit people in my life have tended (again, not universally) to have a short, sharp decline before death. The fat + unfit ones have tended (also not universally) toward lengthy, slow, painful decline.
I figure I have choices. The choices may shift my odds (!!!), but they guarantee nothing. Still, it seems pretty clear what my best bet is, to play most favorable odds.
YMMV,
This is a good synopsis. I think people can under-estimate the life-limiting effects of NOT engaging with healthy eating and exercise. I am highly motivated by the desire to keep on doing the routine things I have taken for granted thus far in my life. not carrying too much weight and doing a variety of types of exercise is key to that. Keeping on making the good choices as often as possible is vital - literally.5 -
ourbestlife wrote: »@AnnPT77 It was the first! But both are great to bookmark for later!
Thank you!
For the record, they're both in the "Most Helpful Posts" sections, one in the "Getting Started" forum topic, and the other in the "General Health, Fitness and Diet" forum topic . . . along with a bunch of other excellent posts that are very much more worth reading!
Thank you.. I am looking forward to reading them!!1 -
Good morning! Hope y'all are having a good day. Fall is in the air in Idaho. YAY! My favorite season! 🍁3
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Happy Friday everyone!2
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Lost 2lbs this week my knees and hip are feeling a bit better so hoping to exercise a bit more this week!3
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Been getting a walk with the pup every day. That was the plan. Sore hips yesterday, but they feel great today!1
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alteredsteve175 wrote: »Been getting a walk with the pup every day. That was the plan. Sore hips yesterday, but they feel great today!
Keep going it gets better!1 -
Hi everyone.I just started MFP sept 1.My step daughter and son in law have been doing it since july and have lost 20/30#,They are quite the inspiration and have been good mentors.I am 65 and really enjoy this age group thread.So encouraging.I have yoyo'd all my life.Now I just want to loose for health and wellness.I am diabetic on insulin,cirrhosis of the liver (non alcoholic )from fatty liver disease and know my body is not as forgiving as yrs ago.I have lost 8# in first 2 weeks and already decreasing my insulin and feel so much better.I want to loose 20/30 total.I look forward to your post and will contribute as it is such a motivator to have support.I walk 2-3 miles and will increase it as I enjoy it.Thanks for your support and look forward to this journey together.4
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Have a good weekend0
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Have an awesome weekend, y'all! Off to the woods for a little therapy today. 🥾⛰️🌞
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well 3 weeks in and down 12 #.More importantly my insulin use is down and my diabetes is better and I feel great.It isn't easy but so worth it .
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Well done, @pattyann1750. Keep it going! 👍
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Fantastic @pattyann1750 you can do it!1
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Lost another lb finally after two weeks, I was beginning to think I was stuck!1
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Thank you for the kind words, Gerald and Ann. I've taken off about 35 pounds since my husband has been gone, and I know he'd be happy for me. I have a long way to go, and find it helpful having a group of people around my age to talk with.4
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Pamela_Sue wrote: »I am curious about something. I am now 60, and asking myself what changes in my mobility, strength, etc. have I noticed since I was ages 40 or 50? I carry good muscle but am not very fit, and need to lose another 50 pounds or so. While I do have more backaches, arthritis in my hands, and some difficulty squatting down (I hyperextended both knees 5 years ago), I just don't see a lot of other physical changes except less flexibility due to my lack of activity.
Is this typical of aging? What should we expect as we age? I feel fortunate that I have had few injuries in my life, and believe that my body still seems capable of doing more and becoming more fit as I age. I have been doing cardio and stretching, and plan to add some moderate weight training in the coming months (one thing at a time).
What is your experience with aging and physical changes?
74 and counting. The last year and a half I have really focused on getting back into shape (waited too long to get a knee replacement and really backed off a lot of things for awhile.) With 60 pounds down and consistent exercise I feel better and stronger than I have in years. I try to do a variety of different activities (pool exercise, weights, rowing, walking and daily horseback riding) to achieve and maintain all around fitness. I really think mental attitude more than just years has a LOT to do with how one ages.
In a month and a half I will be out of the 60's. Good to see you here and doing so well.
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alteredsteve175 wrote: »
True I am so tired at the moment but never mind I will push on through it.0 -
I have been wrestling with some approaches to maintenance and would be interested if anyone is running into the same. Having reached my weight, I would like to maintain while cutting into the body fat %. My gym has an InBody 570 which I have been using for weight and other readings. Trainers tell you to lift more weight to gain more muscle. I want to lose fat weight and that does require that I add muscle. The problem is I have been injuring myself (elbow and knee) by lifting heavy. The worst part is that I don't recover from injury as quickly.
I am thinking about lifting lighter but more reps. It seems it would save the joints but still work the muscles, it just wouldn't stimulate big muscle growth. Any thoughts?
I returned to the gym about 11 months ago and do cardio and a hour and a half of strength training. I am 65 so do lower weights and more reps. I know a lot of older folks who lift to much too fast and end up with injuries that put them of commission for months which I do not want. I am lifting more then when I started but find doing slow and low is better for me at this age. I have muscles, under my sagging skin from losing almost 100 but most important my balance and endurance has really increased. I do the gym 3 to 4 times a week and on the off days walk 3 or 5 miles or ride my bike. I am doing this to get fit and not get shoulder or knee surgery in the future. Good luck.1 -
Hello everyone. I am loving this cooler weather and long walks with the dogs. This is my favorite time for bike riding also. Got a cortisone shot in my knee yesterday which should help with enjoying it more and more. Have a great day. I am on week 5 of maintenance. 1 more week and then WW will be free. I love my WW meeting because something about having to weigh in front of others keeps me accountable. Oh, my new favorite snack, Mango spears, oh yummy. Love fall.2
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Hi Everyone! I am just getting started. I love the name of this group. Still trying is right! I am finding I cannot keep on doing low carb - too restrictive and boring. I just turned 71. I'm super busy with two careers, but I make my own schedule. I know I need to get out and walk. Somehow 1600 calories seems like too much. Do you really lose weight with that? Any tips appreciated.0
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Marquesa33 wrote: »Hi Everyone! I am just getting started. I love the name of this group. Still trying is right! I am finding I cannot keep on doing low carb - too restrictive and boring. I just turned 71. I'm super busy with two careers, but I make my own schedule. I know I need to get out and walk. Somehow 1600 calories seems like too much. Do you really lose weight with that? Any tips appreciated.
It will depend on your current size, and how active your life is (normal daily stuff, not exercise). I lost a good share of my weight in the 1400-1600 range, and would still lose, though somewhat slowly, at 1600 (5'5", weight in mid-130s, age 63). But I'm mysteriously a good li'l ol' calorie burner, and I know that there are people whose weight is stable at 1600 (i.e., that's their maintenance calories). If it's MFP saying you can lose at 1600, it's highly likely that you can in fact lose at an accurately-tracked 1600. It's close to correct for most people, but there are a few outliers, either on the high or low side (like me, on the high-burn side): That's fairly rare.
I'd suggest that you try it for 4-6 weeks, and see what your results are.
One thing to think about is that MFP is the source of your calorie estimate, that your "activity level" should be how active you are before any intentional exercise, and you eat back a reasonable estimate of the exercise calories in addition. In that situation, a walk or a fun exercise class or something can be a way not only to get in shape, but also eat a bit more while still losing weight. At our age, some strength training can be especially helpful for health, even though it burns relatively few extra calories.
Best wishes!2 -
Would like to connect for support, motivation and tips. I'm 62 and live in Oklahoma.
Thanks, Pam2 -
Finally got back into community but looks like this thread has ended. Thanks to those on here that have helped me, let me know if there is a new similar thread0
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