How Do We Keep Our Old Bodys Working?

[a64pilot]

You got me with the @64.
I was thinking I didn’t respond to that thread whats he talking about

I say it primarily genetics, Remember Jack Lalanne?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_LaLanne

Look at his feats as he got older, that was primarily Genetics.

[Captain Puget]

Good advice on medical and diet. I’m 65 year old with lots of arthritis and other stuff and can vouch for the medicine side effects issues. Go natural as much as possible. Depending on your location, the medial marijuana and CBT approach can replace many pharmaceuticals that have really dangerous side effects with long term damage potential.

When I retired i picked-up my personal trainers cert and also a corrective exercise specialist cert. Getting old sucks, but learning your own limits and not overdoing too much Too soon will help ... work up SLOWLY to more strenuous exercise. As previously stated, TRX or other suspension systems are great for boats. Get an evaluation from a good trainer or PT. Yoga can be helpful. Also, lots of stretching, self myofacial release (foam roller/ lacrosse ball trigger points). Finally, massages regularly... deep work, breath through it.

The electrical windlass and Milwaukee Drill for the furling and halyard work has helped next day soreness for me😉

[Capn Jimbo]

I continue to be amazed at two things: first at the number of well meaning posters who do their level best to answer a question that provideds minimal information, and second that the OP has yet - after picking our brains - has yet to share his/her decision and rationale.

The correct answer - actually several of them - were provided. OP - would you kindly return the favors and share your intentions now and your rationale?

[Singularity]

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

I disagree with this. I have started lifting heavy again and am putting on muscle mass, improving my fitness and feeling healthy. Working on my pullups now that my chin ups are coming along nicely.

I think the key here is to start light and work up slowly in order to avoid injury to connective tissue. The arthritis in my back doesn't bother me at all any more. I have no idea how long this will last but I have read of people in their 90s that are body building.

The problem with heavy resistance training at an advanced age is that the connective tissues ordinarily are more prone to tearing, slower to heal, and less likely to heal well (vs a young person). Start light and work up is a good plan, but it must be recognized that just a little slip of proper technique can result in an injury that can take quite a long time to heal. And if/when an injury does occur it's common to end up, in the aggregate, spending less time in the gym, more time in medical treatment, and at least transient degradation overall fitness (vs the theoretical twin sibling who just focused on remaining limber and mild resistance training to maintain fitness for ordinary activities of daily living, whatever those are).

This is a review paper that discusses some of the dynamics involved:
The Mature Athlete--Aging Tendon and Ligament

[DumnMad]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

You got me with the @64.
I was thinking I didn’t respond to that thread whats he talking about

I say it primarily genetics, Remember Jack Lalanne?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_LaLanne

Look at his feats as he got older, that was primarily Genetics.

Great story, but seems to me it was lifestyle that got him to 97 without any heart or cancer problems.
NIH govt says genetics is only 25% of the story. A lot of supposed inherited problems are because you adopt your parents bad food habits.
Heaps of evidence saying those who move into the American diet also move into the American obesity and bad health industry.

[Hunky Dory]

I am in my early 70S but seem to think Im still 18. A friend told me about stem cell rejuvenation using a new science based technology. I jumped at the chance because arthritis is giving me trouble in the hands and I hate pharma. Tried the patch and within 2 days presto back to 18 again. https://liveyoungerinfo.com/chinookwinds

[AndyEss]

Undiagnosed sleep apnea can have a major effect on your get up and go
attitudes.
I take CoQ10, B12, Vitamin D supplements on and off and they seem to help a little. Some high blood pressure meds decrease heart rate and thus lower energy. Be careful of testosterone augmentation as this can drive prostate cancer.
Short winter daylight hours are energy draining for me.

[Auspicious]

I'm not a doctor, and I'm not as old as you. What works for me is focusing on flexibility over strength. I too have days (last Thursday for example) when back pain hunches me over that first hundred meters. I find swearing under my breath to be useful.

I don't much like having medical appointments as a regular addition on my calendar.

[SailFastTri]

Three words: PLANT BASED DIET
The standard American diet (or European) causes most common chronic conditions.
Watch two videos:
Forks Over Knives
The Game Changers.

This can change your life for the better and you can reverse Coronary Artery disease, type 2 diabetes, and get off your statins or blood pressure meds.
I’ve been eating plant based for 8 years and I’m 67. No meds, total cholesterol 130, normal blood pressure, 57-59 resting heart rate, good energy and agility. Better than when I was 40.
Watch the above vids on Netflix or Amazon. This is no BS.

PS. It’s not age, it’s health. Also it’s better for the planet to not eat animals. (The Game Changers touches on that).

[senormechanico]

This guy obviously eats too many beans !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XK797-vj4k

[Island Time O25]

Originally Posted by AndyEss

Undiagnosed sleep apnea can have a major effect on your get up and go
attitudes.
I take CoQ10, B12, Vitamin D supplements on and off and they seem to help a little. Some high blood pressure meds decrease heart rate and thus lower energy. Be careful of testosterone augmentation as this can drive prostate cancer.
Short winter daylight hours are energy draining for me.

Second that.

Surprised that only one post mentioned it as a possible culprit. Reading this thread that was my initial thought. Low testosterone was a close second.

Lots of negative stuff traces its orgins to lack of good sleep. But we usually only pay lip service to it even when told to get plenty of.

[33trippindaisy]

Okay, gonna tell on myself a little, but only because I believe in the question, and the importance of the answer being of some help. Having lived a wildly variable life, lastly as a Business Manager, which I usually list as my Retired Occupation, I will say that my younger years (63 now) were a bit tough on my body. Twenty years of rough and tumble, Army Infantry, Airborne (yep jumped out of perfectly good planes), to one of the few Airborne qualified C-130 Tactical Phase 2 Loadmasters flying into places I only want to visit by boat these days, to a SERT, Special Emergency Responce Team Supervisor, and LEO Certified Defensive Tactics instructor, and the owner of a commercial Karate school for two decades, I know HURT. I hurt folks, and I mean every day of my life. I do agree with the CoQ-10 but would add L-Arginine to that as prescribed by my Green Beret Medic buddy. Maybe suprisingly he is now my Doctor, and an advocate of taking CBD Full Spectrum liquid drops every morning and evening. CBD is legal in all 50 States, even via the US Mail system. I use the higher dose of 1000mg/30ml bottle, two droppers full twice daily. I do agree with some form of warm ups every morning like a slower dose of Karate kata, or yoga, or simply stretching from slow beginings to end with 100 jumping jacks or something to get ya pumping provided the joints can take it. Then a brisk walk (for me its one mile) and for me that takes less than an hour total, and makes my day seem much more bearable. I have had injuries as well, as many have had. Three hip replacements now, part of the large intestine removed, intestinal wall torn up, and have to my best count 639 stitches and/or staples in my body. So, summing up, I do not smoke, I might drink 2-3 toddy's a month, sometimes I might double that but not usually. Even as an ex-cop I believe in CBD. It works for me, but you have to get the good stuff, none of that crap sold in smoke stores. Charlotte's Web, or KOI products are good, and well made, and yeah a bit pricey, but worth it to me. Like the OP said I too have good days and bad, but we all need to keep going, get the motor running, and take care of our bodies. Lose a few pounds when you can too, it all helps! I wish you all the best in this endeaver as our continuation in sailing or boating depends on our body, and it always will.

[Hardhead]

All good advice, and I believe the most basic is just to participate in some vigorous exercise almost every day, get plenty of fresh air and natural light - eat a balanced diet - and get enough sleep. Avoiding alcohol most nights also helps significantly with more restful sleep, and less malaise, from what I can tell.

If you can develop good routine habits, and stick with them whether you like it or not initially, it will pay off.

[Billnpr]

75 here. I have started doing Classical Stretch with Amanda Esmonde Wright. A regular program on our education tv channel, but you can find it online or order a cd. The exercises are stretching and isometric. I referee soccer as well as sail. I was feeling stiff and this relieved it.

[thomm225]

So I decided this week to turn my old Trek 1000 into a trail bike and rode the trails here hard for 45 minutes yesterday.

I'm totally beatup today, but now I know how I can exercise out of the wind for the Winter.

I still have my Litespeed Vortex dura ace 10 speed for road rides if I want.

Combining this with pullups, pushups, running, weights, and some yoga I think is a good thing for we that are mid 60's and above.

I do plan though to replace the 700 x 23 tires with at least 700 x 25 for the muddy/sandy spots