Living The Lifestyle Thursday October 12, 2023

imastar2

This is a thread for everyone. If you're new to GoaD, or to weight loss, your questions and comments are always welcome. If you're maintaining, or a long-term loser, your thoughts on the topic may be just what someone else needs to hear. If you're reading this, join in the discussion!

Each weekday, a new topic is offered up for discussion.

Monday - crewahl (Charlie)
Tuesday – Wildcard
Wednesday-misterhub(Greg)
Thursday -imastar2 (Derrick)
Friday - Wildcard

Today's Topic: Aging and Exercise.
I've found as I age (still pretty young at 76) plus having some injuries that preclude my ability to do stairs, long walks push ups sit ups and the list goes on. Not totally disabled by any means and seem to get through most normal daily activities.

I really haven't made adequate plans to stay ahead of aging.

Have you made plans to execute programs as you age? Can you expand on this subject?

Al_Howard

TOL (78) and I (80) do the Fitbit challenge. That is to do 250 steps per hour every hour for any period, up to 12 hours, which TOL and I both do. We do from 9AM to 9PM, and remind each other to get up, and get going. I'm "only" getting 5K to 8K steps a day, but it really is helping. Also, most Dr.'s want you up, on your feet at least 5 min./hour.

cakeman21k

Trying to do the PT exercises I have been given after my stroke plus adding in more walking. Some days I am better about it someday's not so much. TOL and I have been talking about moving into a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in the next 3 - 5 years. If you don't know about them, they provide living arrangements that go from completly independent living in an apartment or town home type of arrangement to full nursing home type of set up all at the same location and you just get gradually higher levels of care as you age. They include meal services in a resturaunt / cafeteria type of set up to meal delivery services. They can also provide medical care on site, house keeping on site as well as organized activities such as sewing clubs exercise classes, woodworking shops, gardening clubs, fishing clubs and many others. If you have not heard of them you might want to check them out.
My wife worked in a couple of differnt ones for over 30 years and is a big proponent of them.

misterhub

When I was younger, I was a fit and active runner and swimmer. That is not true today, I am sorry to say.

I focus on walking. I plan to start walking a trail around a local lake, early, on either Saturday or Sunday of this week - both days on some weeks.

I also do yoga. I want to be 84 and able to do tree pose.

Plus, I meditate, play a lot of puzzle games, and am learning both Spanish and German, which keeps my brain active and working.

crewahl

I have four different types of exercise, all targeted at keeping me from getting older any faster than necessary.

• Morning stretches - a set of lower extremity stretching and strengthening exercises that are essentially a continuation of my last PT program. I’ve also added three upper extremity strengthening exercises I can do simultaneously with the PT. Takes about 45 minutes.
• Walking. I have a walk that goes past every house in the development. It’s about 3.2 miles, takes me 55 minutes, and it’s got enough up and down that it’s sort of a HIIT program. I do it because I can, and because it gets my heart rate elevated to an average of around 125 BPM.
• Nordic Track ski machine. I do this on days walking isn’t practical (rain, cold, and most of the winter). I do 26 minutes of this. It’s deadly boring, but I watch recorded TV shows while doing it - which slows my pace a bit - so my average heart rate is between 105 and 120 BPM.
• Tai Chi is twice a week for an hour at a time, and it’s targeted at preserving range of motion and balance. This is one thing I can see doing more of as I age and as some of my other exercises become more challenging.

My orthopedist has said “yeah, don’t do that” when I talk about running or tennis or pickleball - anything that involves impact to my joints. I keep telling myself I’d like to get back into golf, but I haven’t seemed willing to take any steps in that direction. Since I have no remaining meniscus in my right knee, anything with a lot of lateral movement is also considered a bad idea.

Al_Howard

crewahl wrote: »

I have four different types of exercise, all targeted at keeping me from getting older any faster than necessary.


[*] Tai Chi is twice a week for an hour at a time, and it’s targeted at preserving range of motion and balance. This is one thing I can see doing more of as I age and as some of my other exercises become more challenging.
[/list]

Charlie, where do you go for Tai Chi? I was taking it for a while, here in Derry, but would prefer a more targeted form. Honestly, don't know if I can even stand that long. Is there a "seated" class in the area that you might know?

crewahl

Al_Howard wrote: »

Charlie, where do you go for Tai Chi? I was taking it for a while, here in Derry, but would prefer a more targeted form. Honestly, don't know if I can even stand that long. Is there a "seated" class in the area that you might know?

The Manchester Senior Center has classes on Thursday and Friday that are (obviously) targeted at seniors. I can go as a resident of Bedford because Bedford doesn’t have a senior center. The person who leads these sessions is very good at working with the limitations people have.

The Thursday session is essentially an exercise program based on Tai Chi concepts, and the Friday session is a portion of the Tai Chi form. Not sure if any of it would be open to Derry or Londonderry residents. I can ask Meghan (the instructor) who she knows or what she can recommend for a program.

Al_Howard

Thanks!

88olds

Walking- about 3 miles per day. Only a thunderstorm will keep me away. Unfortunately there are a lot of thunderstorms in south FL.

Gym- I work out with a trainer 2X per week. Personal training has changed significantly. 20 yrs ago trainers were basically ppl who liked to hang around gyms. A couple of outfits offered certification tests. Now trainers have college degrees in fitness and exercise. The workouts have gone from basic Arnold sets and reps with weights to incorporating a lot of Pilates. I want to keep at this. Helps with my balance, strength and flexibility. Helps my attitude.

Gym II- I’ve added a day of straight on weight lifting, real Arnold sets and reps. Trying to get stronger and build muscle. Hoping to add muscle without adding lbs on the scale.

Pickleball.- playing 1-2 times per week weather permitting. Hoping they finishing rehab of the local rec center soon to move the game back indoors. Playing on the wood floor in the gym is a lot better than the concrete.

I miss the yoga and Tai Chi classes in Key West. Haven’t found replacements here. There’s plenty of yoga but seems far beyond my capabilities. I got past the performance anxiety to learn Pickleball but don’t seem able to bring the attitude to yoga. Probably has to do with not wanting to be an old guy klutz in the company of a bunch of young women.

Golf? I gave my clubs to the Salvation Army just before moving to Key West. There’s only 1 golf course in KW. It’s pricy and they don’t allow walking. I figured it wasn’t for me. I was never good at it but could have fun. I could hit playable shots off the tee. My problems started close to the green and I found the things I had to practice to have a short game boring. I did get some used clubs here in Fort Myers, went a few times to Top Golf where I sprayed balls all over the range. But the clubs were in the garage when it flooded. In fact I tripped over them badly injuring a finger in the cleanup. The reason I’m going on about golf is it would be a lot easier on my muscles and joints than Pickleball.

crewahl

Al_Howard wrote: »

Thanks!

Sent you an email about it, Al.