What Can We Do or Not Do to Better Our Odds in Old Age?

I believe sometimes you just have to listen to your body and give it what it wants.

Ordinarily, I drink only a moderate amount of orange juice because it tends to give me a tummy ache. However, if I have a great craving for it, I can drink, I swear, gallons and it doesn't bother me at all. I think my body is telling me I need whatever it is in orange juice and I'd better drink some NOW!

I do, however, balance what my body is demanding with common sense. My body may demand that I consume that whole box of Godiva chocolates in one sitting. My common sense says, "Two pieces and then, if you are very, very good, you may have another piece tomorrow" and my body grumbles but concedes.

Now and then, my common sense goes on vacation and the body house-sits. All hell breaks loose.....
 
For those of you who have ridden and may still ride, this showed up on my daily Feed:

Facebook

www.facebook.com www.facebook.com

This isn’t for everyone but it is something to consider for those with riding experience, or those who have always wanted to learn to ride and have the determination to try🤠
 
We are all different, and some have better physical ability to exercise than others do. I completely agree that exercise is what helps keep our bodies working and even our mind working better, and we should all do what we are still able to do.
There are seniors who run endurance, do bodybuilding, and long distance bike our horseback rides; but not everyone is still capable of that.

Eating a healthy diet is sometimes a good place to start getting our body healthy enough to do more exercise, and they go hand in hand. When we were younger and more active, we did okay even when we didn’t watch our diet; so obviously, the exercise helps a lot.
 
I think it is a little bit of everything; good eating habits, a little exercise, and some genetics can help a person to be somewhat healthy into old age. Or it can be just the luck of the draw. I think it depends on all the atoms, or rather the stardust stuff that we are made of, whether they run smoothly in our human body, or malfunction and go rogue for whatever reason.

I think people that live into their 100’s have no clue, as to why they lived as long. I have one great aunt left in my family, and she is 101 years old and still lives in her house. She is sharp as a tack and says she has no clue why she is still living.
 
How about attitude? Smile instead of frown. Ok, the cashier is not up to your standards. So what. Traffic is traffic. So what. Be nice.

My trash pick up driver gets a six cookie sealed bag when I hear him come by. It does not matter if there is extra boxed up.
My banker understands we will only show up if it is really necessary. I understand regulations. I understand customer service. She is awesome ink, leggings and all.
My cashier at Kohl’s has medical issues. No reason to snarl at her.
Please be more patient towards others.
 
Ed Wilson said:
You should probably look to your parents to gauge your own possible longevity. It's not absolute, cuz lifestyle might trump their contribution.
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I did that in my teens when I understood more why my parents ( mother and stepfather ) couldn't afford food / warm clothing / shoes for us 8 kids , I came to realise how much cigarettes and beer they drank cost ….and swore that I’d never touch either ….and I never have …

They were not good at setting an example ….well not a lifestyle I wanted to follow

Now I think what a wasted life they had ….thats my opinion…..just the thought …of going sitting in a club , drinking / smoking …from mid morning .to closing time bores me to tears …( 6 days a week )

My step father died of cancer at 60 ….mother developed alcohol induced dementia at about 49 , spent the last 11 years of her life in vary large old mental home surrounded by a big wire fence much like a prison ….

And here I’ recently turned 80 .,still active … ..oh and most of the younger 1/2 sibling are long time deceased ….way to young …you guessed it ..drugs / booze / and food choices …..

O MG …i hate the thought of even having to take pill for my BP …but I do …
 
Ken Anderson said:
I'd recommend a combination of both, but I agree that exercise is probably the more important of the two. It is my non-expert opinion that a large part of the reason we could eat whatever we wanted when we were young - some of us - and not get fat, is that we were more active than we are as older adults. In our time, in many cases, the first jobs we got were ones that required a lot of activity on our part. Then, as we became better educated, gained experience, and worked our way up whatever ladder we might have been on, we found ourselves behind a desk, slowly gaining weight unless we made a conscious effort to work out often. After retirement, activity was not a requirement for our daily lives, and we eventually convinced ourselves that we were too old do to a lot of things. At some point, it becomes too late.

If we were able to burn off whatever extra calories we took in, I think we'd be better off than we are by trying to achieve weight loss and health by restricting calorie intake alone.
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You need not restrict calorie intake. We need to eat MORE of real food. Empty calories deplete vitamins and minerals which in turn can damage us. It would seem you could eat junk if you get enough of the nutrients to counterbalance what gets flushed away. Cramps mean not enough magnesium...
 
Mary Stetler said:
You need not restrict calorie intake. We need to eat MORE of real food. Empty calories deplete vitamins and minerals which in turn can damage us. It would seem you could eat junk if you get enough of the nutrients to counterbalance what gets flushed away. Cramps mean not enough magnesium...
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It seems for me iI just don't eat as much as I used to eat. So maybe our bodies naturally adjust caloric intake as we age. I agree that eating whole foods is the best, but I'm not giving up an occasional dessert or beer when I want it. :D

Also, there can be several reasons for cramps, especially in people who have had radiation or other medical treatments. I have severe muscle spasms but doctors cannot determine exactly why. All my blood work is in the good range, and I take magnesium daily. Still cramping. :poop:
 
Beth Gallagher said:
It seems for me iI just don't eat as much as I used to eat. So maybe our bodies naturally adjust caloric intake as we age. I agree that eating whole foods is the best, but I'm not giving up an occasional dessert or beer when I want it. :D

Also, there can be several reasons for cramps, especially in people who have had radiation or other medical treatments. I have severe muscle spasms but doctors cannot determine exactly why. All my blood work is in the good range, and I take magnesium daily. Still cramping. :poop:
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I used to buy what ever magnesium was on special till I noticed the once “ good brand “ Swiss …was made in china now

Now I stick to an Australian made brand ….its expensive it has 6 different forms magnesium , ( I’ve even given it to hubs for his jumpy legs )
and it’s working …..he takes it 3 times a week ….its a once a day supplement …not like some you need to take twice or three times a day
to keep up my energy levels

I take maybe one or two a week ..buy it in a 240 pill pack …on special it’s usually about $50 but I don’t mind paying that as the seen to last forever .. @Beth Gallagher

IMG_2654.jpeg
 
I Copied this …..:) from Carusos site

magnesium is highly beneficial for energy production and is crucial for maintaining energy levels in the body. It works at a cellular level to convert food into usable energy and helps regulate muscle and nerve function, which directly impacts stamina and energy


Here is why and how magnesium acts as an energy booster:

ATP Production: Magnesium is essential for activating adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary molecule responsible for storing and transferring energy in cells.

Combats Fatigue: Low magnesium levels (hypomagnesemia) are strongly linked to fatigue, muscle weakness, and low energy levels.
 
I understand that these discussions invariably go to supplements and drugs since it’s a lot easier to take a pill than to do some of the other things that can be done to extend our lives, health, and mobility. Still, I strongly believe we’d be better off with the less-advertised alternatives, such as diet and exercise.

Diet doesn’t have to mean following a plan that someone published in a book, and exercise shouldn’t have to require a gym membership or buying a bunch of expensive exercise equipment, or even lifting weights, although it can.

Mostly, though, it’s a matter of eating healthy portions of healthy foods and not spending so much of our time in bed or in a chair. It means exercising to whatever level we can and then extending that as we are able.
 
It’s been reported several times in the news we may need ( I’m talking about Australia ) to take some supplements due to out soils where veggies are grown have been depleted of minerals for years …..due to overuse

Most of our best veggie growing areas in SA are now housing estates …:cry: or huge industrial businesses / interstate road train / distribution centres . ( That area is on Highway one ) …..where it used to be green ….


We used to pass vast areas or veggie production areas on our way home , now most veggies are grown in huge plastic hot houses

We got a big thumbs up at the cardiologist yesterday for our blood tests / bp / general fitness for our ages , we eat well …keep fit as possible
for 79 and 80 year olds.


HIGHWAY ONE
Australia's Highway 1 is the world's longest national highway, spanning approximately 14,500 to 15,000 km (roughly 9,000 miles) and forming a massive loop around the Australian continent. Officially commissioned in 1955, it connects all mainland state capitals and most major coastal cities, serving as a critical transportation, tourism, and freight artery.
 
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Kate Ellery said:
I used to buy what ever magnesium was on special till I noticed the once “ good brand “ Swiss …was made in china now

Now I stick to an Australian made brand ….its expensive it has 6 different forms magnesium , ( I’ve even given it to hubs for his jumpy legs )
and it’s working …..he takes it 3 times a week ….its a once a day supplement …not like some you need to take twice or three times a day
to keep up my energy levels

I take maybe one or two a week ..buy it in a 240 pill pack …on special it’s usually about $50 but I don’t mind paying that as the seen to last forever .. @Beth Gallagher

View attachment 1370
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Talking about food sources, I don't know if you have burdock growing in Australia. But older, first year burdock root is the best source of magnesium. I get it by the pound from amazon with dandelion root when I don't have time to dig it. Japanese call it gobo and grow it in gardens ON PURPOSE which I intend to do.
 
I try to make some effort at small, even goofy, bits of exercise when "on pause" such as waiting for coffee to brew, water to boil, etc.

Example: Feet back from kitchen counter, do baby-pushups against the counter, going down low without bumping my chin or nose... body basically at 45 degrees. Mix that up with same pose, all the way down and holding, pump my legs alternating each foot from heels to toes.

Other goofy stuff like that. I also have a 5 foot staff of wood. Old, strait branch I sawed both ends off, stripped of bark, and rubbed mineral oil into (it soaked up a LOT). Cord-wrap at the thick "top" end for grip as a walking staff. Mostly use this outside on the patio for various swinging and bending actions. Good for shoulder strength and mobility, also for back-bends in a variation on "touch your toes" bending. In addition, side to side action, bending at the waist. The staff provides inertia/resistance - but also helps maintain grip strength.
 
I've been hearing we should eat at least a "palm sized" high quality protein every day, like a pork chop or hamburger I suppose. Also, on Mounjaro, I need to work at retaining/building muscle mass, so the Doc pushes protein too.

I'm thinking about keeping some of that "high protein" Ensure, etc. around. Not every day, but for low-protein days. Do you think that stuff is a scam? Even deleterious?
 
Jacob Petersheim said:
I've been hearing we should eat at least a "palm sized" high quality protein every day, like a pork chop or hamburger I suppose. Also, on Mounjaro, I need to work at retaining/building muscle mass, so the Doc pushes protein too.

I'm thinking about keeping some of that "high protein" Ensure, etc. around. Not every day, but for low-protein days. Do you think that stuff is a scam? Even deleterious?
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I think that there are better brands than Ensure and Boost. It you read the ingredient list, see what the first three ingredients are. Some of them are water, seeds oils and some kind of sugar, plus vitamins . We use a whey protein powder, and blend it ourselves, but there are several good brans that come premixed, like Premier Protein, or even Atkins.
Legumes are also a great protein source, plus they have a lot of fiber to help keep blood pressure and blood sugar under control. You can actually add cooked beans or lentils to the protein shake and blend it in for extra protein and fiber.
 
Ken Anderson said:
I'd recommend a combination of both, but I agree that exercise is probably the more important of the two. It is my non-expert opinion that a large part of the reason we could eat whatever we wanted when we were young - some of us - and not get fat, is that we were more active than we are as older adults. In our time, in many cases, the first jobs we got were ones that required a lot of activity on our part. Then, as we became better educated, gained experience, and worked our way up whatever ladder we might have been on, we found ourselves behind a desk, slowly gaining weight unless we made a conscious effort to work out often. After retirement, activity was not a requirement for our daily lives, and we eventually convinced ourselves that we were too old do to a lot of things. At some point, it becomes too late.

If we were able to burn off whatever extra calories we took in, I think we'd be better off than we are by trying to achieve weight loss and health by restricting calorie intake alone.
Click to expand...
Writing from purely personal experience, the mental celebration that happens during and after a workout goes a long way toward “thinking younger”.
It doesn’t have to be one of those heavy lift days or one that demands going until I want to drop but just something that spikes up some serotonin, the “feel good about myself” hormone.

Notably, in order to do the above, I have to have a nutritional regimen that enables me to pursue the exercises that help keep me thinking younger rather than how old I am and other thoughts of stinkin’ thinkin’ that actually produce stress and hormonal imbalances.
 
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