60 yrs and up

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Replies

  • coblujay
    coblujay Posts: 688 Member
    Thank you, @AnnPT77

    Still here and paddling away.

    I'm one of those people who prefers to exercise without interacting too much with people, other than hiking with my sister. I take an occasional class with Orange Theory Fitness, but sometimes they have "partner" workouts, which I don't really care for. My goal is to get in and get it done without having to socialize. At the same time, I don't want to plan workouts. I want someone to tell me what to do and when so I can just show up. I had a trainer for a few years and when funding permits, my plan is to do that again, with a focus on weight training.

    I'm in the process of building a new business (at 63) and since I've been swimming regularly (2x a week) for the last year, I don't have to think much about every stroke like I used to. I look forward to it because so many amazing ideas come to life while I'm in the water. It's my therapy, meditation and dream time. It's really helped in the midst of the chaos of business planning. At the same time, I pretty much just say hello going in and thank you going out.

    @Pdc654 I'm sorry to hear about your bone density scan and that you aren't off medication for high blood pressure. Hopefully the meds will really help. I need to add weight training in too.
  • Pdc654
    Pdc654 Posts: 317 Member
    Thank you, @coblujay.

    Yeah, I hope the medication for the bone density works well. As far as the high blood pressure, getting off at least one of the meds will be a goal for the coming year.
  • BCLadybug888
    BCLadybug888 Posts: 1,233 Member
    Mel, where do you live? I ask because I really need to make a modest walking commitment and you sound like my speed lol!

    The Maritimes are really lovely and friendly. Good goal!
  • BCLadybug888
    BCLadybug888 Posts: 1,233 Member
    edited July 2022
    I decided to try a little carb cycling to see if that Kickstarts anything, supposed to aid in losing proportionately more fat, so that's good!
    Plan is to do 2 low carb days (max 50 net), 4 moderate days (aiming for 150 net) and then 1 day with no carb restrictions but keep within maintenance calories - started this week and is for the next couple of weeks only, before my next holidays.

    I did Keto a few years ago and lost 50+ lbs, but of course eventually gave up and regained ++. So I don't mind low carb, just not as a sustainable lifestyle, we'll see how it goes!
    Anything apparently to avoid adding regular activity just yet ...🤣

    On the weight front, I reached a new MFP low this week! I would love to lose another 4.5 by Aug 13th, my MFP anniversary, as that would make 52 lbs lost but might be a bit ambitious for me - hence the carb cycling experiment! 🙂
  • Melwillbehealthy
    Melwillbehealthy Posts: 880 Member
    Hi Ladybug. I live in Ontario. I see that you’re in B.C. I wanted to finally travel, but was hesitant to leave the country for health reasons right now. We’ve driven to the maritimes before, but decided it’s a cheap, short flight, so we’re flying. The airport isn’t huge that we leave from, so shouldn’t be a lot of hastles like you find at the Toronto airport.
    Last time we visited Newfoundland ( where I actually got lost hiking), and Labrador, absolutely beautiful and you’re right. The people are very friendly.
    This time we’re staying in the southern provinces and going to P.E.I. I’ve never seen Confederation bridge that they built to the island in 1997. It must be huge! I can’t wait to see it. Ferry, or boat was the only way to get there before this, new bridge. ( 25 yrs. Old!)
    I’ve been to most of the places we’re going on my own, but this time it’s an escorted tour.
    Going to hIke the Cabot trail among others, so it’s real incentive to work out and build stamina. We do travel by ferry sometimes. Watching my diet with more care now. I’ve kind of given myself a weight loss goal, something new.
    Good luck experimenting with carbs. Your approach sounds interesting. Recently, I was told to eat carbs in the morning, but I spread them out during the day. It seems to work for me.
  • BCLadybug888
    BCLadybug888 Posts: 1,233 Member
    Hi Mel, yes, I am in BC.
    I have not been to NFLD/Labrador but I have been to New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI (crossing the 'new' bridge lol).
    PEI was exactly as I imagined it - very tidy & green!

    My daughter went to UofT for law school, so we drove across Canada twice (and thru the States once), as well as headed east from there to see as much of the country as we could when we had the chance.

    I joined a walking plan on MFP yesterday to get me up to 6000 steps in 28 days, maybe that would help you too?
    An escorted tour sounds like fun! Good for you for booking it.
  • karlschaeffer
    karlschaeffer Posts: 1,492 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    I am new to this post. I’m just curious what is kittened on MFP?

    There's a list of words that MFP considers to be inappropriate to use, mostly things that are considered swearing, sexual, or otherwise objectionable or impolite. If someone puts one of those words in a post, MFP replaces the word with "*kitten*".

    So, in my previous post, I was talking about axe throwing, used the word "c*ck" in a totally innocent and respectable way (IMO), and MFP substituted "*kitten*" so it looked like this:
    AnnPT77 wrote: »

    I was surprised: It doesn't take a large amount of strength. The axes used were small (but very pointy!), probably less than 5 pounds as a guess? The throwing was more reliant on technique (how you *kitten* and follow through) plus staying relaxed. I think most average people could do it.

    Evidently, that word I used is on the "inappropriate words" list, because it's also a slang term for a private body part.

    Healthy fun day!

    Never knew what the “kitten” meant. Thx!
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 31,966 Member
    @pdc654, I'm sorry to hear about your bone density test! I think mine's heading in a bad direction now, from my last scan, so I need to go back in for a consultation. I may have to go back on drugs.

    I did take a bisphosphonate for bone density for around 4 years, experienced no significant/observable side effects, and did get an improvement in bone density, to the point that the specialist approved me stopping the drugs at that time. Since things have declined again, we'll see where I go next, I guess.

    Fingers crossed that you get a good outcome!
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 31,966 Member
    Hello,
    I just turned 60 and frankly, not happy about it 😂. No seriously, I’m a mess! I had a face peel last month and got Botox for the first time July 1! My body didn’t like it… it was just a little bit between my eyes (frown lines) but I got a big headache and I think it triggered ny arthritis as everything has been hurting! I have to be careful now to stay out of the sun, which is no fun! All the fun things I like to do… golfing, kayaking, biking, swimming, have to be done in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun is low, hat wearing, sunscreen etc. I have been walking, ugh! I gained back the 5 pounds I lost in June in the first week of July: we went to Palm Springs and Prescott… lots of driving and I got car sick, party with no health food.. anyway I did finally have some time to do some internal reevaluation of myself and so feeling motivated again to fight the battle of the bulge. Again. Tracking food I think will really help me to see the blind spots in my current lifestyle. I did my yoga dvd today and walked this evening. I am scared that I’ll never lose the weight. My grandma died of complications of diabetes. My hgb a1c was 5.8 in April. I really want to be healthy and balanced…. Not focusing on my wrinkles and brown spots. Anyways, I know I sound very shallow but honestly, I’m a nurse and very used to putting everyone else first… I thought I’d do something for me for a change but it kind of backfired and didn’t agree with me! 😂 I guess that’s a sign to accept my age gracefully and focus on my whole health: body mind and spirit. Anyways, I need support and encouragement. You all are very encouraging with your fun stories and successes.

    Hello and welcome, @Ineedtolose50lbs! It sounds like you've had some real ups and downs in your life recently - I hope things will level off for you into a calmer and happier overall scenario very soon.

    I certainly found food tracking to be extremely useful, for sure to dial in appropriate calories via enjoyable-to-me food choices, but also to gradually tweak my eating to improve overall nutrition, which I've found to be a good thing in my case. Having that food log to review, think about, and adjust plans going forward has been helpful in finding the eating strategies that really work for me.

    I think the specifics can be very individual (based on reading a lot of people's posts here on MFP), but the "experiment and adjust" process can be broadly useful. I might speculate that your background as a nurse, with the meticulous record-keeping required there, might be good skills development for the personal logging and analysis process.

    How are things going for you so far? I'm cheering for you, and I'm sure others here are, too!
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 31,966 Member
    Older member of mfp, thinking of doing low carbs any tips anyone ?

    Hi, @dejavuohlala - looks like you've been here on MFP (2013) even longer than I have (2015). I thought I'd seen your ID around the Community before.

    What are you hoping lower carb will do for you?

    I have to admit, I haven't tried that. I'm vegetarian (have been since 1974), and low-carb vegetarian is a difficult combination, IMO - not impossible, but many of my favorite protein sources do bring some carbs along with them. Fortunately, I haven't found that I need any particular carb level to sustain good energy, not to avoid cravings/appetite, which seem to be a couple of the reasons that (non-diabetic, non-insulin-resistant) people seem to adopt a low-carb approach.

    For sure, experimenting with different eating strategies can be helpful, to figure out the best personal route.

    Wishing you success with it, if you go that route!
  • ridiculous59
    ridiculous59 Posts: 2,821 Member
    AnnPT77 What a wonderful way to spend a summer evening!! Gorgeous view 🙂


  • Pdc654
    Pdc654 Posts: 317 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    @pdc654, I'm sorry to hear about your bone density test! I think mine's heading in a bad direction now, from my last scan, so I need to go back in for a consultation. I may have to go back on drugs.

    I did take a bisphosphonate for bone density for around 4 years, experienced no significant/observable side effects, and did get an improvement in bone density, to the point that the specialist approved me stopping the drugs at that time. Since things have declined again, we'll see where I go next, I guess.

    Fingers crossed that you get a good outcome!

    @AnnPT77 Thank you so much for this information regarding your experience with medication for bone density. That was very helpful and makes me feel better hearing that you did have improvement with it with no side effects. I really don't want to go down the path my mom did. She had osteoporosis and was pretty frail in her later years. I hope I can prevent that.

    I wish they would start the bone density scans earlier. But medicare pays for it every 2 years starting at age 65. I had my first one at age 65. Then at age 67, and this one at age 69. My first one showed osteopenia already but my doctor only said take calcium and really didn't have any other recommendations. The second one was about the same as the first, and now this one was bad enough to call me in for a consultation. I'm wondering if it was started at 60 with more aggressive management if more bone loss could be prevented.

    Ann, hoping you also see an improvement with your next scan.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 31,966 Member
    Pdc654 wrote: »
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    @pdc654, I'm sorry to hear about your bone density test! I think mine's heading in a bad direction now, from my last scan, so I need to go back in for a consultation. I may have to go back on drugs.

    I did take a bisphosphonate for bone density for around 4 years, experienced no significant/observable side effects, and did get an improvement in bone density, to the point that the specialist approved me stopping the drugs at that time. Since things have declined again, we'll see where I go next, I guess.

    Fingers crossed that you get a good outcome!

    @AnnPT77 Thank you so much for this information regarding your experience with medication for bone density. That was very helpful and makes me feel better hearing that you did have improvement with it with no side effects. I really don't want to go down the path my mom did. She had osteoporosis and was pretty frail in her later years. I hope I can prevent that.

    I wish they would start the bone density scans earlier. But medicare pays for it every 2 years starting at age 65. I had my first one at age 65. Then at age 67, and this one at age 69. My first one showed osteopenia already but my doctor only said take calcium and really didn't have any other recommendations. The second one was about the same as the first, and now this one was bad enough to call me in for a consultation. I'm wondering if it was started at 60 with more aggressive management if more bone loss could be prevented.

    Ann, hoping you also see an improvement with your next scan.

    I think some of my bone density issues are related to anti-estrogen drugs I needed to take to minimize risk of cancer recurrence. Menopause increases risk of osteopenia, and some of these drugs create a sort of hyper-menopause state. My bone density was fine before I started them, not good after. (I'm not complaining: I'm nearly 22 years out from stage III (advanced) breast cancer, and alive is an excellent start on the rest of my day. If osteoporosis is the price of that, I'm happy to pay it.)

    On the plus side, they started monitoring bone density early for me, because of those risks. I'm also pretty active, but not weight lifting optimally.
  • Pdc654
    Pdc654 Posts: 317 Member
    @AnnPT77 Now that you mention it, my mom was on Tamoxifen for about 5 years after she had breast cancer. They caught it early and just had a lumpectomy with radiation. No chemo. But they did put her on that anti estrogen drug. So that may have effected her osteoporosis progression as well. Who knows. Glad you're okay now. But you went through a lot
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 31,966 Member
    Pdc654 wrote: »
    @AnnPT77 Now that you mention it, my mom was on Tamoxifen for about 5 years after she had breast cancer. They caught it early and just had a lumpectomy with radiation. No chemo. But they did put her on that anti estrogen drug. So that may have effected her osteoporosis progression as well. Who knows. Glad you're okay now. But you went through a lot

    Tamoxifen is considered bone protective, in my understanding. It's a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), works by binding to estrogen receptors in cancer cells. (I took Tamoxifen for 2.5 years.)

    The drug I'm 'crediting' with my osteopenia, Arimidex (Anastrozole) is one of a different class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors. They block creation of estrogen outside the ovaries, are used these days as hormonal therapy for breast cancer in post-menopausal women. They tend to increase bone loss. (I took Arimidex for 5 years.)
  • Pdc654
    Pdc654 Posts: 317 Member
    @AnnPT77 I did not know that about Tamoxifen.

    Thank you so much. Many of us on this forum are grateful for your informative, thorough, and well articulated comments in many areas of health, weight loss, and exercise. I have much respect for you.