This has struck me as soooooo sad. I am over 50. Fifty is not one foot in the grave. I too am overweight and have used all the excuses to explain why I can't lose it or get fit. Osteoarthritis,(hurts too bad when I move) menopause,(caused the weight gain) too exhausted at the end of my work day to exercise,(just plain dumb) too many irons in the fire, (another stupid one) no sense making the effort (after-all I'm over 50 who cares?). Yep, it's all dumb. Have we all not heard 50 is the new 30? Just look around you. What are we missing? And, take a really good look at the people in your community who ARE over 50. Some of my best friends are on their late 50's early 60 and they look good. I asked them all what keeps you healthy. The answer almost always: I walk twice a day and watch what I eat. So there you have it. Now no more excuses start slow and work your way up. I started walking using a watch. 1st time I walked ten minutes out & ten minutes back home. then a couple days later 20 out 20 in. A little quicker pace each time. I'm up to 40 now and I don't always walk in the same place. Sometimes I go to the park, sometimes to the mall. Variety helps. And don't forget to ask a friend or relative to go with you, kids will love the interaction they get with you. So get up & go.
MEMAOF2 1/5/06 9:03 A
I gained weight when I hurt my back about 4 years ago. I was "flat on my back" for a few months and had to slowly start exercing again. I remember the first time I tried to go for a walk. I just walked up the block and had to sit down because of the leg cramps. But I knew I had to keep going. I now walk 45 min a day on the treadmill. It's a little easier to walk outside in the summer time and I sometimes walk for an hour. It helps me sleep better, feel bette. And the doctor said my bones were great. I will never be as fit as I was at 30-40. But I can be as fit as I can be at 50-60..... I lift weights 3 times a week for upper body strength. Us women have a problem with that. In case I sound like i've got it all together here, I still have about 10 pounds to get rid of. But I will do it! I want to be as healthy as I can.
SMILES1 1/4/06 7:24 P
AUNT BEE; YOUR WORD SIT AND LIVE ON $7.00 AN HR. WAS THE KEY WORD, SIT! YOU CAN STAND, JUMP AND WALK ON $7.00 AND HR. TOO AND REAP THE REWARDS. IT IS OUR CHOICE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. YOU CAN DO JUST THAT. TAKE THE POOCH FOR A WALK IF YOU HAVE ONE. PUT SOME MUSIC ON AND GRAB YOUR HUBBY AND DANCE TOGETHER AGAIN. SO WHAT IF HE STEPS ON A FEW TOES, YOU WILL FEEL ALIVE AND HAVE FUN DOING IT!!! GOOD LUCK!; SMILES
SMILES1 1/4/06 7:03 P
HI LOU; THIS IS SMILES. I READ YOUR MESSAGE AND FOUND YOUR WORDS SO SAD. SAD YOU THINK THIS IS ALL THERE IS. SIX PK.??? YOU CAN BUY ONE NOW IV'E BEEN TOLD. AND JOGGING? OR walking A MARATHON?? WELL, I PREFER RIDING A BIKE. I GUESS WHAT WE ALL NEED TO DO WHEN WE GET FIFTY SOMETHING IS UNDERSTAND IT'S OK TO THINK YOUNG BUT FACTS, ARE FACTS, AND FIGURES ARE FIGURES. WE ALL SLOW DOWN BUT WE SHOULD NOT GIVE UP ON STRIVING FOR THE BEST!!! YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOUR MIND SETS ITSELF TO DO. I HAVE SEEN CRIPPLE WALK, AND THE OLDEST OF OLD FOLKS RUN MARATHONS. SO PUT YOUR MINE TO IT LOU AND YOU WILL REACH THE STARS. GOOD LUCK IN YOUR QUEST!! SMILES
MAMAJANET 1/4/06 1:18 A
Hi there, I read about your leg cramps and have suffered from them as well. In my case it was a lack of calcium. I have found that a yogurt and a little cheese each day are just what i need to stop the leg cramps. If I stop they come back. So try that.
Regarding your money situation - I understand and have been there more than you can know and with three children at the time. However I have learned to not take no for an answer and have fought to get what I know I deserve. I hope that you can realize that you are a valuable person worth more than $7.00 an hurt but a person with talents to give and things to share. Give and it shall be returned to you. Sounds nuts but honestly it has worked for me. I hope you will rethink things and develop a different picture.
SMILES1 1/2/06 1:34 P
AUNTBEE; READ YOUR MESSAGE ABOUT YOU WALING TO THE MAIL BOX AND GETTING LEG CRAMPS. YES, WHILE I DO AGREE THIS IS PAINFUL, IT IS AT LEAST A FEELING!! WE NEED TO MOVE IT TO LOSE IT AND JUST GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE OR TO THE MAIL BOX TO GET THAT SSI CHECK IS NOT ENOUGH. GET SOME LEG WEIGHTS AND STRAP THEM ON AND WHILE YOU WALK OR SET IN FRONT OF THE BOOB TUBE YOU CAN LIFT YOUR LEGS AND I GAURANTEE YOUR CRAMPS WILL SUBSIDE IN TIME. YOUR MUSSELS NEED TO WORK OR THEY WILL SCREAM OUT IN PAIN FO SURE. I'M NOT SUGGESTING HEAVY LEG WEIGHTS, PD. OR TWO WOULD BE A GOOD START. LET ME KNOW IF IT HELPS IF YOUR WILLING TO TRY IT.
SMILES1 1/2/06 1:27 P
AUNTBEE; SORRY YOU FEEL THAT ONLY 7 DOLLARS AN HOUR DIRECTS THE PATH YOU CHOSE TO GO DOWN IN LIFE. WE CAN EAT A LOT OF GARBAGE ON $7.00 AND THIS IS OUR CHOICE. THEN AGAIN, WE CAN CHOSE TO EAT LESS AND SAVE $6.00 AND HR. WHAT I AM TRYING TO LET YOU KNOW, THAT IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT MONEY AND IF WE FOCUS OUR CONFIGURE OUR LIVES AROUND THE MIGHTY DOLLAR, WE WILL FAIL! FAIL OURSELVES, OUR GOALS, OUR MANY PURPOSE FOR LIVING. I FOUND MYSELF IN A SIMILAR SITUATION, BUT I LOOKED AROUND ME AND BELIEVE ME THERE ARE THOSE THAT HAVE LESS AND THEY STILL SMILE AND HAVE MEANS TO GIVE TO OTHERS. I FIND SOLICE IN GIVING TO OTHERS EVERY DAY. I MIGHT CALL THEM AND SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING, MAKE THEM A PIE, A MEAL, TALK TO THEM ABOUT WHAT MAKES THEM HAPPIEST, ECT. GIVING OF ONES SELF TO OTHERS IS THE ONLY THING THAT A PRICE CANNOT BE PLACED. MAKE THAT PRICELESS GIFT WORK AND YOU WILL SEE YOU ARE A MILLIONAIRE!!! GOOD LUCK. FAT AND OVER 50
AUNT_BEE_1945 1/1/06 1:25 P
I think I gave up on living life to its fullest! Living a half life, filled with fear of falling, fear of living, working, afraid of losing my medical insurance, est.
I am on SSI, which I needed, but some how I believe that it has kept me from living life to it fullest. If my husband makes x numbers of dollars I get cut of from my SSI check, so I have affected him also, I did courage him from getting a better job because, he will affect my SSI... money wise and medically. So we sit living on 7 dollars hour, because I don't want him to make more money...because I would lose my Medical.... That scares me.
Anyone else living, such a life.
Aunt Bee
MAMAJANET 12/31/05 1:28 P
Hi, You sound like me - betrayed by your body. Its hard to accept the changes and I have decided to accept as little as possible but to realize that it will take longer to get there. My 50 pound weight gain has caused huge health issues with me. The doctors say it is wieght related. Talk about a kick in the pants. So I am starting to find ways to fix the problems. The doctors are not encouraging and I won't take no for an answer. I see articles about people to overcome weight and health issues and would laugh at them and feel it was made up but now I am determined to be one of those success stories. I lost sight of my motto "What ever the mind can believe, it can achieve." So hang in there. You have lost weight which is super and I know you can do the rest.
PS Love your dog. I have a black Scottie.
AUNT_BEE_1945 5/11/05 6:19 P
I get weak when I am home to long so I need, to get to get out and walk. Hate going by my self, I have done so much falling, I have trouble, afraid of leg cramps est. Got to get back taking all my minerals est.
Have to start one step at a time. I walked to my mail box, had leg cramps, that was no more than a block. I haven't done any more except at the supper market. I use to do several miles no sweat. Love to walk, if I don't get going I am going to end up in a wheel chair.
How's your day! ha Aunt Bee
KATHYCH 5/6/05 3:32 P
Thanks your dog is great looking
LOUBEE 5/5/05 9:32 A
That's my Maddie. She's a pure bread German Shepherd, a sable color which is not what most people think of in terms of Shepherds. She's just 2 years old and is a wonderful dog. Thanks for asking.
KATHYCH 5/4/05 6:02 P
Loubee, What kind of dog do you have in the picture? kathy
LOUBEE 5/4/05 8:30 A
Thank you all. I appreciate the comments. I'm sure I will learn as I go, but patience has never been one of my better virtues. I too think like a 30-something rather than a 54 year old. That has it's pros and cons. The only con that I can think of at the moment is that a person could get injured if not careful. But the pros of aging, experience, wisdon (like it or not - it does happen) etc. certainly outweigh the cons. Just need some time. The good news is that I've been working on my new healthy lifestyle now for two months and I can see the results of my efforts. Two months is not that long but it's certainly not an overnight success either. Patience, patience, patience......it'll happen. Thanks again.
TUMBLWD 5/3/05 8:57 A
Hi Lou,
Myrna is so right about the stretching! It is a very important component to this whole fitness thing! I enjoy yoga and have even gotten my husband to join me, using a DVD program. He also stretches before and after his runs and is noticing that his flexibility is improving. Once again, it takes time.
Like Myrna, I tend to jump into things too quickly and expect results too fast! I am learning to listen to my body and take it slowly. There is a happy medium and you just have to find what works for you!
Good luck, Nancy
MYRNA-C 5/2/05 10:40 P
Hi Lou.....sound advice so far! I will add that I definitely know when I have pushed myself too hard....I still think in my mind that I am 30 and try to do what I did then.....but I am 62 and realize real fast that I can't do what I did then so I am slowly learning what I can do, should do and should stay away from.......trial and error I suppose.....then, of course I was never athletic in my young years so why should I expect that I am going to be athletic now? I do have a tendency to set my sights too high, so I am learning to lower them a bit, try out new ideas of working out and see how far I can stretch those.......I have found that yoga, Tai Chi and just general stretching is excellent for an older, out of shape body and I found out today (from my chiropractor) that both of these are excellent for keeping the ligaments of the body in good condition....as we age and the ligaments are not worked like a rubber band they become stiff and that is why we have trouble moving........so these modalities are especially good for keeping the limbs and joints healthy.......
Myrna
TUMBLWD 5/2/05 6:28 P
Hi Lou,
Well, my husband and I are both in our 50s and we made a concerted effort to exercise in order to rev up our aging metabolism, keep our cholesterol and blood pressure levels within normal limits without medication (for as long as possible), and lose a few extra pounds.
My husband started weight lifting at a gym 3 mornings a week. That was two years ago. Now, he goes 5 days a week and also runs 2 to 3 evenings a week. He was having such fabulous success, that I joined him at the gym one year ago.
It is definitely a slow progress, but we both feel more fit than we have in years! I truly believe exercise is the elixir of youth! We both feel rejuvenated and I recommend it to everyone. Make the time, start slowly, and learn to love exercise!
I've even noticed, as I am building new muscle, that my body craves healthy and wholesome food more than it did before. It is much easier to pass up junk food now than it was before. Most days, I find I can stay within my calorie limits.
Hope this helps! Nancy
LOUBEE 5/2/05 5:17 P
Thanks Jen. I was counting on your input. :-)
SPARK_COACH_JEN 5/2/05 4:48 P
Lou,
Wow. That's a really tough question! I think a lot of people struggle with changing their physical fitness expectations as they grow older. But as long as you can still do the things you want to do, I think it's important to be thankful for that and not focus on what you could do in the past. Your body is going to tell you when it's had enough or when you are pushing it too much, whether you are 20 or 80. So as long as you are listening to what it's telling you, I think you'll do great!
Just my 2-cents.
Coach Jen
LOUBEE 5/2/05 3:00 P
I've been doing great with the weight loss, down 20 lbs since starting my "quest" back in early March. But getting "Fit Over 50" has me worried. In my younger days I did a lot of exercise but never looked overly fit. I want to keep my expectations in line, but not sure what that line should be. Don't want to become obsessed, but want to be all that I can be (without joining the army). Ha Ha.
Sure, I know, we can achieve whatever we set our minds to. That sounds good but is it real? I will never run as fast as I did when I was younger. I'll never play tennis as well as I did when I was younger. Never had 6-pack abs when I was younger and doubt that's possible now as well. Where do we define reality. We can be really great, no doubt, but how do we manage expectations for ourselves. I wrestle with this.
