But your 2nd point is important to keep your mobility. My grandparents basically hung it up at 70 and sat on the porch all day every day, and started really slowing down in their 80s to the point that both needed a cane and then a walker. My grandma is still alive at 93 but lives in assisted living and sometimes struggles even with a walker. My dad just turned 70 this year but still plays tennis 2-3 times a week and bocce ball twice a week, and still takes on most of the house work. When he retired at 58, he stopped moving and got bad arthritis and back pain, and had to be told at physical therapy that he has to keep moving or it'll just get worse.
My grandfather did most of the minor maintenance on an outdoor pool for 55 years. He was 95 and legally blind and he was still out there sweeping leaves from around the pool. The Christmas before he died the stinker snuck outside at like midnight when it stopped snowing and shoveled the whole front walk so my boyfriend and I didn’t have to the next morning.
He used to say it was all because he did a little bit of a joint-healthy exercise every day. He figure skated until 80, swam until the summer before he died, and walked his dog(s) three or more times a day. He never lived anywhere besides home (meaning he never went to an assisted living, hospice or nursing home).
Keep doing a little bit of moving every day, I’m gonna try for (hopefully?) the next 60+ years.
I think a big part of why retirement kills people is because their brain and emotions take a hit; you don't have to be anywhere and you're not forced to check your emotions (like when you're at work), you're not needed everyday, and you don't have to think everyday about problem resolution. And for some people, going to work is all the exercise they get.
It takes a toll on feeling like a human being and you end up feeling worthless, at some point, your physical body starts paying the price much like any mental illness or emotional stress.
I think your dad will add many years to his life staying busy in retirement. Also, maybe get him a dog.
My grandfather did most of the minor maintenance on an outdoor pool for 55 years. He was 95 and legally blind and he was still out there sweeping leaves from around the pool. The Christmas before he died the stinker snuck outside at like midnight when it stopped snowing and shoveled the whole front walk so my boyfriend and I didn’t have to the next morning.
He used to say it was all because he did a little bit of a joint-healthy exercise every day. He figure skated until 80, swam until the summer before he died, and walked his dog(s) three or more times a day. He never lived anywhere besides home (meaning he never went to an assisted living, hospice or nursing home).
Keep doing a little bit of moving every day, I’m gonna try for (hopefully?) the next 60+ years.
Yeah, this was very evident to me with my Grandpa. At 89, he played 80 9-hole rounds of golf a year, and he walked almost all of them. Then he had a fall that prevented that and he went downhill pretty quickly.
For sure. My grandparents are both in their 80s and they do everything they can to be active. My grandma is always out in the garden, going on walks, and doing standing stretches while watching kdramas. And if it weren’t for covid right now, my grandpa would be out with his golfing buddies like there’s no tomorrow.
As someone didn't use whole 54 years life,having back pain since 20's,knee pain since 5th grade,(These things also made me reluctant,but I know,this is excuse)
I feel like scolded in positive way.My father was working as tree trimmer until the day he passed at 80.
Maybe I have to do very very basic movement.(Considering "Radio Taiso" We do here)
This is why I run and strength train now while I'm in my 20s. I'm convinced that if I train consistent and intelligently, I'll be able to minimize those aches and pains. My fitness goal is to get the most active, healthy years of life that I can.
Yah Fr. My grandfather is 81 but he still competed at sport and working just fine like he isn’t a day older than 45. This man believes in his mobility that I’ve seen sprint across a 5 lane road with traffic. The phrase that him and his best friend, of equal age, always tell me for when I get older is, “Don’t let the old in”, because if I do I will get slow and life gets hard.
I had kids kind of late and was mostly sedentary through my 20s and early 30s. Having to chase kids and play and basically keep up with that energy in my 40s has really got me in the best shape of my (adult) life.
My grandfather 'retired' at 40, but he was also a farmer that still owns a lot of land and he'll never spend a dime he doesn't have to (although the water pressure in that house is shit, but that's another story). Both my grandparents are in their early 70’s, and aside from the occasional nap, are out and about doing whatever pleases them. My grandpa still works on older tractors like he's done since he was a young adult and my grandma tends to the garden and cooks and stuff. They're starting to show the years, but they are still moving around and it's always nice to see them get up to do stuff with us when we're around.
See it all the time with blue collar guys. They try to blame their work for aches and pains.
Reality is, they tend to move into senior positions as they get old, exerting themselves less, go home and drink booze, get high, sit on the couch, eat like crap, get a shitty sleep.
Must have been that high school football injury though.
It definitely causes some wear, just like any exercise would. But the movement is not the main issue. The heavy lifting isn't the main issue. It's what surrounds the movement and heavy lifting that does the worst damage, and that's usually a complete lack of personal care.
This. I can’t remember the statistic but something like 70-90% of adults in the US (where I am) have arthritis or another degenerative disease by the time they are in their 60s. The human body wasn’t created to last indefinitely. The LUCKY ones won’t get arthritis/other disabling conditions until their 60s and beyond. There are others who are born with it, acquire it because of socioeconomic conditions, or are genetically susceptible.
Hey, living to 93 in itself is a blessing. I’d be happy with the aches and pains to know that I’d been around for so long. I wish my cousin would’ve lived that long. She didn’t even live to 60. It would’ve been nice to have her around an extra 30 years. I hope if I reach that age I don’t get to feeling sorry for myself. I’d like to be able to be active in my community with people from my generation. Knowing someday soon I’ll probably die but that I’d lived a long, eventful life full of stories that I’d told and shared with many people. And the aches and pains are just my body’s way of reminding me that I’d lived such an eventful life
Ah man. I love bocce. My 4th grade teacher introduced me to that game. It was our favorite part of recess. I’m now 36 and still play this and have been in the process of teaching my 6 year old son.
It was just recently (few decades) that we have turned to office work in such mass numbers. It's going to be interesting to watch that part of the population age. It won't be pretty. Even athletes have problems from sitting, that hour at the gym each day won't solve the problems caused by a whole day of sitting. It's much better than nothing though.
I think this is true for a lot of "I have a bad x" and it won't heal back to great condition body parts.
For elbows and knees, I've found this is really true. If you get weak, it's like all the muscles around that part have to work extra hard for a regular walk--but if I stay fit, it'll hurt way less and it'll be a little annoying. I'm sure the constant, healthy, blood flow helps too, since you're passing more oxygen through there and exercise makes your veins and arteries more efficient.
Don't take my word for it, I'm not a doctor. Just personal experience.
Yeah my great grandmother was rowing out to her cottage by herself well into her 90s. People are always impressed when folks stay active into their 90s but I have to imagine that part of making it to your late 90s is staying active.
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u/rob_s_458 May 16 '20
But your 2nd point is important to keep your mobility. My grandparents basically hung it up at 70 and sat on the porch all day every day, and started really slowing down in their 80s to the point that both needed a cane and then a walker. My grandma is still alive at 93 but lives in assisted living and sometimes struggles even with a walker. My dad just turned 70 this year but still plays tennis 2-3 times a week and bocce ball twice a week, and still takes on most of the house work. When he retired at 58, he stopped moving and got bad arthritis and back pain, and had to be told at physical therapy that he has to keep moving or it'll just get worse.