On Aging, Health & Fitness over 60

Looking back, it’s been several years since I did a post about aging, fitness, working out, health issues, etc. so today I’m going to catch up with all of that. I’m older now than I was when I first shared about working out at the gym and trying to stay healthy, aging as gracefully as possible. This working out post is 10 years old now, but I still do a similar routine that I did back then. Go back and read that if you want to read more about what all I do at the gym.

I’ve been working out since I turned 25, so that’s over 40 years now. I’m now 66 and time is flying! I’m sure you feel the same way if you are a Boomer like I am. Where has the time gone? I think I lamented that 10 years ago and here I am further down the road. I used to think about how I would be when I reached this age. Years ago, I thought ahead and wondered what shape I’d be in when I reached my 60’s and 70’s. It’s not a fun thing to think about, but we all get there eventually if we’re blessed with long life.

So today, I’m going to just do a little recap on what I’m doing now for fitness, how I’m trying to stay active and in shape, as well as some health discussions and general aging talk. Doesn’t that sound like fun? Ha! I hope you enjoy.

Going to the Gym

I still go to the gym 3 times a week, when time permits and nothing gets in the way and I usually make that most weeks.

I’m still doing a few arm exercises and legs too. I do a routine of 20 lb. bar and 3 sets of biceps and also overhead chest press with the bar. I do a few squats and some machines for legs. I’m not as hardcore as I was 20 years ago on working out and lifting  heavier weights. I just stick with some basics now to keep myself toned. I still love toned arms, but mine are aging too. The crepey skin is a real thing and now I see that happening on my arms in the last few years. Not fun at all, but it’s life! It won’t stop me from wearing sleeveless clothes, that’s for sure. I’ve been fortunate to be able to work out all my life, I know. Since I didn’t have children to raise, this has been my hobby.

For the record, I’ve lost over an inch in height. I used to be 5’8″ tall and now I might be 5’6.5″. I weigh around 126 now, which is a little thinner than I used to be.  That’s also made me more short waisted, which I don’t like. I don’t eat quite as much as I used to. I could pack away the food when I was in my 30’s and 40’s. A guy I worked with back in the 90’s said I ate like a field hand! I probably did! I could put it away. I have never been overweight and the most I’ve ever weighed is 140, which was when I worked out with heavier weights and had more muscle mass. When people ask me how I stay thin, I tell them I’ve been working out for over 40 years and that has kept my metabolism higher. That’s my best explanation for not having to worry about weight.

I use a 5 lb. weight for tricep curls and do those every time I go to the gym. I made sure no faces are in the pics for privacy.

I do a couple of leg machines, like this quad machine. Helps to strengthen the quads and legs in general.

This is a back lat pull machine, which hits the back muscles. I really want to stay strong and keep my muscles toned, so this is a basic weight routine that I do to keep that going. My parents really made aging seem so easy. I know my mom has always said she didn’t really have any aches and pains to speak of until she hit her 80’s.

Oh, I wish I could say that! I cannot. I definitely have aches and pains a lot. My lower back problems are always around, as well as hip issues. My sister had both her hips replaced in the last few years and I’m afraid I might get there one day too. It’s not bad enough yet, but it’s definitely something I’d do if the pain gets worse and worse.

I ride a recumbent bike for 30 minutes when I go to the gym. I try to do something active at least 3 to 4 times a week and most of the time, I make that. Ideally we should all be doing something most everyday, but as you know that’s hard to do.

I do projects and work around here, but I definitely pace myself. My stamina is not what it used to be so if I’m outside working in the heat, I’ll work in short spurts to be able to do it. I take plenty of breaks and don’t kill myself, but I still get things done that I need to get done.

I do know that the more we move, the better off we are. If you sit down and get too idle, you lose so much strength and stamina. I learned this from my parents for sure. My mom was always working outside and doing things around the house. My dad mowed the grass, but she was the finishing touch lady with her blower and weed eater, going around the yard making it look better. She did that all the way into her late 80’s. They are remarkable in their health and the shoes are hard to fill! I have no idea what kind of shape I’ll be in by the time I get to late 80’s or 90. I’m hoping I hang in there, but my body does rebel at times.

Walking and Riding Bikes

Mark and I have made a habit of walking in the cooler months and riding bikes when weather permits. We rode a lot back in 2020 and then took a break, but this year we’re getting our bikes back out and riding around town. We try to go at least once or twice a week. We go early in the morning around 8 a.m. before it gets too hot and it’s great! Once I’m out the door and on the bike, whizzing around our little town, it’s such a great way to start the day.

We both have nice 7 speed bikes to ride and it’s so fun to bounce around town on our bikes. We are one mile from downtown Acworth, so we come out of our neighborhood and ride downtown, go down in the historic district and ride around the lake.

Our cute town of Acworth, GA !

Lake Acworth is so peaceful in the morning and it’s a great way to start the day. Nothing better!

It’s usually pretty quiet out there in the morning, with a few people out walking dogs and getting exercise. There’s so much pretty scenery around town, so we see it all. The cute downtown, historic district with cute houses, the lake, neighborhoods, Logan Farm Park and then back to our area, where we ride by Liberty Cemetery and then back home. We usually log about 7 miles or so. It’s so fun and I can ride much further than I can walk without it hurting my hips. If I walk too far, I really feel it.

On Health

I’ve talked a bit about health issues over the year, so I’ll catch up on that topic too. I am currently on 2 medications. A low dose for high blood pressure and one for hypothyroidism. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure in my mid-fifties and finally went on medication for that. You would think all the working out I’ve done all these years would take care of that, but no it didn’t. My thyroid went out about 6 years ago. I don’t like taking meds, but I do it for those.

My back and hips are other issues I deal with, as I mentioned. My back issues started when I turned 40, but I didn’t let it slow me down. I had to initially go to physical therapy to get past some of the pain after I was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis. Somewhere along the way in my early 50’s, my hips also started giving me fits. I take Tumeric for joints and that has helped some. I deal with the pain and keep going, but I’m always aware of it. My dad had back surgery when he was around 70 and it really helped him, so maybe the back issues are from him. Mom never had severe joint and back issues until she got way older and now her spine has really deteriorated. She has pretty severe arthritis in her hands and I’m heading there myself. My knuckles are getting knotty already.

See don’t you feel better about yourself already? We never know what our lot will be, do we?

Mark turns 70 this year and is on no medications, so I’m a little jealous of that. Mine are hereditary and I seem to have everything my mom has. I also have high cholesterol and my PC doctor has been urging me to get on statins, but I’m saying no for now. I just don’t want to take those and I’ve done some reading on them and am convinced they are not the answer, so I’ll continue to say no. I’ve heard too many bad things about the side effects on other organs of the body. I’ll be honest here. With all that happened in 2020, I don’t have nearly as much trust in our health professionals as I used to. I’ll just leave that right there and you can surmise what you want. We never got those shots and will never do it. We didn’t trust them and looking back, it was the best decision we could have made. I know that statement really ruffled some feathers when I said it back in my last blogging post. I haven’t changed my stance on that one iota.

I really try to eat a fairly healthy and balanced diet so I will continue to do that. I’m not real strict on things, but I make an effort to eat healthy most of the time. Sweets are the downfall for both Mark and me. We both got our sweet tooths from our dads. My dad has been eating sweets every day of his life and is 96, so that’s something to consider. I don’t beat myself up over the love of sweets.

On Hair and Plastic Surgery

I think I’ve mentioned sometime in the past that I doubt I’ll ever do any invasive plastic surgery, botox, fillers, etc. It’s just not my thing. I’ve read discussions from men who wonder why women do these things to themselves and I have to agree. They seem to really hate the big lip trend. I can’t imagine having my face cut, nor getting fillers for years trying to stay young. It’s just not going to happen. Besides, Mark makes such fun of women who have had plastic surgery. Not to their faces of course. But to me. He really can’t stand plastic faces and those big blown up lips, so I sure don’t need to do it for him. No thanks, I think I’ll just stay the way I am, wrinkles, sagging and all. Unless someone has a really good surgeon, you can most always spot plastic surgery a mile away. Just look at all the Hollywood actresses who have ruined their faces.

I have lost a good amount of hair though and that makes me sad. I had so much hair in my youth, but it’s falling out around my face hairline and I hate that. But some of my friends are going through the same thing, so I know I’m not alone. I’m just glad I had extra to begin with. It’s probably from my thyroid going wacky and menopause.

On Cataracts

I think I recently mentioned that I’m in line for cataract surgery soon (I hope!). After we got back from our cruise, my hard lens (gas perm) contacts were really bothering me, so as soon as we got back I went to get my eyes checked and I was going to order new contact lens since it had been a long while for that. Hard lens last for years without having to be replaced. So when I went for my exam, he told me that I was on the edge of needing cataract surgery and I could go ahead and do it if I chose. Yes, I said! Let’s do it. So I got an appointment set up and I go next week for my consultation.

I’ve been in my glasses since we got back from the cruise, so I’m hoping when I go for my appointment that it’s been long enough. I heard the eyeball has to go back to the original shape before they can do surgery and that takes awhile if you’ve been wearing contacts for years like I have. Nearly 50 for me! I’ll be so glad to get rid of my contacts and glasses and I will probably do the upgrade which hopefully will give me no glasses at all, even reading glasses. I’ll find out more next week when I go in. I’ll definitely keep you posted on my experience and procedures when I finish this process.

So that’s an update on all things fitness and health. It’s so weird that as we age, we are all talking about health related things now. When we were all younger, it wasn’t an issue, but now it is. I dread getting even older, when the topic of conversation then goes to bowel movements! Ask me how I know these things. Seniors, they like to talk bowel movements.

All in all, I’m glad to still be in good health and hanging in there! I know you are too. Health issues can be so daunting and discouraging. We sure can’t take our health for granted. I’m so grateful that I’ve been blessed with decent health and I really want to take care of my body as much as I can so it can see me through my 70’s and beyond. So many people go through such horrific health issues and but for the grace of God, go I. I’m thankful and grateful for all the many blessings health wise He has bestowed on me and Mark. I’ll continue to work out and stay active as long as I possibly can. My parents didn’t go to the gym, but they sure stayed active.

That’s the key, I think! I’ve always said that. Keep moving and keep the body in motion. It might hurt sometimes and ache, but that’s the key to aging gracefully, I think. We only have one body given to us, so we have to take care of it and do what we can to keep it going and healthy. Here’s to enduring good health!

Feel free to chime in! I love to hear from you all and read your comments.

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