60 yrs and up
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ridiculous59 wrote: ยป@AnnPT77 you'll appreciate this as a fellow "woman of the water". I took this photo yesterday in front of the boathouse of my dragon boat club. As you can see, it will be a couple of weeks before we can get our dock in the water, and probably a couple of weeks after that to start paddling. I'm so looking forward to getting back on the water!
I can see your dog braved the water a bit though!1 -
BCLadybug888 wrote: ยปVery late for Spring here too (Vancouver area of BC), at least 3 weeks behind average and 6 weeks or more behind an early year - I remember during the 2010 Olympics we hosted that the cherry trees were out in full blossom, and that's just finally happened this past week. (Of course it would be an early year when we hosted the Winter Olympics ๐ ๐)
Vancouver was gifted cherry trees from Japan in the early 1900s and it is a tree commonly planted along side streets and boulevards and is quite phenomenal to see!
And when the petals start to fall we have pink blizzards and "snow" drifts!
I have 3 very large 30+ year old Kwanzan cherry trees and I used to have pink mulch when the blossoms fall! Mine aren't blooming yet. A couple weeks yet I think for PA.
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Melwillbehealthy wrote: ยปThanks to everyone for their kind wishes. Just waiting for my vascular surgeon to call. I shed some tears yesterday. Today, I am focused and positive. Swam for an hour. Went outside. Ann, hit a rain and ice/ hail storm. It was predicted to snow today. I live in Ontario. Very little sign of spring here. Still wearing my winter, puffy coat.
Have decided to make exercise my job now.
I like what Rdiculous saidโ itโs like putting money in the bank for laterโ.
I'm in northern BC and most of the snow is gone from my yard. The robins just got back last week but I still haven't put away my winter puffy jacket either because on any given day we can get a snow or hail squall (like yesterday while out with the dogs).
When I started my weight loss journey in 2013 I was still working full time but I decided to treat the journey like a part time job. I considered food prep, exercise, and reading as much as I could about health and wellness just part of my "job description". The beauty of being an empty nester is that I had the time to devote to it. Older people often complain that it gets harder to lose weight as they age, but for me, it was actually easier because I didn't have all the distractions of a busy family life to de-rail me. I'm now retired and that brings a different challenge in that I now have access to food all day and a flexible schedule. But the wonderful part is that I can volunteer for things that are meaningful to me, and I have more time for exercise. Long story short, treating my road to good health like a job worked for me too.
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Hi all. Just ran across the title of this thread from 2019 and instantly felt at home. Iโve had the MFP app for a few years, but only tracked biking, walking distances on it. My younger sisters talked me into doing the 5% Spring challenge, so here I am. I am 66 yrs young, but felt like I was about 80 after reading a lot of the other posts on the main pages. Iโm very glad to find some people closer to my own age! After reading a few posts, it sounds like many of you have become friends over the couple of years, so is it too late for a new comer to join you? I wonโt be offended if you already have your group and I didnโt want to just assume that I could squeeze in. Just let me know. I also am a water lover, SUP (standup paddle boarding) is my favorite!6
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Hi everyone. I want to lose 50 pounds, tone up and prevent illness. I am 66 but still work, do my own mowing and some gardening and try to walk a couple of miles 4-5 times per week. I like following the one meal a day fast combined with moderate carb intake and counting calories. I also try to avoid sugar and gluten.2
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Alligator on what was the diet?0
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Have you heard of Susan Niebergall?? She wrote the book โFit at any age - itโs never too lateโ. Great book!! I follow her on Instagram and listen to her podcasts. She is a woman who worked out and dieted much of her life and didnโt feel she had much success. When she hit her mid-50s, she turned things around. Sheโs now in her early 60s and an incredible inspiration. Sheโs a wealth of knowledge. I just love her daily motivational tips and mindset.2
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tjharleygal55 wrote: ยปHi all. Just ran across the title of this thread from 2019 and instantly felt at home. Iโve had the MFP app for a few years, but only tracked biking, walking distances on it. My younger sisters talked me into doing the 5% Spring challenge, so here I am. I am 66 yrs young, but felt like I was about 80 after reading a lot of the other posts on the main pages. Iโm very glad to find some people closer to my own age! After reading a few posts, it sounds like many of you have become friends over the couple of years, so is it too late for a new comer to join you? I wonโt be offended if you already have your group and I didnโt want to just assume that I could squeeze in. Just let me know. I also am a water lover, SUP (standup paddle boarding) is my favorite!
I don't think we have a group spokesperson, but I for sure welcome new participants in the thread, and from what I've seen, so does everyone else!
To everyone who's just newly here: Hi, and welcome!4 -
Welcome to all. @tjharleygal55 -- I tried SUP a few years ago, and loved it! So peaceful! This past summer, I got a little nervous about my balance, but people like you will inspire me to try again when I can. I am 67 and have had some issues here and there with a dizzy vertigo type thing. Not all the time, though. More and more, it seems a good idea to practice things that will train balance.
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risinghope wrote: ยปWelcome to all. @tjharleygal55 -- I tried SUP a few years ago, and loved it! So peaceful! This past summer, I got a little nervous about my balance, but people like you will inspire me to try again when I can. I am 67 and have had some issues here and there with a dizzy vertigo type thing. Not all the time, though. More and more, it seems a good idea to practice things that will train balance.
I think that's true. I've done some things in recent years that I think have helped.
Like you, I have periodic vertigo, diagnosed as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) - like an episode where if I turn quickly or shake my head, the room spins, and it's worse at some times than others (thankfully, it's often absent, in my case). I don't know whether that's the reason behind your vertigo, but it's pretty common, especially among aging folks. There are physical therapy treatments for it, and even some do-it-yourself versions one can try, from physical therapists on YouTube.
I first started working on balance by standing on one foot anytime I was in line at the bank or grocery store or wherever - not some big dramatic thing, but just raising one food subtly half an inch or so, which no one seems to notice. I could also do it at home sometimes, like standing at the kitchen sink washing something, for example. After a while, when it got easy to hold that position, I'd start making it more difficult. At home, I'd raise the leg higher, or swing it back and forth or side to side. In public, I'd do things like shift my purse from one shoulder to my hand, to the opposite hand to the opposite shoulder, while holding one foot that tiny amount off the floor, to create a little instability; or in checkout lines, reach out or lean toward the tabloids or candies display in some natural-looking way.
Eventually, I got a wobble disk for home, and started standing on it when on phone calls or the like. Even standing on something squishy like a pillow, if that feels safe, can help - maybe near a sturdy chair or doorway to grab if necessary.
Slow and steady, just practicing, not taking risks!
Tai chi is also good for balance, according to research (and my experience - my late husband was a Tai chi and kung fu teacher).3 -
I basically barged in here myself 6-7 months ago, after joining MFP and making regaining some level of fitness my new life's work (age 62 and retired last year at double a healthy weight). Welcome All!
I am still 100 lbs overweight and slowly adding activity to my primarily diet based weightloss efforts.
I have never been sporty or active, and my fitness goals are modest but I definitely feel balance is so important!
Here are a couple of absolute beginner videos for anyone starting out like me!
I found Doctor Jo on YouTube, very basic stuff but where I need to become proficient before moving on (not even started on the pillow stuff yet, like Ann mentioned):
https://youtu.be/Nc62Ju2kUAc
Another MFPer mentioned this teacher David-Doran Ross, and I found this:
https://youtu.be/1DeihMgXLDk6 -
By the way: If any of you have Silver Sneakers (this is a US thing, with some health insurance types), they have some good information on balance, too. (Plus lots of classes/videos of more general fitness/health topics aimed at 65+ ages, at various levels.)
There are scheduled live classes with some attention to balance (Yoga, EnerChi (which is Tai chi-like)), and on-demand videos (Yoga and EnerChi there, too, but also balance-specific videos).
The general site is here, and it has a way to check your eligibility:
https://tools.silversneakers.com/
If you have Silver Sneakers and a logon for the site (easy to get if eligible), some of the balance videos are in this section:
https://tools.silversneakers.com/OnDemand/Collections/Details/5
There's even an "Exercises for Vertigo" video.
For clarity: I've done some Silver Sneakers videos, and found them clear, straightforward, well-produced. I don't use them routinely, because I have a general routine of my own that mostly works for me - I just throw in the occasional video for variety. I haven't done their specific balance videos, but have found the others to be good.3 -
Great comments! Thanks for the welcome. I am soo happy to hear you all talking about and encouraging each other to work on balance! I volunteer for a lot of things, but one thing I get paid for (even though Iโm retired now) is teaching a weight strengthening class called Strong Bodies at our local Wellness Center. Itโs a Nationwide weight training class for anyone 55 yrs and older. One of the things we try to do in addition to strengthening the muscles is to work on balance and help to teach ways to practice it at home. The things you suggested Ann are very helpful and even though I havenโt watched them yet, the videos you posted BCLadybug look very good. Anytime we are on one foot or having to adjust ourselves to stay up, we are working our balance. Iโm finding the older I get, the more I have to work on it. Fortunately, we are on a calm lake, so paddle boarding isnโt too hard. (ie. I donโt go out on the 4th of July. ๐)2
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In Chris Crowley's book Thinner This Year he talks about how we live in a glass box. Some people have huge glass boxes; people like figure skaters, gymnasts, and dancers. Other people live in tiny glass boxes; people with canes and walkers, people who are afraid to slip and fall so walk with small, tentative steps. Our goal as we get older should be to have enough muscle strength and balance that we can live in a medium-sized glass box. We walk with confident steps. We can do stairs with ease. We aren't terrified of being knocked over in a crowd as we leave a sporting event or concert.
Balance and muscle strength are key elements that we must consistently work on as we age. Personally, I've done yoga off and on for most of my life. I can remember as a teenager doing it with my mother as we watched a gentle woman called Kareen Zebroff on TV in the 70's LOL I'm not into the spiritual side of yoga, but the physical element of stretching and balancing is an important part of my varied physical activities.
Some of my health is out of my control (genetics, accidents) but as for the part of it that is within my control, I'm determined to keep my glass box as large as possible, for as long as possible. We all know that person who fell, and were never able to fully recover. Balance and muscle strength. Don't under estimate their value as we age.8 -
P.S. I've also kind of barged in on this thread since I discovered it. And I talk too much. But I'm working on it ๐6
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Ridiculous ,
I want to make my box as large as possible too. What a lovely sentiment.4 -
@Ridiculous59, I remember Kareen's Yoga! Was my introduction to yoga too ๐
Balance and muscle strength, excellent reminder.-1 -
Thank you for all the input regarding balance and muscle strength, and expanding the glass box! It is most helpful to see how others are coping with this kind of challenge.
Of course, this isn't the first rodeo for any of us! Sometimes, though, with the vertigo having been so debilitating on two occasions, and lasting mildly afterwards, I've had a lot of concern, but was able to deal with it, after recovering from acute stages, with some extremely gentle work on fascia (especially neck and shoulders for this) --- recommended: very easy and slow, non-habitual movements.
Going to take a look at those posted videos, too, thanks!
A little about me. I've practiced yoga in one form or another all my life -- but with a lot of lapsing! Now I find, my practice has to be very gentle and more consistent. I did love Tai Chi a lot at one time, and practiced zealously for about four years in my late 20s. I found, though, that I could not do yoga and Tai Chi do not mix. As to the spiritual side of yoga, well, in my mind, there is a spiritual side to all we do, and the poses and breathing of yoga (and Tai Chi) promote inner growth. Also have had strength training with free weights and gym. Choreographed aerobics classes eventually gave way to a love of running, from age 52 to early 60s. (Lots of weight fluctuations accompanying these practices, too, and I think most people know how that can be!)
I am very happy to find this thread and learn what others are doing to enjoy these years optimally. And I hope I can report back some SUP fun this summer!2 -
I'm about to turn 60, and I have never had so much trouble with self control and losing weight. Sometimes I want to work on it, but lately I just don't feel like it. I need to lose 15 pounds to feel comfortable in most of my clothes. Please help me get started - again!4
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I am about to turn 63 and also have self control issues with food, I love chocolate!3
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@maureensmith1220 and @GigiBoise5 What I discovered is that MFP and the people here are wonderful, have great suggestions and are very inspirational, but it's up to me to control myself. I don't have food in the house that I used to overeat. I do have one indulgence meal a week where I eat whatever I want and that helps me when I know I only need to wait a few days to have something I'm craving. The rest of the time, I log, I weigh in and I do my best to exercise. Seventy-six pounds later, I'm feeling great and things are a bit easier, but still hard some days. Only thirty pounds left until I hit maintenance. I started at 62 and hope to hit maintenance at 63.8
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Not been in here for a while but back again, good luck Steve I agree rant as much as you want.1
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Hi, everyone!
How are y'all doing? Any progress to report? Challenges?
I'm seeing some new 60+ people in the Introductions part of the Community . . . it would be nice if we could keep this thread going, as a source of peer support, I think.
Over here in my neck of the woods, I'm still waiting - no longer patiently at all! - for weather to warm up enough for consistent outdoor activity (especially on-water rowing) to be doable and enjoyable. It hints at warming, then more snow and freezing weather hits. Grrr. (Brrr.)
Because of swimming risk, I like the river to be at least 50 degrees F before we get groups out rowing:
The racing singles are only 12" wide at the waterline, so the common saying is "it's not if you flip, it's when you flip" - usually we get a few involuntary swims in the group across the season, and cold water makes that very risky. So far this year, we haven't even had a sequence of 50+ days here yet, let alone nights, so that's not happening. Spring - in that sense - is much later than average this year. I'm grumpy.
On other fronts, things are steady state. I'm keeping up some semblance of an indoor workout routine, now mostly just alternating days of rowing machine and stationary bike, about half an hour at a time, 6 days a week. A "report your exercise" thread here on MFP helps me with accountability, as a tiny boost.
I'm still within the healthy BMI range, so still maintaining weight . . . but haven't lost the small holiday gain yet, maybe added a pound or two. It's not a crisis, but it's not a great thing, either.
One bright spot: Starting to see more fresh, local greens at the farmers' market. There's usually a bit of that all Winter, but it's starting to be a wider selection now. It gives me hope!
How's everyone else doing?5 -
Yes, how are y'all doing? Did you make it through Easter unscathed??
Thanks for your update Ann ๐
I decided to start a calorie experiment just before Easter weekend, and so far I'm a bit hungry but will persevere for at least another week or so to see how my weigh-ins go. I am trying not eat back more than 1/2 (maximum) of my exercise calories. I don't input exercise into MFP, comes over from Fitbit.
What I did was recalc'd my MFP calorie goal at current weight to lose 1 lb a week, then deducted another 100 calories per day and added 5-600 calories to Sunday (or can do on Saturday if that makes more sense for that weekend). That way I have an 'indulgent' day (borrowed your term @coblujay ๐) to look forward to that can fit a splurge in, without it being a 'cheat' day (hate that term!), as it is part of the plan. My 'indulgent' day is basically a maintenance day, which might be a good break for my body from constant deficit. Last Sunday of course being Easter had no problem adding calories in โบ !
My other soon-to-plant project is a new raised garden bed - what a ridiculously cold Spring we are having! So right now it is a blank slate, built and standing at the ready but empty - planning to try lettuce, peas, carrots, beets, zucchini and cherry tomatoes. Up until now I have just grown some herbs, tomatoes and lettuce on my deck.
Planning also to plant rhubarb & a mixed fruit tree - did you know that was a thing? More than 1 type of fruit grafted onto the same tree! We are thinking nectarine/plum if available.
Hope you are all keeping at it!5 -
@BCLadybug888 would using mfp's "weekly average" option be helpful for you? I was using it for a while and found it made sense for me. As long as my daily average was the desired amount, I was happy. It shows with and without earned exercise calories so you can do the math to figure out what half the calories would be. I used a raised bed for veggies last year for the first time. I made the mistake of planting cauliflower which wasn't a great idea. The heatdome we had last summer stressed them so I only ended up with four heads, yet they took up a lot of room in the garden. Lesson learned and I won't plant them this year!
@AnnPT77 I check the ice on the lake every other day because I'm also waiting impatiently to get on the water. The lake is finally clear this week, but there's still snow around the boathouse so must wait for that to disappear before we can open the doors and get the dock in the water. It's still below freezing at night so another week or so. We usually start paddling the first or second week of May and I can't wait!1 -
Drive by check in. No significant changes here. My wife's myeloma is currently dormant. Maintaining my weight, although I'm not getting enough exercise. Perhaps I can get on a more regular schedule if things remain calm here.7
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I am still here been a bit busy lately trying to train my puppy but it's hard work. I will try to come back later
Steve glad things have not got worse and its great your maintaining your weight.. Take care.2 -
@BCLadybug888 Great idea! I don't usually track the indulgence meal calories, but I love that idea.
I'm waiting for the weather to get a bit nicer for hiking. I'm still swimming twice a week and going for long walks with the dogs, but the hiking really makes a difference.
I'm a little stalled right now and leave for vacation in a bit less than two weeks. It will be good to get away with family and I'll be ready to get back on track when I return. The plan? To eat what I want, just smaller portions while I'm away. I can't wait!5 -
Hi Everyone, I'm starting again. I'd like to lose about 80 pounds. I've had three successful days so far but today I started feeling hungry. I am trying to stick to 1200 calories a day. But today I was so hungry that I added another 150 calories for 3 cups of popcorn. Do any of you have any thoughts on how to keep from feeling hungry all the time.
This is a very supportive group. I love all the good advice and information.0 -
Timberlan127 wrote: ยปHi Everyone, I'm starting again. I'd like to lose about 80 pounds. I've had three successful days so far but today I started feeling hungry. I am trying to stick to 1200 calories a day. But today I was so hungry that I added another 150 calories for 3 cups of popcorn. Do any of you have any thoughts on how to keep from feeling hungry all the time.
This is a very supportive group. I love all the good advice and information.
Is 1200 by any chance more aggressively low than absolutely essential, given your current height, weight, activity level, etc.? (1200 plus exercise was way too low for me, when I started calorie counting to lose weight, at age 59).
Beyond that, my experience is that there can be an adaptation period, when reducing calories. Our bodies are habituated to getting more, speaking casually "expect" more, and appetite spikes as a result. For me, that adaptation takes maybe a couple of weeks?
Some people find that gradually reducing calories helps moderate hunger pangs during an adaptation, i.e., starting a bit under estimated maintenance calories for current weight, then knocking goal down by a couple hundred daily calories once a week or so . . . sort of a calorie deficit "on ramp".
Some people find that eating in a different timing pattern reduces feeling hungry. (The details vary by individual, anything from one meal a day to all-day grazing on many small meals/snacks).
Some people find that eating more so-called "whole foods" is more filling.
Different people seem to be sated by different things: Common ones are any of more protein, more fats, more volume (like lots of high-fiber but less calorie-dense veggies). For some people, particular foods are especially filling. Whole potatoes (such as baked) and oatmeal are common but not universal ones. Hydration may sometimes masquerade as hunger, or some non-caloric beverage may be filling at least temporarily. (For some people, something hot, like maybe herb tea, works better than a cold drink.)
If sleep quality/quantity is sub-ideal, and can be improved, sometimes that can help with managing appetite (partly because fatigue triggers energy seeking, i.e., calorie cravings; partly because being tired can reduce will power). Similarly, if stress is high and can be reduced, that may help, because stress is fatiguing.
If nutrition is sub-ideal, sometimes improving nutrition can reduce appetite - adequate fats, protein and fiber are good starting points to experiment with, if not there yet.
For me, when I was losing at a good clip, my personal "satiation formula" was a solid breakfast with plenty of protein, then adequate protein spread through the day; at least one meal (usually dinner) with plenty of volume (for me, in the form of at least one giant veggie serving). I find oatmeal (with berries and plain Greek yogurt) especially filling, and eat it regularly for breakfast or lunch. If I start getting crave-y and a meal isn't coming up pretty soon, it helps to have a small snack, usually protein-y (like reduced fat string cheese or a hard-boiled egg). When I was at low calories, I kept shelf-stable snacks in my car for those moments (such as crispy chickpeas in 100-calorie packs, or dry-roasted soybeans). If hungry when fixing a meal, I'd tend to turn to raw veggies to snack on while I cooked, like cucumber, celery, carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes, etc.
I also found that cravings for sweets, for me, were reduced if I made it a point to eat multiple servings of whole fruit daily (it took some time for that effect to kick in).
But that's just me. I'm just sharing it as an example. Other people's posts here on MFP make me believe that others' patterns can be quite different from mine. Experimenting with alternative patterns for a couple of days at a time may help. So might considering when you feel more or less hungry, then looking at your diary (or other aspects of your day) to see if you can observe actionable patterns. That's how I discovered some of the things in my "personal pattern".
In addition to things I mentioned, some people find that exercise (maybe specific types or intensities) can spike appetite, or mute it. For a while, I found I was especially hungry after strength training (same day or even next), but that a well-timed small snack before/after those workouts seemed to help. I've seen people say that a short walk or equivalent movement can dull their appetite temporarily. Again, that's individual.
Here's hoping it will work out for you, soon: Wrangling with appetite spikes is no fun.3
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