60 yrs and up

BCLadybug888 wrote: »

Very 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 🙄 😄)

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.

Alligator on what was the diet?

tjharleygal55 wrote: »

Hi all. Just ran across the title of this thread from 2019 and instantly felt at home. I’ve 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. I’m 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 won’t be offended if you already have your group and I didn’t 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!

risinghope wrote: »

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.

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).

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.

Ridiculous ,
I want to make my box as large as possible too. What a lovely sentiment.

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!

I am about to turn 63 and also have self control issues with food, I love chocolate!

Not been in here for a while but back again, good luck Steve I agree rant as much as you want.

Timberlan127 wrote: »

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.

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.