Is 58 really THAT old?

[Anonymous]

This is the downside of marrying someone your age. Women tend to go down quicker than men. OP, I don't think 58 is old. DH is 59, and he doesn't seem old at all. (I'm 41, FWIW).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Self-fullfilling prophecy. Health changes quickly if you have lived an unhealthy life.


That is really not true. I know too many good people who, through no fault of their own, simply didn't live very long. And some folks who were hit with devastating diseases that have ruined their health. I've seen folks die way before their time in accidents. It is sad.

I also know of people - like Keith Richards - who seem to do everything wrong but keep on truckin'. I know fat people who drink and eat fried food on a regular basis and are still alive and kicking and having fun.

Life is a gift - we should enjoy it to the best of our ability. Exercise and eating healthy does make me feel good. It does not make me 30 again. But that's o.k. - 50 can be pretty darned good too.
There are always outliers for any situation--it is short sighted to count on being one of them. But absent an accident or another freak incident, lifestyle over a lifetime does indeed make a difference--diet, exercise, stress, etc. Chronic inflammation is a big issue due to our unhealthy lifestyle. Many cancers start 10-20 years before they are ever discovered. However, notwithstanding any of the above, if you tell yourself/believe that you are going to quickly go downhill simply because you are 50, it will indeed happen. The mind/body connection is huge.


I have managed to make it to 50 with nothing too scary looming over me - thank goodness. I've never had surgery (other than c-sections). I've only been in the hospital for my own birth and the births of my children. I'm doing o.k.

I have also seen people live right and not live long. I have seen decent, fit people live long with devastating diseases (like alzheimers). Do not get caught up on mere longevity. Live.

Live your life. Have fun. Eat right most of the time but allow yourself to indulge sometimes too. And love. Take time to really cherish all that is important to you - your kids, your spouse, your dogs, your hobbies...

Why would you think that I am not doing those things. As I stated there are outliers to every scenario and we all know people who fall in both categories. The point made was in response to someone who said health rapidly goes down after 50, which goes not have to automatically be the case and can indeed be influenced by negative expectations. You are beating a dead horse here.

Yes your health goes down after 50. You are clueless if you think otherwise.

It hasn't so far and I am well past 50. I have poor genetics but every doctor I have ever seen said it is lifestyle choices I have made that have allowed me to beet the odds and in my family the odds aren't good.

Lifestyle can help but do not underestimate the huge role that luck plays too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the downside of marrying someone your age. Women tend to go down quicker than men. OP, I don't think 58 is old. DH is 59, and he doesn't seem old at all. (I'm 41, FWIW).

No they don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the downside of marrying someone your age. Women tend to go down quicker than men. OP, I don't think 58 is old. DH is 59, and he doesn't seem old at all. (I'm 41, FWIW).

No they don't.

Agree. That seems like an odd statement to me. Unless of course, the pp is thinking of the fact that women are under pressure to look young while men are allowed to age and become "distinguished." But that's a societal problem, not an actual biological problem.

What keeps most people from "going down quicker" than other people is working out and eating right. Not gender-based.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the downside of marrying someone your age. Women tend to go down quicker than men. OP, I don't think 58 is old. DH is 59, and he doesn't seem old at all. (I'm 41, FWIW).

No they don't.

Agree. That seems like an odd statement to me. Unless of course, the pp is thinking of the fact that women are under pressure to look young while men are allowed to age and become "distinguished." But that's a societal problem, not an actual biological problem.

What keeps most people from "going down quicker" than other people is working out and eating right. Not gender-based.

This. I am 56 and DH is 58. He has great genes (both sides of his family live healthy--very healthy--well in to their 80s and 90s). I have a genetic horror story (my dad's side most dead by 50 from heart disease, my mother's side horrible health issues, hardly anyone lives past 65 and those that do have low quality of life). I have made better choices than DH re diet, exercise, sleep, etc. I always thought he would outlive me but not so much anymore. Bad luck can befall anyone, but a lifetime time of good choices (not just a panicked I have to clean up my act because I am 50) makes a huge difference in the aging process.