I am a 52 year old female that loves to bicycle and walk and go to the gym. Most of the other people I work with (all younger then me) think I'm a fitness nut and can't understand how I can do so much exercise and look in good shape. Most of the other people are fat or obese and eat anything and everything. I do see lots of people over 50 in the gym and I think that is great. I think the younger people believe that anyone over 50 should just be ready for an old folks home, they think I'm some kind of odd ball. Just because your over 50 doesn't mean your life stops. What kind of exercise or activities do you like to do--do other people see you as an odd ball too? Once when my husband, who is a year younger then me, went on a fun group 40 miles bike ride, the volunteers (college kids) at the stations handing out snacks etc, commented when they saw people over 40 "these are all old people". I believe your as young as you feel and I plan on being as active as I can until I die.
Oddball ?
- Thread starter Litespeed
- Start date
A while back 60 Minutes or Dateline or one of those shows did a piece on chronological age verses physical age. Amazingly many people are 10 or even 20 years more aged than their actual age, due to inactivity, obesity, poor diet, smoking, drinking, etc. These are all things YOU have control over! So when the younger generation think of people over 50 they see the (unfortunately) vast majority who are older than their age. Many of my aquantances who are in their early 50's spend more time at the doctors and pharmacy than anywhere else. I know many who are having joints replaced, have adult onset diabetes, and take dozens of perscription drugs a day. Not how I want to live my life!
Of course, the intersting thing is those in the younger generation who are looking down on you, are on average in worse shape than our genreation was at their age and will, if they don't change their ways, be in worse shape when they are 50+. So much for mandatory physical education in the public schools and colleges!
Of course, the intersting thing is those in the younger generation who are looking down on you, are on average in worse shape than our genreation was at their age and will, if they don't change their ways, be in worse shape when they are 50+. So much for mandatory physical education in the public schools and colleges!
that is awesome litespeed! as i get older (i am 40 now) i wonder what will happen to my ability to exercise. so far i think exercise has kept me very healthy...i never go to the doc and rarely get sick! 
i have noticed though that as i get older, and i start exercising more after periods of lesser activity, my ability to get back to my previous form is slower. it is not that i cant do it...it just burns a lot more and the efforts of one workout stay with me for 5days instead of 1 or 2.
have you noticed that? or have any thoughts to a budding 50 year old.
i have noticed though that as i get older, and i start exercising more after periods of lesser activity, my ability to get back to my previous form is slower. it is not that i cant do it...it just burns a lot more and the efforts of one workout stay with me for 5days instead of 1 or 2.
have you noticed that? or have any thoughts to a budding 50 year old.
I didn't start exercising until I was 45, I was always thin so I thought I didn't need to exercise. My husband is actually the one that got me into exercise. He wouldn't eat a vegetable to save his soul, but after he had gained 50 pounds and had heartburn and joint problems he decided he had to do something. We just started out with a cardioglide and progressed from there. After I went to the doctor for my first bone density test I found out I was on the verge of Osteoporosis I figured I really had to do strength training. Now that I have been doing exercise for so long, I really miss it when I can't. If you just work yourself up to it slowing you will be amazed what you can do. I have seen so many people make the mistake of jumping in the deep end trying to exercise for an hour the first time then get so sore they never want to do it again. My advise would be to start off very slow and work yourself up in very small increments. Don't worry that you aren't progressing very fast it will come and you will be amazed at what you have done. If you lay off exercise to long, yes, it is harder to get back where you were but once you start exercising again you will bound back pretty fast. If you have a motivation that really helps, mine is that I don't want to end up like my mother, in a rest home. She never exercised a day in her life. Just go visit some people in a convalescent home and you wil have all the movitation you need. I figure eating right and exercising is giving me the best chance I have of staying out of a rest home.
yup i am on the anti-rest home plan too!
i like your approach...just take your time and build up over a period of time. it is easy to get caught up in the progression thing versus just being active! it is a bit hard for me to do that right now but i am noticing a trend toward the way of training.
so i assume that through exercising you were able to reverse your osteoporosis? and you feel younger then you did before your started exercising?
i like your approach...just take your time and build up over a period of time. it is easy to get caught up in the progression thing versus just being active! it is a bit hard for me to do that right now but i am noticing a trend toward the way of training.
so i assume that through exercising you were able to reverse your osteoporosis? and you feel younger then you did before your started exercising?
I have definitely noticed a big improvement energy wise since I have been exercising. I was exhausted all the time before getting on the exercise routine. I use to get headaches every day and now I rarely get one.
I haven't been able to reverse the osteporosis (you can never reverse it completely) but the last time I had a bone density test it showed a small improvement. I do have to take a medication, Actonel, once a week to help with it too, but that is the only medication I am on. My doctor says I am one of his healthiest patients, that makes me feel good.
A lot of younger people, I know, I'm talking 30 - 40, are already on high blood presssure medicine, cholesterol medication and are always complaining about heart burn and how they just don't feel good. My husband noticed a huge improvement after he started exercising and lost 50 lbs. He use to eat Tums like they were going out of style and had other stomach problems and aches and pains all the time, now he says 99% of that has gone away.
I haven't been able to reverse the osteporosis (you can never reverse it completely) but the last time I had a bone density test it showed a small improvement. I do have to take a medication, Actonel, once a week to help with it too, but that is the only medication I am on. My doctor says I am one of his healthiest patients, that makes me feel good.
A lot of younger people, I know, I'm talking 30 - 40, are already on high blood presssure medicine, cholesterol medication and are always complaining about heart burn and how they just don't feel good. My husband noticed a huge improvement after he started exercising and lost 50 lbs. He use to eat Tums like they were going out of style and had other stomach problems and aches and pains all the time, now he says 99% of that has gone away.
iam inspired by fit-older people too. my dad is the same age too but he just doesnt seem that old because of his activity level.
there can be such a difference between a 60 or 70 year old inactive person versus and active one!
i think it is cool that if you stay active your body stays together so much better.
in your case light speed it is interesting that you started at 45 and were able to have such successes.
i dont understand why people think it is so crazy to stay active...there are so many benefits!!
there can be such a difference between a 60 or 70 year old inactive person versus and active one!
i think it is cool that if you stay active your body stays together so much better.
in your case light speed it is interesting that you started at 45 and were able to have such successes.
i dont understand why people think it is so crazy to stay active...there are so many benefits!!
Fortunately the "older" crowd I hang out with are mostly fit! My dad is 50 and a construction worker (looks great.) My father-in-law runs and does other excersizes. I have a couple friends who just shocked me when they told me their ages, he's significantly older than my dad, and they act so young.
Hanging out with this somewhat older and healthier crowd really helps keep a younger person motivated. My husband and I had started putting on the weight, but we want to be examples of healthy living for our daughter as our fathers are for us. We've been taking fitness very seriously now!
I don't know why anyone would think that a person who excersizes is a health nut. Maybe it's the only way they'll not feel guilty about not working out!
Hanging out with this somewhat older and healthier crowd really helps keep a younger person motivated. My husband and I had started putting on the weight, but we want to be examples of healthy living for our daughter as our fathers are for us. We've been taking fitness very seriously now!
I don't know why anyone would think that a person who excersizes is a health nut. Maybe it's the only way they'll not feel guilty about not working out!