How do I become this woman when I’m older?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| Combat sarcopenia with lifting heavy things. Build the muscles that support your spine so that you have more balance to reduce your risk of falling. Also, jumping in different planes than you are used to will help build bone and balance. In short, muscle, bone, balance. |
Anonymous
|
You described my 80-year old (widowed after 52 years 5 years ago). She really grew in independence and self-reliance after my dad passed. She's always been a go-getter, can't sit still. She's always been stylish. She has an inner strength like nobody I've ever seen. Bought a condo in a retirement facility last year on her own (called and told us), put the house of 50-years on the market herself---packed up the damn thing, got it ready to sell, found her own realtor, etc...a dynamo. She said she couldn't take the loneliness one day longer.
Her best friend at the new facility is a 90-year old dynamo that calls everyone else 'boring' and drink martinis before noon. My mom drives her to appointments and thinks she's a hoot. She started dinner parties on her hall and is taking advantage of all the trips and events the community has to offer. The change I have seen in her the past 2 years has been amazing. Total life goals--and keep living your best life until the end...what's the alternative? as she likes to say. |
Anonymous
^ oh she mowed her own lawn, gardened, daily walks and she works out. She said people must think she's a crazy lady because she is always outside walking the grounds. Use it or lose it!! |
Anonymous
| Exercise and a decent diet. |
Anonymous
| Exercise. Stay busy. Socialize. |
Anonymous
|
They work until they are 70-80 even if they sell seashells by the seashore.
They exercise, eat healthy, have friends and laugh a lot…. But they also work. The reality is they don’t 100% retire early. |
Anonymous
|
I visit my mother in assisted living. One of the women with the strongest movement and ability to walk took dance and other classes way back to build her strength.
You can tell from her straight posture and the fluidity of her movement that she has exercised. My mother hates exercise and loves to eat sugar. She’s not in terrible shape for her age but she has to use a walker. I order physical therapy for her because she will do the exercises with someone there. To her credit, she claims to take walks so that could help too if she is being truthful. |
Anonymous
|
Exercise, spend time with diverse ages, continue trying new things.
My mom is an older professor and spends a lot of time with undergrads and grad students - she approaches everything with such curiosity and willingness to learn new things and she's pretty hip! She's always going to try some new restaurant her students told her about or attending cultural events with friends. She gets us to go shopping with her, asks for styling advice, and exercises every day (bikes, hikes, runs, walks, does yoga). She's only in her late 60s now but I compare her to my MIL and they are the precursors to the women you are describing. My MIL is lovely but she moves very slowly, doesn't exercise at all - she'll drive 4-5 blocks to pick up milk at the store - and spends too much time on Facebook getting fed conspiracy theories, misinformation and old lady groupthink. |
Anonymous
I mean it's sort of like how Heidi Klum was talking about people saying they didn't understand how to be thin and fit post-baby and she was like "well, what were you like before?" It sounds like this lady has been with it for a lifetime.... |
Anonymous
| If you're not that now, you will not magically become that person at 80. |
Anonymous
|
My grandma is early 90s and has been an "old soul" and dressed like a grandma since she was young. I'm saying that because she's not hip, nor wearing the latest clothes (she used to like Chicos and Talbots).
She's so positive and joyful. She has tons and tons of friends who she talks to on the phone. She has very meaningful hobbies, hosts game nights weekly at her house. Everyone wants to be her as an elderly person. She still lives on her own in a 55+ single family home neighborhood. I personally refuse to give up and be frumpy. I don't want plastic surgery, but I will be the best version of myself. I want my kids to be proud I'm there mom, I want to be positive as I age and I want to like myself. My mantra is: "Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light." |
Anonymous
No fooool |
Anonymous
I've seen a lot of these women who have indeed retired early. Some were SAHMs. I think key is to not just sit in front of the TV for 30 years in retirement. |
Anonymous
| My mom is in her 70s and a lot of her friends have already died. She loves to hang out with friends, walks several miles every day, colors her hair, loves to laugh. Some of her friends who are younger or who have died just gave up. They became sedentary and didn't try to fight their ailments (a small injury made one of them bed ridden). As others have said, a lot of it is your attitude. |
Anonymous
| pilates and good diet |