The One Thing That Made The Largest Physical Difference In Your LIfe as You Aged

[frayne]

One thing you ask: movement. The old cliché 'move it or lose it' applies to both the mental and physical aspects of this game we call life. At soon to be 74, walked 18 holes yesterday and usually spend at least an hour at Planet Fitness doing a light workout three-four days a week when not golfing.

 

[Music Lover]

Definitely strength training.

2 weekends ago a friend and I helped another friend put a metal roof on his cabin. Built on bedrock on uneven ground we spent 2 full 10 hour days going up and down ladders and scaffolding. I was a little tired after the second day but felt perfectly fine and could have done more if required.

The friend that helped was out of gas 4 hours into the job and spent the rest of the first day and most of the second day on the ground fetching things, cutting boards and metal etc.

 

[COcheesehead]

Definitely strength training.

2 weekends ago a friend and I helped another friend put a metal roof on his cabin. Built on bedrock on uneven ground we spent 2 full 10 hour days going up and down ladders and scaffolding. I was a little tired after the second day but felt perfectly fine and could have done more if required.

The friend that helped was out of gas 4 hours into the job and spent the rest of the first day and most of the second day on the ground fetching things, cutting boards and metal etc.

I helped my older brother put up a porch swing. By the end he was sweating and could hardly breath. People don’t realize how losing fitness creeps into making simple things, more difficult.

 

[marko]

Oh, and a twice a month treatment on a decompression table has completely eliminated my lower back issues. Had tried everything from injections to stretch therapy to heavy PT...20 minutes twice a month of decompression. Like magic

 

[Music Lover]

I helped my older brother put up a porch swing. By the end he was sweating and could hardly breath. People don’t realize how losing fitness creeps into making simple things, more difficult.

Yeah, you can get away with not working out when younger but once you're over 50 it really starts to show.

I reshingled my house and garage about 5 years ago when I was 58. One of my friends offered to help tear off the old roof which was only about 1200 sq ft. We did one side in a couple hours and then he was done...tired, sore and out of breath. After he left I did the other side myself.

 

[Chuckanut]

Oh, and a twice a month treatment on a decompression table has completely eliminated my lower back issues. Had tried everything from injections to stretch therapy to heavy PT...20 minutes twice a month of decompression. Like magic

Do you use a chiropractor for that?

 

[marko]

Do you use a chiropractor for that?

Yes. I've tried a half dozen other approaches and this did the trick for me. I'm going again tomorrow in fact.

 

[FREE866]

Oh, and a twice a month treatment on a decompression table has completely eliminated my lower back issues. Had tried everything from injections to stretch therapy to heavy PT...20 minutes twice a month of decompression. Like magic

Can you elaborate on what these sessions consist of?
As I mentioned earlier I have been doing deadhangs after every weight workout and its been amazing and I think what they do is decompress

 

[imjustawarrior]

After I retired, I spent 1 year re-working my diet and got down to a healthy weight.

The healthy weight and new diet fixed all my numbers, blood sugar, cholesterol, heart rate, blood pressure, .... It also make it much easier to do physical activities. My end goal is to be able to do some serious hikes. At least serious for me.

 

[jollystomper]

For me it has been consistency. Though I played sports in high school I did not have a consistent workout/exercise regime. In college I started one and have been fairly consistent in applying it for 45+ years. Not specifically the same exercise/workout sport, but doing whatever workout/exercise/sport I choose that pushes me for both an aerobic and strength perspective, and doing it at least 4 days every week, regardless of where I am.

In retirement I have added minimizing how much I sit and stare at TV/computer/tablet for "entertainment". Even for when watching live sports, commercials and scheduled brakes gives me an opportunity to get up and do something active. If am on the computer more than 30 minutes at a stretch it will be due to taking a course or doing some type of programming/design/financial work that exercises me mentally.

 

[CDRE]

Yoga.

 

[marko]

Can you elaborate on what these sessions consist of?
As I mentioned earlier I have been doing deadhangs after every weight workout and its been amazing and I think what they do is decompress

My chiropractor offers it (if it's appropriate).
I've had L4 and L5 problems for 60 years that have gotten worse due to some arthritis creeping in.

It's a table with two pieces, an upper and lower body. Sort of like a dining table that you can pull apart. He straps me in chest and hips separately with big, wide velcro straps like I'm getting ready for space launch. You cannot move they're so snug.

The table is computer controlled and slowly, gently the two halves move apart. There's some resistance measurement going on so that you don't get pulled in two. It goes out then in a few times over 20 minutes and then you're done. The advantage of the table over a device that tips you upside down or a deadhang is that he can target individual vertebrae.

Not every chiropractor has one and Medicare doesn't cover it, but he charges me $100 and I'd pay twice that if I had to.

 

[brett]

delete.

 

[Richard4444]

Gym 5 days weekly: strength training on the machines and treadmill for 30 minutes.

Rich

 

[ls99]

Argentine Tango

 

[Zathras]

As you aged what is the one thing that you feel made the biggest difference in your life, physically?

For me it was continuing to ride my bike long and aggressively. All my vitals are great. My resting heart rate, VO2, etc, are all in great ranges.

What makes a difference for you?

Rheumatoid Arthritis
Although that probably isn't the type of 'difference' you meant ;-)

 

[athena53]

I know that the overwhelming answer has been some sort of physical activity but I thought of a couple of things that most of us probably take for granted. One was having a job that didn't beat my body up- construction work, factory work, even retail (on your feet all day on cement floors). You can end up old before your time from those occupations. The other is that my job and my life had very little stress with the exception of when my marriage was falling apart and I was working 70-80- hour weeks for a few months. I don't know how I got through that time but I did. Living like that for years would definitely have taken its toll over the long run.

 

[deserat]

At 76 I swim 5 days a week and compete in masters swim meets. I recently started sprints in my routine. I compete in butterfly+ to keep that heart pumping. Anyway to increase your heart rate on a regular basis is very beneficial. I bike downtown Milwaukee around the lake in the short summer months The Crab Rangoon I get at the public market does not help the heart tho. But the live music everywhere you go is great.

Oof - butterfly sprints - whew!!!!! That will bring out the lactic acid very quickly!!!! Hated those when I was a teenager ;-)

 

[Teacher Terry]

I started exercising when I was 31 and have continued to until this day. When I retired, I was 50 pounds overweight despite all the exercise and I lost the weight five years ago. I feel so much better that it’s incredible how much difference it made.

I’ve had a back problem for 40 years because of being in a few car accidents, but although not completely better, it greatly improved with the weight loss. I average 7 – 8 K steps per day.

 

[pacergal]

*Drinking tons more water through out the day, without having to worry about "bathroom breaks"!
Helps keep the joints lubricated and everything well hydrated.
*Restful sleep
*Less stress

 

[iloveyoga]

That's easy. Practicing yoga every other day at least. The second thing I would list is walking outside 1-2 miles every day.

 

[COcheesehead]

That's easy. Practicing yoga every other day at least. The second thing I would list is walking outside 1-2 miles every day.

I would have not expected anything less from you.

 

[ringtail]

Hiking - which given my pace might be more reasonably be called "walking outside for long periods". In addition to the physical benefits, it takes me to places of beauty and quiet so there are mental benefits, too. And it can be done solo, with a partner, or in a group.

 

[BubbaChris]

I stopped procrastinating on taking statins. I spent at least 2 decades thinking I could manage my cholesterol via diet and exercise, but I like too many sweets. The two biggest contributors to changing my mind were finding my birth mother 5 years ago, and having conversations about statins with a BIL and his son. Learning that I had two half-uncles who died way too early from hereditary risks combined with poor life choices was sobering. Then talking with two people I'm close to about their experience with statins sealed the deal. Now I can say I'm managing some of the biggest longevity factors I can influence - weight, cholesterol, diet, exercise, and stress.

DW has a long history of interest in healthy habits. We worked with a Registered Dietician 25 years ago after MIL passed (too early). We learned strategies and were pointed towards better choices. We've maintained and refined a bias towards healthy eating habits since then.

Additionally DW went back to college 15 years ago for a graduate degree in gerokinesiology, then switched careers to put her new skills into practice. She taught specialized fitness classes until retiring 4 years ago. Living with a specialist in fitness for older adults has both pressures and perks.

Kind regards,
Chris

 

[Pellice]

Not gaining weight. I gained about 10 lbs in my 30s, and have pretty much stayed at the same "normal" weight since. I think that's helped loads - my joints, my sleep, my metabolism. I mostly accomplished this by cooking almost everything at home. I eat out maybe once a month. I don't do takeout, either. I don't have any particularly rigorous diet, I just aim to eat 3 meals that include a good amount of vegetables and complex carbs - but I don't avoid anything either. I will eat white bread, white rice, butter, red meat, etc. I just eat lots of other stuff too (always have my own 3 flour rolls on hand).