NYT article on exercise and aging

[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.