How fit and active are your parents?

[Anonymous]

I’m 20:29 and just read the poster above me. My mother had cancer and was a completely different person for two years. I don’t think she moved much at all for one of those years. That was in her late 60s. I didn’t think she would live and now she’s walking a lot each day. If they were active before, they may not be their same selves again but it may get a little better. I know, it’s very hard to see your parents quickly get sick and age.

[Anonymous]

My mom is 63. She works part time and helps with our kids part time. I think if she didn't care for our kids, she'd be completely sedentary. She goes to activities and the playground with them and for walks to get them from school. She's obese but mobile and doing well. With prodding from me, she goes to all of her doctors regularly.

[Anonymous]

Mom: not at all. She takes neighborhood walks but very, very slowly. I have walked with her around the city and taken nature walks with her and she is out of breath at a normal pace. She looks thin but is 100% unhealthy and cannot be convinced to change her habits.

Dad: struggles with weight (unfortunate short/stocky build), but has managed to keep 20lbs off for a year or so. Movement is limited by recent disc surgery. Is a big hobby guy (mostly golf with a cart, but also cycling in recent years) so that helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mom: not at all. She takes neighborhood walks but very, very slowly. I have walked with her around the city and taken nature walks with her and she is out of breath at a normal pace. She looks thin but is 100% unhealthy and cannot be convinced to change her habits.

Dad: struggles with weight (unfortunate short/stocky build), but has managed to keep 20lbs off for a year or so. Movement is limited by recent disc surgery. Is a big hobby guy (mostly golf with a cart, but also cycling in recent years) so that helps.

Forgot to add. They are both 60.

[Anonymous]

Dad is 80, step mom 76. They were VERY active until about 5-6 years ago. Biking, skiing etc. Then my step-mom's hips and back wouldn't let her keep up. My Dad still takes low key bike rides here and there, step-mom walks and does stationary bike sometimes when she can.

Mom is 75, she walks every day. She's never been a big on outright "exercise". But she does get 10k steps a day, often more.

They are all very healthy. They cook for themselves and eat out sparingly. I do think that's important long term.

[Anonymous]

My mom is 63 and still does triathlons
My dad is 69 and in shape

My grandpa is 86 and still walks every morning and then literally works out including bench presses (just the bar) in the evenings.

My grandma is 84 and on oxygen but still gardens, crafts, and cooks as much as she can.

My MIL is 64 and has had boths knees replaced. She has issues, bending, walking fast, sitting or standing for long periods, can't play on the floor with the kids.

My FIL is 69 and awaiting his second hip replacement. He was very obese- over 500lbs- when my DH was growing up. He has lost most of the weight (probably 220lbs) but has lasting health and mobility implications.

It's been sad because our kids notice the huge difference now and favor my parents that can really get down and play pretend and such.

[Anonymous]

At 61, I'm of some of your parents' generation, but my DD just recently graduated college, and I've been on DCUM since she was in middle school.

So reading this is kind of weird and somewhat sobering. I walk several miles daily and know I need more strength training. I had cancer in my 40s, but am healthy for now.

I can say it's startling sometimes to stand up and feel kind of stiff, which is about the only time I feel myself getting older physically. I work full time in a job that involves a lot of research and writing, so while every once in a while a thought just disappears but comes back pretty quickly (happens to many of my friends my age, so I'm not too worried). DD is still a few years away from having kids, but I hope to be an active, involved grandparent.