Hey you old dogs (off topic)

[lowell holmes]

:) I don't know why I'm posting this

I just returned from my morning 1.2 mile walk. About 15 years ago, I took a midnight ride to the emergency room, gasping
with a heart attack. A cardiologist happened to be at the EM that night and saved my life. I went to see him yesterday, after
remembering the circumstance in which we met, he read the EKG that his staff had taken yesterday and said to come back in 6 months
for follow up.

Soon after the heart attack, I read a book on fitness walking and began walking daily. It's 45 minutes I enjoy, relaxing, recollecting yesterday, and planning
the week. I cover about 1.25 miles daily, about nine miles a week. I've lost 15 pounds since those days, no shortness of breath,
blood pressure is normal.

If your not in a fitness program, I encourage you to start one.

OBTW, my wife is still my wife, not my widow. Just thought I would mention it.

[Keith Outten]

Congratulation Lowell,

You have logged 15 years and I have three behind me.
Keep on exercising my friend.

[Mike Ontko]

Hi Lowell,

Glad to hear that you're taking care of your ticker. Funny, but all...or at least most...of the folks on this site understand the concept of maintaining your tools and machines in order to keep them running well for years. Yet not everyone is as diligent at maintaining the #1 machine--ourselves. If only we came with a capacitive starter, Carter bearings, and were self sharpening.

I've watched several members of my family (father, grandfather, grandmother) succumb to major heart failure that could have been prevented or at least postponed for many years with a better diet, no smoking, and some form of regular exercise. I've always been active, but not that you're likely to find me competing on the next Ninja Warriors for seniors show. After growing a spare tire over something like a 10-year period, I've jumped back into cycling and after a couple of years am up to riding regularly to and from work, 10-miles each way at least three times a week. After 8 weeks I'm finally starting to see the scale numbers tumble backwards and hope to be at my target weight within the next year. Serious weight loss after 50 is a beyotch, but any change for the better is a step in the right direction.

[lowell holmes]

Mike,
You fellas in the Pacific Northwest do seem to be a bit extreme. :) Twenty miles on a bicycle is extreme.

I see cyclists in a line on a freeway fro, time to time. I know there is an annual ride from Houston to Austin Texas. They seem to be skinny people and I'm sure the cycling is the reason.

[Wade Lippman]

I got confused by your subject...

But anyhow, I took my 16 year old dog for her 1.5 mile walk this morning. Now that's
an old dog.

This evening I get to take my 5 month old dog for a 1.5 mile walk; my wife took her for her morning walk.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

In January of 2017, my wife and I joined a local health club after talking with my personal physician. When I suggested joining a gym, my doctor suggested diet. I decided both were in order. BTW, we found out our Plan F Medicare supplemental insurance pays for the gym visits excluding an annual membership fee of $50. We just returned from 3 weeks on the road vacation with no gym time. I am down 30 lbs. from the last week of January. I have Meniere's disease and suffer serious balance issues so the weight machines are my safest options. I found if I go when there are fewer members present I can make a 1.5 hour workout both strength training and a cardiovascular workout! I am feeling much better.

I caught a head cold while on the trip from a great-granddaughter so I have kept away from the gym since our Tuesday evening return hoe to keep from spreading my cold. I hope to return to the gym tomorw.

Monday, I have my last visit with my personal physician as he's retiring. I can't wait to see his response to my new habits!

[Chris Padilla]

I'm knocking on 50 but I suspect that sounds young to you guys! :p

I used to commute to work 24 miles round trip. Man, I leaned up...could see my abs 'n stuff. :D

Then we got a dog and he needed walking in the morning and no one else would get up to do it so I stopped biking.

My abs are still there...just covered a bit but I still run and hit the gym. But, wow, the biking really melts things off. I'll get back to it one of these days.

[Matt Meiser]

I hated sports and exercise as a kid but until college stayed thin. Once I hit college my eating habits got worse and I put on the "freshman 15" and never stopped slowly gaining. I finally decided about 2-1/2 years ago I needed to get serious before I reached that point. I changed my diet, tracking what I ate and eating more fresh foods and a lot less packaged food. I started walking on a treadmill. Over time I couldn't keep my heart rate up by walking so I started doing run intervals. Then I had to start running the whole time. One day I went outside and ran and never went back. I'm down about 80lb, ran over 1000 miles last year, and have run almost 1200 miles this year. already. 2 weeks ago I added a swim day for cross training. In mid-October I'm running my first marathon.

I found out I actually enjoy running and especially with a great group of "running friends" I met about a year ago. We now do a weekly Wednesday night run, nothing too terribly hard, and then go out to dinner together. Sometimes, for example on a nasty winter morning at 6AM or Monday when my schedule meant I had to do my 10 mile run at lunch time, in the sun, at 80-something, I question what the heck I'm doing but I feel really good about myself after I'm done and that's a great way to start my day.

[Chris Padilla]

Running a marathon is no small feat, Matt! Congrats on taking on the challenge and for improving your health!

[Malcolm Schweizer]

Great to hear that you are doing well. My advice to any single man is this: Marry a nurse. She will keep you healthy. Guess how I know!!!

Aside from that, I walk every day- I walk my daughter to and from school each day. At least half of that time is spent giving piggy-back rides. I live on a hill that is so steep they actually sell t-shirts saying "I survived Synagogue Hill." (The hill has the Synagogue on it, and hence the nickname) I also walk to town when I need something, and if we go out to eat we usually walk- and that may mean walking 2 or more miles each way, depending on where we go. On Sunday we walk to and from church.

When I visit my family, they will drive to the store, then drive around for five minutes looking for a parking spot close to the store, and then after they shop at that store, they will drive to the next store, which is literally in the SAME shopping center!!! ... then they go to some restaurant and eat three servings of food each.

When I go to the doctor for a physical, he always comments when taking my resting and active heart rate- "Do you work out?" I always reply, "No, I have a daughter."

[Jim Koepke]

If your not in a fitness program, I encourage you to start one.

+1 on this. My medical providor pays the local YMCA for Senior Citizens' (Silver & Fit) membership. When my wife turns 65 later this month we are both going to sign up.

Folks may want to check with their local YMCAs to see if there are programs for which they may qualify.

Currently I am in a Cardio Rehab program through a local hospital. I also try to get some exercise at home. The other day my grandson asked me if all the activity wore me out. I told him, "I do my exercise to control my extra size." He chuckled.

Since doing the Cardio Rehab after bypass surgery I am feeling better than before my surgery.

It builds stamina.

jtk

[Rich Engelhardt]

While on the subject of fitness...

I cannot say enough good things about Silver Sneakers. I recommend them to those 65 and older that are on Medicare - either a supplement or advantage program that is a member of Silver Sneakers.

I joined them last year & since that time, I have been hitting the swimming pool every morning for an hour.....all at no cost to me!
Silver Sneakers pays for the membership.

I belong to two fitness clubs/pools and can alternate the days and times I go to fit my schedule.

Either Silver Sneakers or Silver and Fit are a God send to seniors.

[Prashun Patel]

Keep on truckin', Lowell! Glad it's working out.

I hear a podcast this morning about Vanguard funds founder John Bogle. He had a heart attack at 30, and a heart TRANSPLANT at 65. He is 88 years old this year.

I'm gradually transitioning from sweaty, poundy exercise to meditative and stretchy exercise. Better for the joints, muscles, heart, and mind.

[Malcolm Schweizer]

I'm gradually transitioning from sweaty, poundy exercise to meditative and stretchy exercise. Better for the joints, muscles, heart, and mind.

That made me laugh.

[John K Jordan]

:)
If your not in a fitness program, I encourage you to start one.
OBTW, my wife is still my wife, not my widow.


Good for you! So many people know that with the head but just never get started, then the wife suddenly transitions to widow. Maybe your post will inspire!

For many years I was superglued to my computer chair and it started to show. Then 14 years ago I bought a farm and quickly lost 30 lbs.
Doctor: "You lost weight!"
Me: "You told me to."
Doctor: "I tell everyone to but you're the first person who did." Ha!

These days I get plenty of exercise carrying 50lb bags of feed, bales of hay, clearing brush, chain sawing, hauling logs, shoveling manure, feeding, grooming, planting and tilling and watering, walking horses, herding llamas and peacocks, ... It's a 1/2 mile round trip walk to the mailbox or the beehives. This week I'm fencing the horse pasture, pounding 100+ steel posts in the ground. I haven't watched an hour of TV in over 10 years. A few years ago (pre FitBit) I got a pedometer, thinking I probably walked 2 miles a day. The first day I walked 6 miles! Feel great, feet quit hurting, back pain gone, can still race a teenager up the hill from the barn. Energy continues to ebb with age of course and I may still keel over from a heart issue some day, but a bit of exercise really helps for now. I have friends 10-20 years younger who have a terrible time just getting around.

Just get up and get going!

JKJ

[Matt Meiser]

Yeah, the doctor I was seeing at the time I did it left town for a job closer to home. Told my new doctor and she about panicked worried what was wrong that was causing me to lose weight.

[Mike Henderson]

I hated sports and exercise as a kid but until college stayed thin. Once I hit college my eating habits got worse and I put on the "freshman 15" and never stopped slowly gaining. I finally decided about 2-1/2 years ago I needed to get serious before I reached that point. I changed my diet, tracking what I ate and eating more fresh foods and a lot less packaged food. I started walking on a treadmill. Over time I couldn't keep my heart rate up by walking so I started doing run intervals. Then I had to start running the whole time. One day I went outside and ran and never went back. I'm down about 80lb, ran over 1000 miles last year, and have run almost 1200 miles this year. already. 2 weeks ago I added a swim day for cross training. In mid-October I'm running my first marathon.

I found out I actually enjoy running and especially with a great group of "running friends" I met about a year ago. We now do a weekly Wednesday night run, nothing too terribly hard, and then go out to dinner together. Sometimes, for example on a nasty winter morning at 6AM or Monday when my schedule meant I had to do my 10 mile run at lunch time, in the sun, at 80-something, I question what the heck I'm doing but I feel really good about myself after I'm done and that's a great way to start my day.

Best of wishes for your marathon. I did a number of them when I was younger, including Boston. The great thing about marathon training is that you can eat anything - and as much as you can eat - and not put on weight:).

Just remember that in a marathon, the halfway point is at the 20 mile mark.

Mike

[Mark Blatter]

Right after I turned 40 I realized that it was getting harder to pull up my legs to tie my shoes. I started stretching every day and it made a world of difference. That was 17 years ago. I was at about 220 at the time and my weight slowing creeped up as it does for most. Then in 2009 we did a week long cruise and all I did was eat. By the time I got off the ship, I had gained at least five, if not more like ten pounds. I hit a high of 241 in 2011. I started walking and cutting back a bit on eating, then got more serious about it in 2013. Today I weighed in at 210, for a 31 lb loss. I am doing 3.5 miles a day running. Feel better than I have in a long time. Many guys my age that I know cannot run because they played football in high school or college. I was never interested, so have knees in good shape thankfully.

[Brent Cutshall]

Then 14 years ago I bought a farm

JKJ
Got a little worried when I saw that :p.

[John K Jordan]

Got a little worried when I saw that :p.

Ha!

I actually bought a house with some land and overgrown fields and made myself a farm - it had a 80-100 year old barn hidden in the overgrowth and in bad shape. I rebuilt the old barn and some other falling down buildings, cleared and cleaned up the land, put in fencing, gates, access roads, landscaping, orchard, pond, water lines, power, shop, and animal shelters. Good clean fun, and it keeps me off the streets at night. :)

JKJ

[Michael Weber]

I walked religiously for 15 years. 5 miles a day on weekdays and up to 10 miles a day on weekends. The walking was fast, just under 5 mph and year around in all weather conditions. As I was told, one of the young guards at the front gate to the plant I worked at and walked around at noon commented "That old man can walk faster than I can run". :p Went from 210 to 150 over that time but had an almost addiction to what turned out to be a particularly bad food for cardiovascular health. Results at the end of that period 7 years ago was an emergency quadruple bypass operation. So it's more than aerobic exercise. Watch what you eat and not too much of any one food.

[Brian Elfert]

When I visit my family, they will drive to the store, then drive around for five minutes looking for a parking spot close to the store, and then after they shop at that store, they will drive to the next store, which is literally in the SAME shopping center!!! ... then they go to some restaurant and eat three servings of food each.

When I go to the doctor for a physical, he always comments when taking my resting and active heart rate- "Do you work out?" I always reply, "No, I have a daughter."

I went to a shopping center today and decided I should walk over to the other store from where I was parked at one store. I need the exercise and it seems silly to start the car and drive a half block. I know many would have moved the car.

My diet is horrible and my life is too sedentary. I was shocked at the doctor yesterday that my BP was 114/70 and heart rate was 55.

[John K Jordan]

...I need the exercise and it seems silly to start the car and drive a half block. I know many would have moved the car.


I've seen a neighbor down the road more than once get in their car, back out and stop at the mailbox, then drive back to the house and take the mail in. The their mailbox is probably 100 ft from the house. I couldn't believe it. This was a young person who has two apparently good legs.

JKJ

[Jim Andrew]

A few weeks ago, there was a short article on the news with a health tip. They said there is nothing better for your health than to run for 5 minutes a day. I started doing just that, and was getting able to run a little longer when I had to have a surgical procedure, and need to start up again now that I am no longer feeling any affects of the surgery.

[lowell holmes]

I forgot that I started this string. I'm glad I found it today. My cel phone has a pedometer on it. This morning I walked 1.35 miles at 2.3 mph. It took 35.13 minutes. I burned 133 kcal.

I'm pleased that so many of you responded.

[Jim Creech]

Does running late count as exercise? My weight is down somewhat because of the chemo and radiation but I am still rather lethargic. Dr's. say it will be another 6 months before I feel like my old self again. Even at that the only thing that made me move fast was a pretty girl or a jealous husband. Those days are over as well I'm afraid.

[Mike Null]

I am nearing 81 and have something ailing me much of the time. I used to be a heavy smoker but quit almost 40 years ago. I gained weight and maintained it. On a recent Dr. visit, he advised me that my sugar was high and that I had to address it immediately. Besides cutting down on my sugar intake I began drinking a lot of water. I had no idea the benefits of drinking so much water. I have lost weight, my digestion and indigestion are much improved and my sugar is down. I believe in excercise and walking but my will power is not so good. I also have the Silver Sneakers plan and love it.

My dad was a 2 pack a day smoker, coffee drinker, and reader. He would read for 2 or 3 hours every evening--no exercise. He died at 42 after his first heart attack.

[John K Jordan]

... Besides cutting down on my sugar intake I began drinking a lot of water. I had no idea the benefits of drinking so much water....

Excellent!

When I was working on clearing this farm I lost about 30 lbs, some from the exercise but probably a lot due to changing my diet - I was working outside for so much of the day I was away from sugary snacks. Whenever I got hungry I drank water instead of eating peach cobbler. I drank a lot of water (and still do). After a while I found the water took away the immediate desire to eat something I didn't need.

JKJ

[Steven Kliebert]

So what can i say now.