NYT article on exercise and aging

[Crankin]

Wahine, I was speaking generally, not specifically meaning right now. Although... I have been pretty much doing things at my usual level, but being very conscious of my rest days and substituting a less intense work out if needed, but not skipping it. Fatigue was not really part of my symptoms, except for the part when I wasn't sleeping! Today I decided to stop taking the anti-anxiety meds. I had weaned myself down to .5 mg, so it made sense to do it on a weekend when I knew my hubby would be around and I was going to ride outside. I felt somewhat bad when I went out to ride and now I feel fine; in fact much better. The only symptoms I am still having are the tinnitus, but much less frequently, and some pain in the cartilage in my throat. But I feel normal, unlike before.
I guess I meant that I know that intervals make you stronger, but I don't consciously go out and do them. I think most of my improvement has come because I live in a hilly area and that forces me to exert myself! But my speed plateaued probably 2 seasons ago. Without some concerted effort and interval training, it's probably not going to improve. But then, I ask myself how many other 54 year olds ride 2,500-3,000 miles a year and take vacations which involve 9,000 feet of climbing? I guess I have to accept the 15-16 mph average. My goal is to keep riding and if it starts becoming a chore, I don't think that will happen.

[emily_in_nc]

That is sad. Does she live nearby? Can you go for a walk with her?

Unfortunately, we're over 2 hours apart, and I work full-time, so we don't visit all that often. And when we do (here or there), she won't walk at all. I've asked her to take a walk with me, and she's just not interested; there's always some excuse. Neither of us live in places where you can walk to the store or anything like that, unfortunately -- she's way out in the 'burbs, and I am in a very rural, wooded area far from town. The only time she will walk is when shopping. Sad! She does garden, and I encourage that. She also paints (not easels, but interior rooms in her house, including some decorative murals -- and stage sets in the community theater!), goes up and down ladders, stuff like that, so she's not completely sedentary, but anything aerobic, forget it.

My step-father loves to hike, despite bad arthritis in his knees, but she won't even try to join him, so he usually walks and hikes alone. I think it's mostly because she's overweight and feels very out of shape and embarrassed. And she doesn't want to sweat at all -- that is a generational thing, I guess; her mother was the same way. Southern ladies just didn't sweat in her world.

We went to the beach with my mom this past Christmas, and she took a short walk on the beach just ONCE in a week. My DH and I were out there at least twice a day, taking long, fast walks. Mom is bookish, spends her time reading, watching HGTV and the Food Network, shopping, and cooking, but anything that smacks of athletics, just not her thing.

By the way, your mom is cool! I love the photo!!!

Emily

[mimitabby]

On a related note, if you haven't read "'Younger Next Year: for Women' By Chris Crowley, get it out of the library. It's straightforward, funny, and makes a lot of sense. My favourite recommendation is "Don't eat crap."

They say we need to do 45 minutes of vigorous exercise 5 times a week (I think) and strength training 2-3 times a week.

One of the things I really like about the the book is that he's a cyclist.

Here's a link to the website.

http://www.youngernextyear.com/

Yes, Thanks for putting this up. I read this book, Raleighdon read it twice. It really changed my life.

and here's my 77 year old mother. bum knee hidden under table

[kelownagirl]

Yes, I was just going to give you credit actually, for recommending it to me.

[MillieNZ]

Is Use it or lose it by Peter Snell.

Peter is a New Zealander that won 3 olympic gold medals at 800 & 1500 metre in the 60's. He now is a Associate Proffessor at DEpt of internal medicine at Uni of Texas Southwestern. He is 70 this year, still working at the uni, looks 20 years younger and is still active & competitive in all sorts of sports.

Use it or Lose it explores the many mounting health problems and their causes & how you can use simple activites, exercises & plain commmon sense to take control of and enhance your life as you get older and approach 'Third Age'.

I really recommend reading it what ever your age

[Wahine]

Wahine, I was speaking generally, not specifically meaning right now.

Sorry Robyn. For some reason I had it in my head that you had a lot more chronic fatigue type symptoms. I'm so glad that you're doing better and I didn't want you to risk getting worse by doing intervals. But I was mistaken. Thanks for the clarification.

[Crankin]

Reading about everyone's mom makes me realize how unique my mom was for someone of her generation. She died 11 years ago of liver disease (AFTER a transplant), but before she got sick she was a role model. She always walked and I remember her doing calisthenics on the floor to an exercise record when I was about 11. She was into sports in high school and was an officer in the girls athletic association. She was always telling me tales of riding off somewhere on her bike! When she would visit me in AZ we would get up and walk at 5 AM, to avoid the heat.
My dad is about to turn 83 and still works part time, but he gave me some upsetting news yesterday. He was supposed to have arthroscopic knee surgery this week, but it was canceled because his EKG was not good. Now he has to go for a stress test. He already takes Lipitor, but he has a blockage in leg that they won't address until the knee is fixed, because he can't walk with the knee pain. Oye... I wanted to tell him that maybe 65 years of smoking is catching up with him, but I held my tongue. He looks much younger and all of his friends are my age. Still, he never did anything physical and it's probably good genes contributing to his longevity.

[ummbnb]

My mom didn't start exercising in earnest until her mid-60's. She's 74 now and goes to the gym or walks daily. I'm really really really proud of her!!!

[mimitabby]

my mother's sitting in a wheel chair because she didn't have the sense to NOT go for her walk when there was the possibility of ICE

It's so frustrating because at this age you lose so much more ground when you are laid up for a time. She's read that book too (Younger next year) and is a proponent of it.

[Trek420]

Go Mimis Mom! 77 and laid up with an athletic injury.

I wanna be her when I grow up

By the way, your mom is cool! I love the photo!!!

Emily

I think all our moms are cool. Climbing ladders? Community theater? Way cool.

[kelownagirl]

My mom is kind of like me. She didn't start exercising until she was in her 40's. She started swimming regularly back then and did lots of hiking etc. Then she learned to ski and still does the double black diamond runs when she can find someone to ski with. She's now 72 and when she's not travelling all over the world she skis once a week in winter and golfs twice a week in summer plus she runs 30 minutes, 2-3X a week. What a lady!

[Blueberry]

My mom is in her mid 50's but was very overweight and never athletic. She seriously injured her back a year and a half ago, and had to have surgery. All her Dr. would let her do was walk. So walk she did. She's walked off all her weight, and is now dealing with a very stressful situation in her life. She walks to get rid of the stress. I'm so glad she made the change.

Mimi- Your mom looks great despite the bum knee! Can she keep doing hand weights and other things until the knee is better?

[Starfish]

My mom died last year at 81. Always slender and active, she really kicked it into gear at about 50. She took up yoga and walking, became a massage therapist, did regular prayer, and started making all her own bread, yogurt, etc. She started walking 5 miles every day, and in her 70's started running.

When we were kids (I was 9 when she was 50), we used to laugh at her because she drank this weird concoction every morning of fresh juices, brewer's yeast, barley green and an aloe vera mixture.

I turned 42 this month, and had to laugh...I bought a juicer, and I have started drinking a similar weird concoction! I said, mom, I hope you can see this and are having a laugh!

She died of a massive and swift brain deterioration. But, 3 months before she died, she was still walking all over town, going to church, etc.

Dad, on the other hand, finally died at 86, 4 months after she did. He spent his life eating saturated fats, smoking, drinking hard, living through incredible business stresses, and quit exercising at around 66. The only reason he died is because mom did, IMO. And he was sharp.

But, no question, his quality of life the last 10-15 years was nowhere near hers. I suspect if he had been living her lifestyle he would still be going strong today. He certainly had the genetics for it.

I'm hoping for her habits + his genetics.