Senior Fitness and Friends

Hi everyone. I am 73. I just read the book Outlive (about health and longevity) and it is proving to be a huge motivator! I have been in Myfitnesspal on and off since 2013 - through the time period when I was misdiagnosed for 3 years then found out I had rheumatoid arthritis (2016) and weighed 263 lbs, through the following year when I started the autoimmune protocol diet and lost 116 lbs on intermittent fasting (2017). At present my diet is high protein and low carb and though I have walked 2.5 miles 3x a week for the past five years, I have gained back 25 lbs and I have neglected strength training, stretching, and balance. I plan to step up my program to include those things and am also doing a huge revamp with my diet (check out cleananddelicious.com). Would love to have some friends who are going through this senior health journey and working to make this part of our life one of the best parts (I have to say that overall I am happier with ME than I have ever been!). Would love to make some likeminded friends.

Replies

AnnPT77

Hello and welcome!

I'm 70, and an MFP oldie besides - joined in 2015, lost from class 1 obese to a healthy weight, now hanging around to maintain a healthy weight and generally keep my head in the game.

When I was 66, I did one of those online longevity-prediction quizzes - from a slightly better science-based source than some, I think . . . but I still don't take it exactly literally. I filled it out for the lifestyle I'd had in my mid-40s, then the life I was leading in my mid-60s. It thought the earlier me would live to be 67 (!), and the older me might live to be 102! I don't believe those specifics for a minute, but I think it's indicative of the kind of thing you're talking about.

I'm no paragon, though. I eat well these days, making it a point to get solid overall nutrition eating mostly so-called whole foods. My health markers - blood tests and such - are great. I'm active: On-water rowing 4-5 days a week in Spring through Fall, machine rowing and stationary biking 6 days most weeks in Winter. But I don't do enough strength training either, and can improve my more recent practices around mobility and flexibility.

I'm kind of a flake as a potential MFP friend TBH. If you'd like to connect with others in our demographic on a semi-social Community thread with mutual support, this is one option:

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10718336/60-yrs-and-up

Don't worry if you open that up and see old posts. Like any long-running thread here in the MFP Community, the newest posts are at the end, on the high-numbered pages. You can jump straight there by clicking number/arrow pages near the top and bottom of each page of the thread. It's still quite active.

Wishing you success with your goals: IME, it's more than worth the effort!