~ Your feelings on aging ~ (page 5)

Seeker4

I just turned 56, so I've got a little perspective on this.

Most of what everyone is describing on here is due less to aging and more to the fact that most people let themselves get deconditioned with age. Aches, pains, tiredness, not being able to do stuff - most of that is because you're out of shape, and not because you've turned 30 or 40 or 50 or 60.

I'll tell you what is one of the most important lessons I've learned in my life:

IF YOU WANT TO STAY YOUNG PHYSICALLY, GET ON A VIGOROUS DAILY EXERCISE PROGRAM. GIVE YOURSELF AN HOUR A DAY TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY, AND YOU'LL STAY IN BETTER SHAPE UNTIL THE DAY YOU DIE THAN MOST PEOPLE WILL EVER BE IN.

If you think I'm shouting that, damn right! I can't emphasize it enough. It's one of the five most important things you can do with your life - GET EXTREMELY FIT & STAY THAT WAY!!!

If you think a two mile vigorous walk is exercise, you're getting old.

If you're worried about getting old, rush out right now and buy the May 2008 Esquire magazine and read the article about Don Wildman. He's 75 years old and can run, swim, surf, bike, board and lift the shit out of the lot of us.

There is one anti-aging pill that absolutely works and that is STRENUOUS DAILY EXERCISE. It doesn't take a huge amount of time – trust me, workout HARD and an hour a day will be more than you need. I'm talking lifting weights, running/biking/swimming, yoga/stretching – some combination of these done INTENSELY will work wonders. You've got to sweat, you've got to push your heart rate, and for brief periods during the workout you've got to hit 100%, you've got to push to failure. Combine it with eating a good diet, and the odds are that you'll beat diabetes, heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, sexual dysfunction and obesity,

It's hard, intense and your body will LOVE it. Your body was meant to be a lean, mean physical machine. It'll thrive with vigorous exercise - no matter how old you are when you start.

It's a given that things will change as you grow older - you'll get gray, or bald, the eyes weaken and hearing in the upper register goes bad. BUT, you don't have to become fat and out of shape. Your body doesn't have to go to shit, you don't have to get feeble. Most of that is due to a lack of conditioning and not to aging. Sure we're all going to die, but you've still got a lot of control over how you're going to LIVE until that last moment. I refuse to live fat and feeble and half alive for the last part of my life. Only a 22 would be able to say half their life is over like the post on this thread!! Hell, at 22, you've hardly begun to live!

I've spent less time on this board because I'm involved with a group of 55-plus guys that are into extreme fitness for a lifetime - and let me tell you, these are guys with 32 inch waists or less who aren't afraid of triathalons or walking around in swimming trunks! We also don't hang around with "old" people - especially the ones who are 20 years younger than we are.

So, no more whining! Growing old isn't for sissies. Remind yourself every day to live with intensity.

S4

NewYork44M

I will be 51 in two weeks. I worked very hard to get to where I am right now and I want to live the rest of my life to the fullest.

I went to the doctor and am very healthy, all test results within normal limits, I am only a few pounds over weight, I have all my hair, and I can "get it up" when I want to. What more could a person ask for??

I can't wait to live the rest of my life. Since I wasted so much time in the real estate development cult and a hateful marriage I figure that I need to live an extra 20 years to make up for lost time.

FlyingHighNow

Exercise is a good idea. It does help you combat some problems with aging, it's true. It's not a cure-all though. I know people who are in great shape who still are bummed about aging. Some are alone. Some don't like the changes in their skin. And even a physically fit person can suffer from clinical depression during the winter of life. There's more to aging than how fit you are or aren't.

Grace, I thought of you as our senior friend here. How old were you when exposed to the org? I recall reading your story, but not when you were sucked into the org.

restrangled

In my mind I still feel like I am in my early 30's but my body screams otherwise.....the face has somewhat held up but I do see changes and the hair.......oh the apostate blond hair .....as someone else mentioned which made me LOL>

Seeker 4 said:

Most of what everyone is describing on here is due less to aging and more to the fact that most people let themselves get deconditioned with age. Aches, pains, tiredness, not being able to do stuff - most of that is because you're out of shape, and not because you've turned 30 or 40 or 50 or 60.

Most of that may well be true. But let me tell you something.....I can ride my stationary bike at a decent level of resistance for an hour each day and go about 18 miles and it doesn't change what is happening to my knees and hands. It doesn't change my energy level. I think some things are inherited. I can't open jars anymore or lift heavy pots and pans. Is there some exercise for that? I'm almost 49 and feel like my joints are falling apart. I had one knee injected with something about 2 years ago and it really helped......but once in awhile I feel the "twinges" starting up again. I cannot bend to my knees in a store to look at something on a lower shelf and not need help getting up again......it really sucks.

Getting older stinks physically but other than that it is fun. I am looking forward to my son's weddings and grandchildren when that happens. I still love cooking for my family. The house is much easier to keep, I have much free time and have started practicing the piano again because no one is here to cringe!.....but the dogs sometimes whine....

r.

wings

I don't mind getting older. Hitting 50 was an adjustment, but there is no looking back. Lessons learned are to hard, developes character, it is who you are. Kids, experiences, tolerance, all of it.

What is in front of me I am sure will be hard enough, but I've paid too much for the lessons learned so far. Hopefully, with the JW experience behind me, the rest will be the best years of my life.

Seeker4

Exercise isn't just a good idea - it's VITAL! And of course it isn't a cure-all - NOTHING is. We're all going to die, and we're all going to be a day older tomorrow.

That's not the point. It's how you LIVE until you die that's important.

Depression isn't just a problem of the old - kids get depressed. Suicide is common among teenagers. BUT, exercise is also one of the finest anti-dotes to many types of depression.

I belong to another thread where I'm watching thousands of people grow younger before my eyes due to intense, regular exercise. It's not going to make the impossible happen, but it sure as hell can prevent a ton of shit that most people expect to happen just because they've reached 50 or 70. I'm actually kind of shocked on this thread when I'm reading comments from people in their 30s or 40s talking about growing old.

That's pathetic. I'm figuring those things should be coming from somebody who's 75 or 85 - not 45!

You should read the article about Don Wildman I mentioned. He's not thrilled that he's getting older, but he's doing something about it, and that's what I'm talking about. We'll all be another year older in a year, nothing any of us can do about that. BUT, you can do something to make yourself one of the fittest, most bad ass 45 or 55 or 65 or 75 or 85 year olds on the planet.

Stop whining about growing old, accept the shit that comes with time and prevent the stuff that's got nothing to do with aging but is just the result of letting yourself fall apart.

Take control of as much of the aging as you can.

I've got some stuff for restrangled, and I'll add it later.

S4

crazyblondeb

It hit me last year, my life is 1/2 over.....but actually it's only 1/2 begun!!

In a couple days I turn 44 24! These last few years are flying by!! I do have to start exercising NOW. I keep saying, "I will tomorrow".

My focus was entirely on my daughter and grandkids, then I realized that I needed to be a little selfish for me. I deserve to be happy too.

I'm like you FHN, I've been divorced a while now. It looks like I'll be doing the aging thing without someone to share it with. Sometimes it bothers me, sometimes it doesn't. I know one think I want to do, is make myself really get to know others.....and let them know me!!

I say when we all get to the point we need assisted living, why not all open our own place!! "SENIOR APOSTA-VILLAGE"!!

Homerovah the Almighty

I'm OK with it, I've only got two hairs on my head and I'm a little pudgy around the middle but thats OK my mammary is still very good

TopHat

"I say when we all get to the point we need assisted living, why not all open our own place!! "SENIOR APOSTA-VILLAGE"!!" crazyblongedeb................Thats better than what the WTS offers their life time Bethlites, UNLESS you are of the ELITE of course!

summer

Why worry and complain about the inevitable?

I eat well. I exercise.

Que sera, sera:-)

~ Your feelings on aging ~

Share this