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No, you haven't been lied to, unless someone spoke about guarantees. An analogy might be smoking; a few people who have never smoked get lung cancer (although that's rare) and others who have smoked for decades never get it. It's all about improving your chances.
Medical epidemiologists have already done studies which prove beyond the shadow of a doubt the benefits of exercise for the aged. But there are no guarantees, as genetics are also very important. Therefore, we don't need any "surveys".
I must take exception to your use of the term "marketing". Organizations such as the U.S. Surgeon-General's Office, the American Heart Association, and the American College of Sports Medicine, are only "marketing" recommendations which have proven science behind them.
It's too bad that your personal results have not been up to your expectations, but you do say you are "really healthy", and it is possible (but impossible to know for sure) that you would feel much worse but for your excellent work-out programs. Please do not give them up.
Nooooo - what I mean is that when you explain vague "symptoms" to doctors they tend to roll their eyes and say that you aren't 20 anymore - duh! - with the implication that there is no "plateau" of health, only decline after a peak at 20. So I guess there is that, which I really can't believe...or that you feel good until you feel bad from some ailment. What they don't say is, yes, 30% of women your age experience a degree of _____. Thanks doc - that's info I can use!
I would like to know of some studies that track "typical", "average", "normal" human decline - knowing that it is JUST that and that my experiences may vary. But at best, all I'm aware of now is purely anecdotal individual experience. I want some real data. TRACK the decline in different health measures over age and maybe have some demographic breakouts for those with common chronic illnesses like diabetes - so I can know if I should be alarmed or not!
Do you mind some humor on this topic? I wrote an essay addressing this very subject--and think you might enjoy it -- at least I hope you do. Especially women.
Please let me know what you think.
Autumn's Migration
“ I entered upon a life unimagined previously, of happiness
impossible to youth or to the years of being constantly needed
both at home and at work. I entered into a period of freedom...”
--Carolyn Heilbrun, from her book The Last Gift of Time
This is what I think about aging: I think aging is an incredible journey into uncharted territory. Heilbrun's right, this is our time of new freedom and discovery. And I'd like to go on record right now and state that I'm very much in favor of aging and think we should all participate fully for as long as we enjoy the adventure.
I do, however, take exception to all the articles appearing in popular magazines about certain aspects of aging. Maybe you've read some of them?
They are the ones in which the author says, “Well, I may be sixty, seventy, eighty or ninety-nine, but gosh, I still feel like a kid. I still feel about twenty or so. I don't feel my age at all.” Other articles talk about how sixty is the 'new forty.'
Pshaw, I say. I feel the weight of each of my years every day—but that's not to say I mind the weight. I choose to carry the years lightly and to poke fun at their accumulation every chance I get. For I believe aging can be fun. Aging is a circus adventure of mind, body and spirit. Why, every day, one can expect something new and unexpected to come along.
For instance, right now, I'm thinking about pubic hair.
No one ever told me that one of the more magical aspects of aging is discovering that one's pubic hair departs its home port and undertakes a voyage of discovery and colonization. This is a fact. As a woman of a certain age, let me assure you that this is true.
One's pubic hair migrates from one's nether regions, crosses the round continent of abdomen, transverses the small valley between twin hillocks of breast, scales the steep slope of neck and re-establishes a colony on one's chin and upper lip.
You laugh, but this is so.
Occasionally, a hair gets separated from the main colony and appears alone on ear, cheek, or brow but this is inadvertent, I believe, for this solo hair grows to great lengths trying to reach and reunite with its sisters. It is lonely. It pines for company.
The journey must take place at night, in the small quiet hours when no one's about, when no one's awake to note the march of the pubic hairs.
I've tried to stay the press of sleep to observe this journey, as I'd rather hoped I might interest National Geographic in an article covering the rigors faced by the plucky hairs as they bravely cross mountain and valley in their migration North, but I've never been able to fight Morpheus long enough to witness and photograph their passage. And I'm too shy were National Geographic to offer the services of one of their staff photographers or video people.
Nonetheless, observed, recorded or not, there in the morning, the stalwart little hairs have appeared upon chin and lip, resting content in their new home. Colonization successful.
Hello! Good morning! So nice to see you in the mirror, oh bearded one. And how sweet to see a matching mustache. Maybe this new facial hair is Nature's way to camouflage lip lines and crevices?
And oh Southern nether region, aren't you looking positively youthful and pre-adolescent this morning, unadorned as you are?
Okay, now I get it. Now I understand why those writers dwell on not feeling their age. It's not about feeling their age, but about not looking their age. I, too, don't feel or look my age. I feel rather like a twelve year old myself today as I match mood with appearance. Appearance of Mound of Venus, that is.
Mound of Venus—what a vivid term. Makes me feel all Greek and Goddess-like. As though I should be wearing a flowing Grecian gown and have little dove's wings sprouting from my heels. Is that Mercury? Or Hermes? No, Hermes is a maker of fine leather goods. Must be a sign of aging or uninformed youthfulness when one mixes one's Greek Gods, Goddesses and leather manufacturers.
Of course, I know who I am—I am the mature Aphrodite! Aphrodite revealed. Aphrodite bearded.
See what I mean? Aging is a true adventure. One day you're merely maturing like a ripening round melon, but come the next day and you're a downy-chinned, pubicly-challenged Love Goddess eligible for Medicare.
You've gotta love it. Or shave it. I'm not sure which.
copyright 2015 Patricia Frank. All rights reserved.
Myself, and many other people I know, who are 55-60, tell me they just don't feel that great. We are all early retirees who felt that if we quit work earlier than the traditional age of 65, we would have more time for travel, sports, and hiking, etc. But while our minds are still sharp, we are honest with each other and say, we just don't feel that great. Our bodies are stiff and sore, we don't sleep well, our energy level is low and it is hard to make it up the steps, let alone walk a long distance.
While an active early retirement in your late 50s sounds great in theory, I suspect that many of us feel like are 70- not 59. Can you relate? How do you really feel? Be HONEST now!
I feel great! I retired in my early 40s and will be 55 in a couple of weeks.
But I believe that spending over 20 years in the military and having to stay in shape helped a lot. I see people I graduated with and they look terrible. Sickly, over-weight, etc.
My sisters and I walk for an hour at least three times a week and twice a week I attend an exercise class.
Start moving - never too late. Eat right also - give up the junk food. Another thing that surprises me - the amount of junk people my age stuff their faces with. Take care of yourself.
I suspect that most of the replies will be from people who feel great, or at least try to tell us they feel great. (It is similar to the trend where no one will admit they look 60, when they are 60. (Most people SAY they look and feel younger than their real age.) I admit, I am 59 and feel and look every day of 59, and more!
I guess I do look my age since I refuse to color my hair. Not ashamed to say I am 55.
I'm probably younger than most of you (being in my 50's) but I feel like I"ve been lied to, or at least not told the truth!
do a twice-weekly yoga class. No one told me that starting in even your late 40's you'd start feeling achey (even if you haven't been to the gym the day before!!!), be more tired, and start having more minor "ailments". I'm really healthy...but I don't feel like I think I ought to! I just feel I've been sold a bill of goods that 50 is the new 40...etc., etc.
I would love to have access to an honest and accurate survey of real, live people at different ages to know what is realistic to expect at various ages....not just what's being "marketed" to us.
The posters here are real, live people who are honestly telling you how they feel, including some who are feeling some effects of aging and some who are soldiering on despite aging. There actually seems to be a span of about forty years among those detailing everything from aches and pains to really serious ailments.
There is no fountain of youth and there is no chance of getting out of here alive so ignore the "marketing" and work with what you've got.
I once worked for a man who told me, "If you live long enough, you'll get everything". I'm half-way there!
A year ago at 61 I was overweight, on meds, I had trouble getting out of a chair, tired, knees and hips and back always aching and getting worse. I was thinking at the time, getting old really sucks and my best years were well behind me. In fact, my wife wanted to throw me a 60th b-day party and I asked her not to, why celebrate feeling so old. So I decided I didn't want to live my final years as an "old man", with progressively worse health problems and being a retired spectator. I have tackled my weight, down over 100 pounds, off most of my meds, getting out and getting active, still a few minor aches, but pain isn't holding me back. I feel great! I'm looking forward to begining retirement and all the things I will have the time and ability to do. Feeling old and sick doesn't have to be our destiny, if disease catches up with us there's not much we can do about it, but there are a lot of things we do have the power to change.
One thing that I do want to mention to those who do not sleep well. I was just like that until I made sure that my clock was covered and the bedroom was very dark. Once I did that, I have had no trouble sleeping. Since I am retired, the only time I have to get up early is for an 8 a.m. weight class, which is just once a week. Any other time, I can depend on the dogs or cats to get me up unless I have an appointment or am lucky enough to be catching a plane somewhere.
A year ago at 61 I was overweight, on meds, I had trouble getting out of a chair, tired, knees and hips and back always aching and getting worse. I was thinking at the time, getting old really sucks and my best years were well behind me. In fact, my wife wanted to throw me a 60th b-day party and I asked her not to, why celebrate feeling so old. So I decided I didn't want to live my final years as an "old man", with progressively worse health problems and being a retired spectator. I have tackled my weight, down over 100 pounds, off most of my meds, getting out and getting active, still a few minor aches, but pain isn't holding me back. I feel great! I'm looking forward to begining retirement and all the things I will have the time and ability to do. Feeling old and sick doesn't have to be our destiny, if disease catches up with us there's not much we can do about it, but there are a lot of things we do have the power to change.
Thank you for your post that is wonderfully inspiring. You've proven that much of our health rests in our OWN hands! Congratulations on taking charge...wishing you a vibrant and lively retirement!
A year ago at 61 I was overweight, on meds, I had trouble getting out of a chair, tired, knees and hips and back always aching and getting worse. I was thinking at the time, getting old really sucks and my best years were well behind me. In fact, my wife wanted to throw me a 60th b-day party and I asked her not to, why celebrate feeling so old. So I decided I didn't want to live my final years as an "old man", with progressively worse health problems and being a retired spectator. I have tackled my weight, down over 100 pounds, off most of my meds, getting out and getting active, still a few minor aches, but pain isn't holding me back. I feel great! I'm looking forward to begining retirement and all the things I will have the time and ability to do. Feeling old and sick doesn't have to be our destiny, if disease catches up with us there's not much we can do about it, but there are a lot of things we do have the power to change.
Congratulations! Your story illustrates what I had in mind when I wrote that a lot of what people commonly consider "normal" aging is not really aging at all but rather a result of letting ourselves go. You have demonstrated exemplary motivation and self-discipline. Care to share with us, in brief, how you accomplished what you did, especially how you started out? Obviously at the beginning, 100 pounds overweight, you didn't start out on day one by running five miles at a brisk running pace! LOL Did you begin by walking for the cardio part?
One thing that I do want to mention to those who do not sleep well. I was just like that until I made sure that my clock was covered and the bedroom was very dark. Once I did that, I have had no trouble sleeping. Since I am retired, the only time I have to get up early is for an 8 a.m. weight class, which is just once a week. Any other time, I can depend on the dogs or cats to get me up unless I have an appointment or am lucky enough to be catching a plane somewhere.
I also can't sleep unless it's dark as a tomb.
Since we have no window coverings on the very top part of the bedroom windows, occasionally light does come in.
When the neighbors next door go away, they leave all their flood lights on and it drives me crazy.
One time I took to taping up cardboard on the windows.
What a relief it was when their lights burned out.
I also ended up getting one of those sleep masks.
That really helps.
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