Over 60 still trying

AnnPT77 wrote: »

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,