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Those of you in your 50s or 60s probably will not understand. But maybe you should. I know I didn't at that age. I had the idea which was true that I could exert some effort and be strong and healthy. At 72 that has idea is fading. For the past several months I have been traveling and hiking on a frequent basis. Finally I have legs of steel. It took a long time to reach that point.
After months of traveling I will soon be returning home to a more sedentary lifestyle. Those legs of steel will soon turn to mush.
Today I walked for several miles on the sand flats at Death Valley. Then I went out and walked for miles more. As I said great, but mush will soon follow when I stop the daily miles of hiking. My upper body is already mush. The past few days I finally woke up and realized my upper body has turned to mush. I grabbed some exercise bands and tried and tried to overcome months without exercise. I am pissed and tried and tried again to make a difference. Sadly I know it would take months and months and months to make much of a difference. That made me even more pissed.
A few days ago, I was at artists palette in Death Valley. The typical visitor gets out of the car, looks at the scenery and departs in less than 3 minutes. Meanwhile just a few minutes of walking is rewarded with fantastic, surreal scenes that are unique and special. In addition to walking all of the canyons and trails, I spent time watching the visitors. Most visitors arrive at the overlook, take a cellphone snap and then departs within 3 minutes. A few visitors spent longer and may actually walk a few hundred yards. Most of those are foreign visitors.
So I ranted for a while, but I think there is a message here. Research shows the advantages of exercise. We need to exercise all of our muscles on a regular basis and that becomes more and more important as we age. In addition to that there seems to be something drastically wrong with our culture. People from other cultures seem to be less obese, have fewer "joint" issues and exercise more.
Enjoy that walking, I did. Now I have two knees that don't work anymore. It can happen to you too.
I bet I could come close to guessing someone's age by the advise they give on this subject. Under 70 the advice is just go out and do it. Over about 70 it seems clear that doing it has little or no positive effect.
I would say the biggest benefit of exercise for the elderly is to stave off and slow the speed of further degeneration.
I bet I could come close to guessing someone's age by the advise they give on this subject. Under 70 the advice is just go out and do it. Over about 70 it seems clear that doing it has little or no positive effect.
From your earlier description it sounds like you hit a bump that many people hit in their '40's and '50's. You're talking anabolic steroids...sounds like you went through the male change of life. Women get that a couple decades earlier and very little sympathy. Yes, I know the exact reason why it's harder to hold the weight down...and I have less energy...and my doc offers great advice like "You're just getting older"!
So, big whoop - you can get on hormones for men which is largely what steroids are but I do hope you'll investigate all the issues that come along with that. And do tell us EXACTLY what you've been doing that hasn't been working - that would be instructive. It's easy to over-estimate your activity level and it sounds like you're just depressed that it isn't as easy as it once was - so welcome to the club.
From your earlier description it sounds like you hit a bump that many people hit in their '40's and '50's. You're talking anabolic steroids...sounds like you went through the male change of life. Women get that a couple decades earlier and very little sympathy. Yes, I know the exact reason why it's harder to hold the weight down...and I have less energy...and my doc offers great advice like "You're just getting older"!
So, big whoop - you can get on hormones for men which is largely what steroids are but I do hope you'll investigate all the issues that come along with that. And do tell us EXACTLY what you've been doing that hasn't been working - that would be instructive. It's easy to over-estimate your activity level and it sounds like you're just depressed that it isn't as easy as it once was - so welcome to the club.
I don’t even care if I get any bigger anymore , I just want to stay off blood pressure meds and be able to eat cake
I swim almost everyday so my legs are pretty tone and my upper body has some muscle. But not muscular. No gym rat here. Just 30-45 minutes light swimming everyday. And badminton 2 days a week for eye/hand coordination. I plan to add more exercise routine. I think one has to be making more effort as one gets older.
While swimming is a very good exercise, it does nothing for bone health - something to which seniors should pay extra attention. For bone health, we need to stimulate the formation of osteoblasts. One of the best ways is through strength training and weight-bearing exercises.
“Our lab and others have shown repeatedly” that older muscles will grow and strengthen, says Marcas Bamman, the director of the UAB Center for Exercise Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In his studies, men and women in their 60s and 70s who began supervised weight training developed muscles that were as large and strong as those of your average 40-year-old.
He goes on: "The key," he continues, "is regular and progressive weight training."
Enjoy that walking, I did. Now I have two knees that don't work anymore. It can happen to you too.
Sure can. 2 knee replacements and very weak despite still being able to walk. I'm sorry you cannot!
Hard to do weight-lifting when all the joints hurt. But good for all of you out there who are still able to! Some great exercise regimens listed here---kudos for retirees.
Exactly...and for how many minutes did/do you carry grocery bags in your typical week?
If you wish to increase strength and muscle mass you have to stress the muscles beyond what you typically do.
The same as how many times I did it at phys therapy lol but yes not daft, of course agree you need to take it further
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