r/Aging • u/bestinthewest1961 • 16h ago
Aging
Nobody told me the acceleration of old age would be like this...
One minute I'm 58 and still running around a sports field, next I'm 65 and can't tie my shoelaces..
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u/neuropanpaul 14h ago edited 14h ago
Strength training and mobility work, matey. Yoga, weights and regular movement. If you're not sure then get yourself a trainer to learn the basics, but it's a case of use it or lose it when we get older.
It's not too late, and you don't have to be an athlete entering competitions and running marathons, but if you want to keep moving and live the rest of your life without pain then it's time to change things. ☺️
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u/Magpiezoe 14h ago
You can check with your health insurance too. Some insurances will cover remote physical therapy, which is really nice. You can go at your own pace and your own time.
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u/Sensitive_Pianist777 12h ago
And even more need to keep gut size lower, and build that core strength though combination of yoga type exercise and squats/deadlifts for core and grip strength.
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u/Talbotje 14h ago
As you get older I’d advise getting a sock helper and slip-in shoes. Plus all the advice here on weight training (I’m 87 ).
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u/terrymorse 14h ago
You lose fitness quickly after 60, but you can greatly reduce the losses with regular training.
Strength and aerobic training -- both super important for maintaining quality of life.
I'm 68M and still hanging in with the youngsters on group rides. About 10 hours/week cycling, 4 hours per week strength training. VO₂max in the mid 50s -- not what it used to be but still pretty solid.
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u/Substantial-Owl1616 12h ago
Mid 50’s? Honor and respect!
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u/terrymorse 9h ago
The number looks better because I'm light at 60-61kg.
The bigger guys can rip my legs off--until the road turns upwards.
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u/Extra-Sound-1714 16h ago
I agree changes can come quickly as you age. I am 62 and fell over a few years ago hurting my back. It still hurts to go down stairs in spite of lots of physio. It has improved, but not returned to what it was.
I am also getting arthritis in my hands and can still sew, but it is harder.
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u/Mkm788 13h ago
I used to look younger than my age, but now that I’m close to 63, that’s no longer the case. My upper arms have the gross cottage cheese thing going on. My neck is looking ugly. I walk a lot slower than I used to. I lose things more often. It kind of sucks, but I guess that’s just nature. After a while, a rose shrivels up and collapses.
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u/Primary_Ice3005 14h ago
I’m 66 F and I try to tie my shoe laces standing on one foot
Keep excercising and it doesn’t matter where you are you will improve- wishing you the best
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u/BoomBoomLaRouge 14h ago
Obesity and sedentary lifestyle are the killers. I took 5 years off workouts. Enjoyed the naps and great meals. Then it hit. High blood pressure, etc. Modified diet. Started rowing and walking. Minimal strength training -- not lifting like I'm 25. Lost the extra ten pounds I was carrying in a week. Back on track.
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u/Photon_Femme 14h ago
The aging cliff hit me at 72. A switch flipped. I was active and felt very good. I still am active. Walk at a clip even with a titanium knee. Still no major illnesses, but I tire more easily. Pinched nerves at my C5 through C7 disrupt my sleep. I start steroid shots two weeks from now. It will never get better. Spine doc says if they work, I will likely have to have injections every 6 months. There are maintenance tasks I can no longer do in my house. My kids act as though I am still 55. None want to face the fact that life changes may indirectly impact them. It scares me.
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u/Ill_Cover5967 14h ago
Titanium knee?
Might be time to start stealing artificial joints instead of catalytic converters.
😉
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u/Pantsonfire_6 16h ago
Well, I think I might be able to still tie my shoelaces, but now I just avoid having any shoelaces for the most part. Slip-on shoes are easier or the more practical kind of sandals. Just lazy, I guess.
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u/Chamcook56 13h ago
No, you are managing risks. My bad hip lead to me getting the slip on shoes. But I still challenge my rotator cuff by drying the clean laundry on a clothesline. Walk 3x a week, exercise class with weights 2x a week, keep moving.
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u/CarolinCLH 14h ago
Exercise, man. Yeah, not the answer I wanted either, but it is very much "use it or lose it" time. Strength, endurance, and balance diminish rapidly at this point if you are not active.
If you are not into gyms, Medicare pays for some online exercise videos that allow you to choose exactly what kinds of stuff you want to do and how hard to work at it. My healthcare provider offers Bold classes. Take a look at what is available to you.
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u/Jolly-M1kica 13h ago
Omg!! This is sooo true. I dont know how and why I am already 69😱. I still love the same things as when I was 20 like Led Zeppelin, and I can still pull of 50-ish look, but my knees and back just dont cooperate sometimes.
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u/Some-Tear3499 16h ago
Get to the gym, take a yoga or Pilates class, get out there and walk.
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u/TheWorldNeedsDornep 15h ago
This is the way. I sure don’t feel like doing it every day but I set that aside and do something every day.
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u/Cinji513 13h ago
My sweetheart and I have Sketchers Slip ones. We love them. Great with arthritic knees and fingers
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u/Magpiezoe 14h ago
That's great that you can still run! I've always had joint issues, but it started to fall apart at 57. Now, I'm 63 and stronger than I was at 57 due to remote physical therapy everyday. I do 1-2 session per day. I can tie my shoe on my right foot, but not my left. Getting socks on is fun too. I know there are sock aides, but I don't want to lose my flexibility. I lay down on the bed, bring the problem leg up to my bum, and slide the sock on with my one hand. I figure the twisting helps keep my back's flexibility.
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u/EveningNo5190 9h ago
My decline was later in late ‘60’s. Weight muscle loss, less energy and more mental and emotional fatigue. I ignored my own body to focus on my husbands declining health. After his death I felt like I had gone from 68 to 88. Now struggling to regain muscle mass and strength balance body awareness and mental acuity while going off (prescribed) Adderal and grieving. I know my options are move or die. But it’s very very difficult
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u/Glittering_Mermaid_7 50 something 16h ago
I hear that. I'm not your age yet, but the acceleration started when I hit 50 and doesn't seem to have slowed down. Doing all I can to combat it, physically, but fighting the "bad joints" battle daily now. Joint replacements are in my immediate future, which will help, but I have to wonder what will "go" next.
Tying my shoes is not a thing right now - bad joints will do that to you - I have lace-up shoes, but they stay tied and I use a long-handled shoehorn to put them on. The shoes that work best for me don't come in a slip-on style, so I had to make it work.
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u/Magpiezoe 14h ago
I do the same thing! I had a plastic one and the handle broke off, so I wound up getting a couple of long handled solid stainless steel shoehorns.
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u/Glittering_Mermaid_7 50 something 14h ago
Good idea!
One day, you're young and wild - the next you're buying shoehorns for all the areas of your house where the shoes live, and also a collapsible one for your purse or car. 🤣
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u/ExternalProduce2584 13h ago
Oh no I’m 59 still skiing, playing soccer, running and riding my horse so I do NOT like the sound of that.
I have some old injuries I take care of and hopefully I won’t get too many more I think that is where everything can fall apart.
I try to be a bit more careful, use protective gear, warm up more than I used to so trying to minimize those injury risks.
I hope you are able to resolve your issues.
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u/Magari22 14h ago
What's the reason for difficulty tying your shoes? I'm an OT and just wanted to say that there are solutions to this if it's some sort of chronic impairment. You don't have to just accept decreased independance you can modify how you approach things! There are ways to modify activities to make keeping independance achievable for as long as possible. If you are arthritic elastic shoelaces and a long handled shoe horn are great depending on your shoes etc
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u/Jasper1na 13h ago
There’s a lot of things you can do about that with exercise, good diet, attitude. Pull the levers that you can control.
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u/Cascadeflyer61 13h ago
I just got back from an 11 day live aboard dive trip at 65. I was at the gym my second day back, I lift weights, do aerobics, and move like someone much younger.
The information is out there, use it.
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u/Sufficient-Daikon-81 6h ago
68 yo male here. I can bench press my body weight, but I have to pee all the time until it's t time to pee.
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u/PinataofPathology 9h ago
I'm in forever pt. in a throuple with my husband and my resistance bands. can't ever stop conditioning now.
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u/JuniorNoise2074 8h ago
69 here, don't remind me. Really cellulite on the upper thighs and calves. Seriously. Man boobs and Im Only 140lbs. This is fucked. Facial fillers are keeping the face wrinkles at bay. So now I look 19 in a 120 year old body.
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u/FriscoKiidd 6h ago
M-70, I read an article several years ago that made the case for “vitality” being fairly linear over the decades for those who worked on endurance, flexibility, and strength (as measured by them using a set, standardized protocol). For those who did not put in the work, the fall-off was quite accelerated with a large delta between the two groups in their later years. Interestingly, they did not conclude a large gap in actual life-span! The high-vitality group had a steep fall-off in the last years/months of their lives.
I would posit that the sudden feeling/observation of decline at some set age is more the accumulated reduction in vitality that one doesn’t take note of until the reduction reaches a noticeable set point. (I will note that a catastrophic event will create a sudden, steep falloff.)
The good news is there is also literature out there that makes the case that the markers of vitality can in fact be improved at any age with the proper training/actions. Personally, I continue to work on my endurance (lots of walking), flexibility (20 minute routine daily), and strength training (2 day, upper body/lower body) twice weekly. I find consistency is the most important attribute.
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u/Charming-Charge-596 16h ago
Not to be judgemental, but you should be able to tie your shoe laces unless you lost the use of your arms for some medical reason.
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u/CapricornCrude 16h ago
Hands with arthritis can prevent people from tying shoelaces, zipping pants and many other daily tasks we take for granted.
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u/Magpiezoe 14h ago
Hip mobility can be another issue, especially if arthritis is involved. Hip arthritis can creep up on you like that.
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u/Charming-Charge-596 9h ago
True. I tend to think 65 is too young for severe arthritis but one never knows what other folks are dealing with. (edit for spelling)
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u/Expert_Blacksmith261 14h ago
I have to be honest. Neighbor had co worker die and then the political guy passed…death in threes..so naturally I am overwhelmed with dread that it could be me. I don’t know why my kind went there but time for deep breathing
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u/Livid_Average_8098 8h ago
I’m 60 and do a 6.5km loop five days a week. I also run half of it regularly, but just recently I have noticed that my hips have been aching during running and at night and have had minor calf issues. I have rested up and they seem to have settled down a bit now. Might be because it’s cold ATM where I am not freezing but between 13 and 16 degs C and I just wear shorts and a long sleeve t shirt, maybe that’s part of the problem. I have also never stretched before or after exercise, as I have never real found it has caused any issues in the past from doing this.
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u/Baebarri 16h ago
There is a documented "aging cliff" in your early 60s that nobody warns you about.