Exercise and age

I’m 75 6ft tall 12 stone 9 lbs with a bit of a beer belly I’m quite fit exercise our dog Roxy twice a day and walk almost everywhere unless taking Pat shopping etc,
Last year I badly broke my leg and had a DVT after the leg had mended, it’s left me with a few aches and pains in my legs which I didn’t have before. But hey I won’t give in and I’m still regularly riding my motorbikes and even bought a new Kawasaki Sports tourer last month, and my thinking is almost always positive and if you can enjoy life to the fullest.

Cheers.🍺 🍷
 
At 55 (56 next month) I’ve never been fitter. Always done sport, mainly running and cycling) but in my 40’s got into the bad habit of having a ‘de-stress’ drink every night and the sport got less and less. Had a heart attack just after my 50th and a week in hospital gave me plenty of thinking time. Haven’t had a drop of alcohol since then (will be 6 years sober in October) and now run 3 times a week - did Manchester marathon this year, go swimming once or twice a week and a couple of gym sessions. Very lucky to live 20 mins away from the Leak District so get plenty of walks over the moors. I think it’s so important, especially at this age, to look after yourself…
 
I’m 67, retired at 65 - my job involved a fair bit of carrying and walking which I did at a fairly quick pace. After I retired I slobbed out for a while, gained about 1.5 stone and started feeling long standing back and neck pain much more. I don’t do gyms but have a rowing machine which I got back to using for about 30 mins a day, and do a couple of brisk 5 mile walks a week, as well as solo trips in the van to do a couple of hikes. Weight has come off (slowly) I’m down to about 14st 5lb (I’m 6’2”) so a bit to go but getting there. Back and neck pain has reduced considerably.

The old adage of “eat less, move more” appears to be working. Who knew! :)

It was also a bit of a wake up call when I realised I’m now the same age my old man was when he died suddenly of a heart attack :oops:
 
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Paynewright said:
I’ve also started omitting breakfast so have an 18 hour meal gap.

I’d always had a (Kellogs) cereal breakfast though this has been proven to be a sugar rush. I found I was eating out of habit rather than hunger.

Since abstaining from breakfast I’ve found i can last till lunchtime no problem.

Since doing this I’ve also found I also need anti acids (Rennies) significantly less. Its now only excess carbs, beer and spicy food when I need them!
Click to expand...

Agree on the breakfast cereal, the greatest trick the food industry ever pulled was convincing everyone that a bowl of confectionery every morning was a healthy way to live.
 
Breakfast for me is two pieces of wholemeal toast, Marmite, no butter, and a cup of black coffee without sugar.
 
Exercise is one of the most important parts aye it may be the most important part of a healthy life and it does not have to be gym workouts, better out breathing fresh air walking or running. Having in the past led an active and physically demanding life with a huge appetite(nickname two plates) also sank a few pints, never smoked and now aged 90 with a nagging frustration I cannot do physically what I used to do but then again most of my marbles are still in place so that's a bonus. A few ailments but still enjoying campervanning.
 
I'm not sure that lifting weight is a good measure of fitness. As you learn better technique, it becomes less effort. Back in the day when cement came in 50kg bags, I learned how to lift them efficiently.

I took up cycling again aged 42. I'm 55 and 3/4 now. I was 6'2" and hovering around 14 stone and found it really hard going. I persisted, got better at it and eventually went racing. I was never at the front, just really making up the numbers and hanging off the back. I had a crash when I was 49 and broke my femoral head. I thought that would put an end to it, but I was back on the turbo in 2 weeks, and out on the road after 7. I don't race anymore, but still do ride between 150 and 200 miles a week. What I've found is that although I'm now a bit slower than before, I am much more efficient. My heart rate is generally lower and recovery from a 160bpm effort down to 120bpm average is much faster. Power levels don't need to be as high as they used to on efforts either. Yes I'm lighter at 13 stone, but when according to Strava data I'm pretty economical, therefore less effort.

As for skipping breakfast, my wife is often on some sort of weight watching programme. She's told that breakfast is the most important meal. It's better to eat more earlier in the day and less later on that you'll sleep on. My breakfast is usually porridge with fruit at around 7am. That will keep me going until well into the afternoon. Sometimes I get the urge to snack, but that is more often than not down to boredom. Making a drink will satisfy that urge just as well as emptying the biscuit tin.
 
Heart Rate is an interesting one. When I cycle I can average 160-180bpm for the whole ride. That’s comfortable, able to chat and breathe normally. I have maxed out at over 230bpm on many an occasion too, again without any obvious signs other than heavier breathing on a real hard or long effort. That’s read from both a Garmin watch and also a chest strap too.

This 220 minus age thing being a rough gauge and not fit for all.

My resting HR is currently around 55bpm in my current unfit state, with that being around 40bpm about 5 years ago when at the top of my cycling fitness level.

My measure is therefore not the actual figure but how quickly it drops to my relative norm as I ease up the effort or stop. It drops pretty quick so I don’t worry about my average being more like the widely accepted max.
 
My resting rate is high 40s, high 30s in my sleep. Recorded 35 one night when I had a crappy cold.
 
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It's partly genetic (my Dad is the same) and party years of cardio conditioning. Some GPs get a bit excited when they first see the numbers, but the consultant is happy I'm not about to drop off my perch.

My maximum has never been that high. Even a decade or more ago if I hammered up a hill on a bike ride id be doing well to get beyond 140bpm, and at that it felt like I was going to explode.

When I was in hossy following the stroke the machine kept beeping besause it was dropping too low and it was getting the nurses a bit worried until the doc cast his eye over me and had a chat about my medical history.
 
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Good to hear the consultant is happy with your stats.

I was pretty much expecting that to be the response. Usually a low resting HR means a low max HR.

Mine is both low at bottom end when at rest but also ultra high at max, which bucks the trend a bit.

I have zero worry about it though tbh, as got no control over that and suffered zero issues so far. 🤞🏽
 
Well you all you young whippersnappers I’m 70 in a month. Without tempting fate, I am feeling as fit as a racing snake. During this lovely summer I have been cycling everyday clocking up around 85 miles a week to and from my little workshop . ( The van has been parked up most of the time) I have always been a little paranoid about what I eat. Mostly salads, fruit and fish. Can’t remember the last time I ate bread or had a fry up - you are what you eat etc. So far so good and without joking I do enjoy every day as my best day.
Without health you have nothing - party on :cool:

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Just about to hit 60, always been sporty and fit. Took up cycling and running in my late 40's and had a great 15 years of it. Did a couple of marathons and manyhalfs and 10k's, along with regular 60+ mile bike rides, RideLondon etc...
Last couple of years it's all caught up with me and I'm now with the physio for meniscus tears (knee), slightly arthritic right knee and I can feel my right hip going the same way.
I can struggle to walk the dog a mile some days but can still cycle relatively painful free.
It's Zwift virtual cycle rides for me from Oct until April....
 
Great thought provoking thread. I’m late 60s, 6ft and just under 11st. My own enthusiasm is ‘Active Travel’. Other than our van trips we have a car that is used probably less than once a month, yes ok a waste.

Our love is our almost daily, sometimes twice ,1km walk to our local station then the world is our oyster as they say. I used to cycle a lot but much less now. Replaced by dance clubs and preferably live music. Average steps 13k a day. Some stretching exercise but no lifting.

On food, I agree breakfast is of great importance. For me it’s one wheatabix plus home mixed muesli and fruit. Then one slice of toasted home made bread (thanks Panasonic).
 
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