How do you reconcile the reality of your aging body with the memory of your younger self?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

watch the Olympic commercial with the old (80-something) nun doing the triathlons. Inspirational. I know people that didn't even being running marathons UNTIL they hit 60 years old. You think your old, you'll act and feel that way. You accept aging and live life and keep moving--you'll be a lot better off.

That is actually the best way to run marathons, if you want to be a runner in your 60s/70s: don't start running until you are older. If you are a lifelong runner you are going to wear out your joints by your 50s and not be able to run any more. Its like most of us only have so many running miles in us, and once they are up, they are up. But what we can always do is look for a new sport when we can't do the old one anymore, and do it with passion. Can't run? Row. Can't row? Swim. Pool times don't work for you? Lift. Know that you are going to have to CHANGE things as you age, and that the change is good for you. So is the passion.

[Anonymous]

Yes. It is easier to go all warrior like with the exercise programs in your 60s if you were never into exercise that much when you were younger. You have less wear and tear on your joints, you have pretty much no overuse injuries to contend with.

Bad thing is that you can develop those types of injuries MUCH easier in an older body. It might take you decades to get a bad knee when you're younger but only months when you're older. Sad but true.

Everyone needs to use basic common sense and everyone needs to come to grips with the fact that they're aging. If you can do that and figure out a modified program that keeps you feeling good and fit - that is the ticket. But not always easy to do...

[Amazin]

When I was younger I played a lot of sports but rarely worked out. But I was in pretty good shape. I played tennis for many years but once I hit 55 not many people my age wanted to play singles. As I backed off tennis and took up golf I wasn't in the same decent condition. Aches and pains creeped in as did extra weight. A while back I met with a trainer and I've developed a good routine that I follow. I start with a half mile swim or 20 minute bike ride and then follow a 50-60 minute circuit routine with weights and stretching. The routine is designed for my cardio to be 120+ so at the end I'm pretty beat. It takes 2 days for my muscles to recover so I limit myself to 2-3 times a week. Once or twice a week I will bike ride for an hour at a pretty good clip just for the cardio. And when I play golf I generally walk the 18 holes. Not great exercise but its better than riding. And as a treat, once a month I get a great massage which really helps loosen the muscles.

The story line is that while you can't stop Father Time you don't need to give into it. Once you are an empty nester or retired there is no excuse for not investing time in taking care of yourself. If you don't make it a priority you quickly get out of shape which increases the likelihood of aging faster than you'd like. I'm no flat belly but I know too many guys my age who seem to have thrown in the towel on being fit.

[Anonymous]

^This is reasonable. But when you first hit that hill and you realize that you really need to adjust what you're doing...you are looking back to the not so distant days when you used to ride your bike 20 minutes to the gym in order to get a workout in.

Now when we walk all over the mall we count that as exercise, lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At 46, I feel no different. I e always been a 6-day per week exerciser. Even with all the stress of competitive soccer and 6 marathons--I have zero aches and pains. No bad knees, back, shoulders, etc. I am still one of the top in every exercise class I take even competing with late 20/30-somethings.

My siblings (48 and 50) never regularly exercised and are falling apart.

How do you possibly have the time for this? I was a competitive athlete in my teens and 20s, kept up a very rigorous exercise routine in my 30s, but in my 40s, so much has had to give. Metro ridiculousness has been eating into my day for years, kids and husband have their needs, as do pets and aging parents. Not to mention, the demanding job. I get migraines on less than 7-8 hours of sleep too. Am barely able to keep a healthy sleep routine as it is. I can't imagine being able to spend two hours going to the gym, working out, and coming home - as I used to do daily. I'm not achy or anything, but I've definitely lost fitness. I try to run for 30 minutes a few days a week, but most days I'm 30 minutes behind the minute I wake up. I have seriously considered quitting my job because it's basically the only way for me to get any time in the day to myself.

Do you have a gym in your house?

My workouts are much shorter than they used to be.

2 days per week UXF class 40 min (it's like a boot camp/crossfit).
Run 45-60 min 2 days per week.
Spinning class 45 min (1-2 days per week).
I do weights 3-4 times per week for 20 min--typically in gym at UXF class or if it's a treadmill run in gym.

So 45-60min Max 5-6 days per week.

That one hour had been fixed in my life for decades. Yes-pre-kids it was 90 minutes minimum but not since I have them (they are 8 and 10).

I get creative too---I might run during their soccer practice, etc.

I do live in Clarendon so I only have to walk 2 blocks to gym, spinning studio, etc. that helps tremendously. I also WAH now, but before I teleworked I did it at lunch hour or end of day at work gym which was a pretty decent gym.

I had no idea there were class ranks in exercise classes.

[Anonymous]

Get a new lover.

[Anonymous]

This thread contains what are possibly the most pessimistic, depressed posters I've ever witnessed on DCUM (ie, the people who keep stridently insisting that the positive people who are trying to stay in shape will soon realize that all is hopeless and everything goes to hell after 50).

Just...wow.

[Anonymous]

Just ...true

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread contains what are possibly the most pessimistic, depressed posters I've ever witnessed on DCUM (ie, the people who keep stridently insisting that the positive people who are trying to stay in shape will soon realize that all is hopeless and everything goes to hell after 50).

Just...wow.

Yeah, you're right. Negativity is aging. 50 is the new 30. Enjoy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread contains what are possibly the most pessimistic, depressed posters I've ever witnessed on DCUM (ie, the people who keep stridently insisting that the positive people who are trying to stay in shape will soon realize that all is hopeless and everything goes to hell after 50).

Just...wow.

Yeah, you're right. Negativity is aging. 50 is the new 30. Enjoy!

Says the 30 yo. I am 50, fighting cancer. Frankly, I am disgusted with the shaming in this thread. No amount of excersize or fitness would help me. In fact, my cancer, survival rates peak for people with BMI of 27-32. I don't know why.

The body does degrade with age. We make up for it with better life experiences. I am happier and funnier than I was when I was 35. I also make more money. A lot more. Down side: well, there is the cancer thing....multiple scars from surgeries....But, with out those, I would not be here to be happier and funnier. And my wife would have gotten rich off the insurance.

I have a body that is barely functioning. But I am proud of it. It is all mine. Including my stent collection. You got a problem with it? Talk to your therapist. While you are off comparing yourself to me (or others), I will be off enjoying life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread contains what are possibly the most pessimistic, depressed posters I've ever witnessed on DCUM (ie, the people who keep stridently insisting that the positive people who are trying to stay in shape will soon realize that all is hopeless and everything goes to hell after 50).

Just...wow.

Yeah, you're right. Negativity is aging. 50 is the new 30. Enjoy!

Says the 30 yo. I am 50, fighting cancer. Frankly, I am disgusted with the shaming in this thread. No amount of excersize or fitness would help me. In fact, my cancer, survival rates peak for people with BMI of 27-32. I don't know why.

The body does degrade with age. We make up for it with better life experiences. I am happier and funnier than I was when I was 35. I also make more money. A lot more. Down side: well, there is the cancer thing....multiple scars from surgeries....But, with out those, I would not be here to be happier and funnier. And my wife would have gotten rich off the insurance.

I have a body that is barely functioning. But I am proud of it. It is all mine. Including my stent collection. You got a problem with it? Talk to your therapist. While you are off comparing yourself to me (or others), I will be off enjoying life.

PP here. You misunderstood my criticism of the responses to this thread.

Your story is what I want and need to hear. I was reacting to the negativity, and your post is the opposite.
When people responded that they are making the best of it at 49, others responded with, well, just wait until you're 59 - it gets so much worse".
I don't think that's helpful. I'm not in denial about how difficult it is to deal with an aging body, but was hoping for more stories like yours, that put things in perspective, from people who have managed to stay positive about their lives amidst all of the changes.

[Anonymous]

PP again - then again, maybe it helps people to vent and I'm being insensitive to that. Maybe in 10 more years (im 45), that's what I'll need as well. So I apologize if I'm being a jerk. Obviously this is a sensitive topic for me!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP again - then again, maybe it helps people to vent and I'm being insensitive to that. Maybe in 10 more years (im 45), that's what I'll need as well. So I apologize if I'm being a jerk. Obviously this is a sensitive topic for me!

Yes. I think that many of us are venting. I'm in an exercise slump right now and it's funny but I start to sound like Eeyore after a while. Once I get back into consistent exercise and proper diet I start to sound more positive. There is a definite connection between mood and exercise/diet.

It is accurate to say that my 50 year old body is older now. But honestly 50 is not THAT old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP again - then again, maybe it helps people to vent and I'm being insensitive to that. Maybe in 10 more years (im 45), that's what I'll need as well. So I apologize if I'm being a jerk. Obviously this is a sensitive topic for me!

It's hard to imagine the changes going from 40s to 50s. It's like when you had your first baby - remember how life changing it was?? It's like that... but not in positive sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know. I am 49 and having a surprisingly hard time with this transition.

+1

Sadly, it gets worse.

Thanks for the "pep talk". I suppose it makes you feel better.

hey

That's life.

I'm 50. I've been a regular exerciser most of my life and my diet is excellent. When I hit 49, I couldn't keep off the weight. I'm on synthroid for thyroid, which is my only issue. But no matter what I do, the weight stays on.

This doesn't mean I'm giving up on life. Jesus

If you don't want to hear it, then don't age.

PP here. I hear you. I would much prefer to age, believe me. But I guess I was hoping that people would focus on some of the positives, or how they still find joy in life. Because that's one thing we can control.

OK

I'll give you one positive observation. I've decided to focus on strength training to avoid osteoporosis, which apparently runs in the family. I've noticed a dramatic change in my arms since I've started using weights on a regular basis. My goal is to rebuild muscle, which I've lost over the years, and to be in the best shape I can be by the time I hit 60.

I'm giving myself a generous time frame of 10 years!

At 50, with two children who are 12 and 8, I can't take any health risks, can I? But as a working mom, finding the time can be hard.