70 + people who are healthy, no meds or minimal meds?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those responding about very healthy older people, were they always like this (if you have known them for decades)? Or was health something they got into in middle age?

I answered above.
My dad does not “act” healthy. Very moderate.

I’d say he doesn’t eat huge meals (ever, ever). “Enough” has always been enough. And he likes sweet things but I don’t think of him that way. Summer ice cream, small amounts. I think of him as not having a sweet tooth, but it’s not like he especially avoided sweets. One cookie was all I saw him eat. Moved on.

Activity, just moderate. Again, he’s never been an especial athlete. But he just is walking, up, part of life, moving naturally.

[Anonymous]

Few people in the older - preboomer - generations went on health kicks. Rather it was just part of their everyday life: walking, hiking, gardening, etc. My born in 1910 grandmother did yoga in her 70s and 80s but I think that was rare. Some boomers certainly started formal exercising after retirement.

[Anonymous]

Just had dinner with my grandparents (mid-80s) who looked great, spry and trim, and were cogent and engaging yesterday. Inspiring!

I think it mostly comes down to taking excellent care of yourself through all seasons of life. (It is for this reason I started exercising last year, no longer relying on walking/biking/yoga and "being active.") I'm 39 and want to stay strong and healthy as long as I can!

[Anonymous]

Yes, my mom. No medications other than for seasonal allergies and to prevent osteoporosis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those responding about very healthy older people, were they always like this (if you have known them for decades)? Or was health something they got into in middle age?

FIL was a Green Beret as a young man. He did martial arts weekly until he was in 70s.

MIL was not an exercise person, but she lived in a major city and never had a car. She just walked everywhere and took public transportation. She could outwalk me any day.

[Anonymous]

My parents - 72, no issues, walk/exercise a lot. Neither eats particularly healthy or follows nutrition news, one only eats meat and the other lots of carbs.

Inlaws - 75 / 77 running marathons slowly, eat obsessively healthy and count calories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m 47 years old and on several meds, but I would consider myself active and healthy. I mean, meds keep me healthy. Some people need more pharmaceutical help than others.

Slippery slope though. Eventually all those RXs will catch up to you.

None of mine are lifestyle related. Don’t think my thyroid med and my gabapentin for nerve pain are going to catch up to me, and I need to take medication for my mental health, which would definitely catch up to me faster if I didn’t take care of it. Do you just assume you’re superior to people who don’t need meds? They increase quality of life.

[Anonymous]

70, no meds cardio daily, tennis 2x a week, weight training 2x a week. I am astounded at the health issues my co workers have in their 50s.

[Anonymous]

My parents are quite spry at 71. No big health or mental issues. Work out regularly etc.

[Anonymous]

My dad: turns 88 this year, no meds, never has been seriously sick (once may have had the flu with a strong one-day fever around 30 years ago), never hospitalized, never goes to the doctor, unfortunately still drives, plays golf (carrying his own bag) regularly. Lives overseas.

[Anonymous]

Not mine. I'm trying to take steps to lower the risk I end up like them.

[Anonymous]

My dad, in terms of very few diagnoses and meds and being able to walk for miles.
However he is extremely inflexible, his balance is bad, getting in a car is a problem, for example.
He is also pretty slow in everyday matters.
It’s like he is healthy and disabled at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my vast experience as a critical care, nurse, east Asians are way over, represented in this group compared to any other demographic

Yet many of them don’t know the language and suffer from various mental issues (dementia etc) which still makes them a burden on their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are you asking?

My parents are visiting now and they have so many meds and physical issues. It makes me sad. My in-laws also have some meds, physically better shape but not necessarily mentally. I guess I am wondering if there is hope and not everyone struggles this much.

I have a physically healthy parent who is mentally quite declined but since he doesn’t have dementia (just cognitive decline) he thinks he is pretty sharp still.

In my experience there is always something. Old people love blabbering on about how independent and with it they are but the sad truth is that they aren’t. To make it worse they plan to live to 100.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those responding about very healthy older people, were they always like this (if you have known them for decades)? Or was health something they got into in middle age?

Again, my dad was a health nut since his 30s I think.