In person-sharing similar concerns

[shootingstar]

Met up with some friends who have been cyclists, but getting back into it. One of the women is on a jogging streak and is loving it. Don't know her deeply but that's fine.

She and I chatted up. It is nice to occasionally to know and speak with another woman in person, similar in same age bracket (she is 57), who shares similar physiological changes due to age, health lifestyle efforts and thoughts for:

*increased effort in exercise and diet change to deal with gradual metabolism slow-down due to age

*what is considered "normal" in terms of body shape, weight now compared to ie. 30 years ago.

I realized last night when I do meet up with other (closer) female friends in my age bracket later next month, that this is probably a topic worth chatting up. But other times, we never seem to, even though I know very well, each of these long-term friends do make an individual ongoing effort to be healthy. These strong friendships are over 25-35 yrs. long and each formed originally on totally different shared interests/values that have nothing to do with cycling. However coincidentally each woman has taken upon at different times in life to change her lifestyle to something healthier. I feel so lucky that such long-term friendships have evolved with this added dimension as we become older. But many of these friends live in a difference province far away.

When we visit one another, which is only once/yr. or every 2-3 years, (we live separated by several thousand kms.), we end talking about other stuff. Rarely do we share about each other's health and our individual efforts to stay healthy.

But I would like to talk abit about this more with them in person, among other things. I would value their thoughts on this because after all, I value them for staying healthy and alive so far...so our friendships can continue and grow. I never inquired about their health when we were in our 20's. But over the years, superficially we have been asking each other for updates before diving into other topics.

Sorry for the ramble. But I suddenly feel like a lightbulb has been turned on and seeing good, long-term friends now in a different light: I want more to talk about and acknowledge their efforts.

[smilingcat]

I do love your ramblings. Free thought/thinking without a purpose sometimes is good. Part of thinking out of a box which we really need to do more. It's wonderful that you have friends from 20-30 years ago that you are still in touch.

I can see why you might want to compare your life choices, health, exercise, family... I would be curious too. Besides, isn't that part of catching up with your friends??

[shootingstar]

Part of thinking out of a box which we really need to do more. It's wonderful that you have friends from 20-30 years ago that you are still in touch.

I can see why you might want to compare your life choices, health, exercise, family... I would be curious too. Besides, isn't that part of catching up with your friends??

Thx, for seeing through the forest of my rambles.
Problem is that I seldom see these friends and when I do, it's 3-6 hrs. of concentrated time every few years for each person, depending on what she and I do/where we are in life. So far we rarely talk about each other's health much at all. Probably a hang-over of when we were younger ..and thinking we're invincible.

[Crankin]

I guess the only comparable situation would be when I go to AZ and see my friends I made in my early 30's. We did talk about fitness/health then, but as young mothers, I was the only one who was physically active. I email one or two of them and these things do come up. In person is so much better.
One of my closest friends there lost a tremendous amount of weight a few years ago. I saw her about a year ago (Sept. 08) and she was quite heavy again. I know she exercises, but as a medical professional, she should know better.
Well, I'd better not say anything else, because a couple of years ago someone on this board referred to her as her health care provider (she has a common name that is spelled differently)!
I talk about this stuff with my current friends, but only one is a cycling friend. The others think aging, gaining weight, etc. is "inevitable." I did talk to some of the women in my cycling group a week ago, that is a subset of a regular club. Most are older than me, others at least in their 40's. They are amazing in that they have "stuff" going on medically, but do tons of cycling and other activities.