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I also want to say something about smoking as well........
It can be extremely difficult talking to a friend or family member about smoking and stopping it when there were people that smoked cigarettes and cigars for years and lived way into their senior years. Dean Martin and George Burns did it. Dean Martin had a cigarette in his hand so much it was like a trademark for him! And, seeing George Burns without a cigar in his hand was almost uncommon.
Sometimes people live a very healthful lifestyle and still die earlier than the average age calls for. Sometimes people live a very healthful lifestyle and still die an early age, but due to being untold to the public, the public doesn't know the reason why. I have noticed in today's society, that when people die due to smoking/cancer, "smoking" isn't even put into the article as well as drinking isn't either.
I am with you. I am joining a health club, going straight from work to the club, I am worried about Diabetes, it runs in my family. I love eating, cooking, and hate working out and exercising.
Jasper, keep an open mind about the health club. I never thought I was a health club type and avoided them like the plague or any exercise other than walking and stationary bike riding. Then I joined a club two years ago and became a gym rat! As I said in an earlier post, I do everything: yoga, pilates, kick boxing, water aerobics, step, weights, Zumba and Latin dance. I am having a ball---and my body never looked this toned even when I was younger. I fully believe that the stretching and strengthening my core (believe I joined the club, I didn't even know I had a core!) has prevented a back injury (I was starting to feel tight/stiff in my lower back.) I've met interesting people and have developed a better attitude, not taking myself so seriously (difficult to do when trying to get a 57 yo body to do downward dog!) and just enjoying the moment, no matter how dorky I may look 9such as with the dancing).
Escort Rider, I agree with you that there are more considerations than just an early death! Nothing is so sad as seeing people in their 50s and 60s who function (or, more accurately, dysfunction) like people twenty years older---seeing them with disabled parking permits (when their disability could have been prevented/lessened), use oxygen, use motorized scooters, and have limited endurance. I have a 60 year old friend who is overweight, but even more importantly, totally out of shape (always wants to be let off at the door of a store instead of walking a bit and hasn't exercised for forty years. And you don't want to know about what she eats--right now she is on a quest for the perfect apple fritter!). We went to visit a Hindu temple where people sat on the floor during the ceremony. She had to stand because, as she acknowledged, there was no way she could get back up if she sat down on the floor! Another time we went to a restaurant which had rooftop dining---and she could barely make it up one flight of stairs to get there (and then was miserable during the meal because of the effort it took).
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jm02
People wanting this are are also likely waiting for the tooth fairy....
Adjusting diet doesn't have to be a real downer. I love pizza and beer too. When I enjoy it, I simply compensate by having a salad for dinner the next night.
Your body will be MUCH happier AND healthier if you compensate by having that salad WITH or within 2 hrs after your Pizza. Might try not eating that next day (or do fresh fruits / veggies only). I have been fasting 1-2 days / week for 40 yrs. no ill effects yet. Works best for me to drink lots of water and start and end fast with a small high fiber meal.
Quote:
... Ultimately, if one is serious about health and weight, the only way to go about it is step away from the keyboard and take some action.
GREAT advice... I'm gonna do that RIGHT now. Thx for the advice
Jasper, keep an open mind about the health club. I never thought I was a health club type and avoided them like the plague or any exercise other than walking and stationary bike riding. Then I joined a club two years ago and became a gym rat! As I said in an earlier post, I do everything: yoga, pilates, kick boxing, water aerobics, step, weights, Zumba and Latin dance. I am having a ball---and my body never looked this toned even when I was younger. I fully believe that the stretching and strengthening my core (believe I joined the club, I didn't even know I had a core!) has prevented a back injury (I was starting to feel tight/stiff in my lower back.) I've met interesting people and have developed a better attitude, not taking myself so seriously (difficult to do when trying to get a 57 yo body to do downward dog!) and just enjoying the moment, no matter how dorky I may look 9such as with the dancing).
Let us know how you do...
Jazzcat, my experiences are similar to yours, although I do not participate in the whole variety of offered classes as you do. I joined a gym at age 61 with the thought of using the treadmills and stationary bikes. A few months later I became curious about the classes and tried some of them, thus having my first ever experience of yoga, for which I am very grateful. It's odd (even to me) but I can discipline myself to go to a weight class at the gym twice a week, but I can't discipline myself to do the weight workouts at home. One would think it would be the opposite and I know it sounds backwards, but maybe I'm not the only one.
One thing about my age is that I have largely gotten over trying to look cool in an athletic sense, so if I am feeling awkward about my performance in a class I just remind myself that I am there for my own benefit and not to impress anyone else. Ditto about being the only male in some of the classes! I know I am benefitting myself by being there, and I have actually come to enjoy greatly that status as the only male (or one of just a few males).
Of course, like already mentioned, we've both had surgeries that have limited what we can do for exercise. Of course medications can retain or promote weight, but neither of us are on meds that would do that.
Have you looked into local YMCA? They have water aerobics specifically for seniors, low impact and medium impact. They are usually free and being in water they are much easier on joints/bodies.
Previous surgeries aren't "excuses" for exercising, just plain truth.........depending on the surgery and what the surgeon tells the patient. My shoulder surgeon told me to my face "watch how much weight you lift from now on and no high-impact sports, such as water skiing." My hip surgeon told me "no running, jogging, weight lifting or any high-impact stuff on the hip and watch too much walking" and they both said "or you'll be back in surgery again". There was NO miscommunication there and I try to obey what they told me. I use to lift a case of 24 water bottles at Wal Mart to buy, but later my shoulder would start aching. My wife said "no more" and now she puts the case in the cart and takes it from our vehicle into our apartment.
Fact is, some older folks can plainly lose weight and exercise much easier than others can.
Please, let's not get "snippy" with those that have had surgeries and can't do as much exercise as others can.
Another fact, some folks simply throw "caution" to the wind when it comes to exercise and do what they want, even if a doctor tells them "watch it".
Swimming? You love the water and in the water, you don't feel it. Just get in it and move your arms and do some waist exercises.
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) has prevented a back injury (I was starting to feel tight/stiff in my lower back.) I've met interesting people and have developed a better attitude, not taking myself so seriously (difficult to do when trying to get a 57 yo body to do downward dog!) and just enjoying the moment, no matter how dorky I may look 9such as with the dancing).
Further thoughts on gym classes
How about swimming?
