Diet/Exercise

[gball]

The average American vs Canadian video got me wondrin' what everyone here does as far s keeping themselves "in shape" since it seems we are all in an older average age bracket.

I've maintained the same exercise regimen, minus some short periods due to external forces, since I was in high school. Gym to lift weights 4 days a week, 2 days of cardio, 1 day of rest. I'm 6'4" and right now about 215 pounds and they tell me I am overweight because of the absurd BMI, but I still wear the same pant size I did when I was in high school, so go figure. I take zero medications (which really confused my insurance company the last time I had to renew, haha) and I feel that staying strong has a huge influence on every aspect of your health.

My wife and I are on a largely plant-based diet. I have not excluded anything from my diet entirely, I just don't eat meat very often, maybe chicken or fish once a week and beef once a month. Pork maybe 2-3 times a year. I don't really eat anything sweet and try as hard as I can to avoid any processed food. Absolutely no soft drinks (so I guess there is something that I have excluded entirely after all!). I do drink booze whenever the urge strikes though, so there is that.

Anyway, the point is, the video got me curious. I feel as good as I did physically at 20 years old, and I think I look OK, but when I meet (most) people my age I feel as though there is some kind of huge disconnect. They seem 20 years older than me, tired, out-of-shape and resigned to just "being old" even though I don't think you are old in your 50's or even 60's.

I get the impression that most if not all of the folks around here are pretty vibrant, and perhaps that's a natural byproduct of this hobby, but was just wondering how many of us are cheating the averages.

 

[Session 5]

Well g ball I retired coming up 4yrs ago. I walk during the summer months, and even though I am active as well during the winter months, I don't get much physical exercise so come this fall through the winter months will be heading back to the gym. Not to lift heavy weights just to work out on the machines to keep the muscles limbered up. people say I look younger than I am. I am not overweight I am within my range. I eat everything in moderation, I drink lots of water, some orange juice, no coffee and zero alcohol and no smoking tobacco or any other substance. I find since I retired my muscles become sore because I'm not using them, except when I get back into camping mode which I am in now. For a few weeks I am sore til I get using them again you know washing the trailer, walking, washing the car, basically lugging things around. I am on no medications and am in my 60s. I guess I sound boring to some people, but it works for me. I think one of the biggest problems facing people is overeating. I eat until I am full then stop. I understand what you are saying about the disconnect. I dress younger than most of my counterparts. My wife and myself have friends that are mostly younger than ourselves, maybe because we look younger and act younger than some of our other friends, I find my Wife and I seem to hit it off better with the younger folk at times. I also think because I am involved with R/C aircraft there is a large group of age differences and they all seem to blend well together. I find more of a closeness with these guys even over my music buddies. Maybe that's why its my #1 Passion. I have so many friends in this hobby.

 

[gball]

Well jball I retired coming up 4yrs ago. I walk during the summer months, and even though I am active as well during the winter months, I don't get much physical exercise so come this fall through the winter months will be heading back to the gym. Not to lift heavy weights just to work out on the machines to keep the muscles limbered up. people say I look younger than I am. I am not overweight I am within my range. I eat everything in moderation, I drink lots of water, some orange juice, no coffee and zero alcohol and no smoking tobacco or any other substance. I find since I retired my muscles become sore because I'm not using them, except when I get back into camping mode which I am in now. For a few weeks I am sore til I get using them again you know washing the trailer, walking, washing the car, basically lugging things around. I am on no medications and am in my 60s. I guess I sound boring to some people, but it works for me. I think one of the biggest problems facing people is overeating. I eat until I am full then stop. I understand what you are saying about the disconnect. I dress younger than most of my counterparts. My wife and myself have friends that are mostly younger than ourselves, maybe because we look younger and act younger than some of our other friends, I find my Wife and I seem to hit it off better with the younger folk at times. I also think because I am involved with R/C aircraft there is a large group of age differences and they all seem to blend well together. I find more of a closeness with these guys even over my music buddies. Maybe that's why its my #1 Passion. I have so many friends in this hobby.

Interesting you mention overeating. I too believe that it's a huge factor, coupled with, for lack of a better term, eating sh$t food that isn't whole. I'm gonna generalize here but what I see is that we (as Americans) make horrible food choices (far too much meat, far too many processed foods) then completely overindulge in them...and then supplement that overindulgence with disgusting snack foods because we are hungry all the time. But we're hungry all the time because we're not eating nutritious food, so the cycle of over-consumption continues, and causes not just the obvious things like obesity and diabetes but a whole myriad of other health problems. Has the side effect of keeping the pharmaceutical industry cooking along pushing drugs people shouldn't need.

I think you have a good balance man!

 

[DonP]

I get a lot of exercise, walking, cycling, skiing, sailing etc. As for diet, I avoid as far as possible all carbs. Fat, protein and green vegetables are what I eat mostly.

 

[Truss_rod]

I walk daily, ride one day ride my bike the next and alternate every other day. Small breakfast with only 2 scrambled eggs with Pico de Gallo and a small dinner, usually chicken and veggies. I cant eat beef because of Hemochromatosis "iron overload" but don't really miss it. I have lost 78 pounds in almost 9 months. I cheat on my diet every now and then but you almost need to.

 

[DonP]

I walk daily, ride one day ride my bike the next and alternate every other day. Small breakfast with only 2 scrambled eggs with Pico de Gallo and a small dinner, usually chicken and veggies. I cant eat beef because of Hemochromatosis "iron overload" but don't really miss it. I have lost 78 pounds in almost 9 months. I cheat on my diet every now and then but you almost need to.

You're now the third person I know with haemochromatosis - and a year ago I had never even heard of it. Do you give blood regularly? I think it may be one of the few diseases they could still use leeches for

 

[eSGEe]

well----- ya'll are doing excellent--
I should probably cut back on a lot of what I eat (meat wise) --- I HAVE recently (60 days ago) cut out fast food (being in traveling sales drive through and gas station food WAS a staple) but hgih triglycerides and a "tad" high sugar have ended that--now I take an apple or granmola or mixed nuts with me--- Ive cut out soda -- now its coffee-- water-- beer or rum (maybe orange juice on the weekend) lol
Bfast= outmeal 5 days a week-- w/ fruit or nuts
lunch usually left overs
dinner typically a meat and 2 veg affair

I have a bow flex and an elliptical (I use mutliple times a week) and I am a Planet Fitness member and go 2 to 3 times a week on average-- having htem HERE is great especially when work is PISSING ME OFF--- I can go "work it out" --- good for mind AND body
6' 195--- and I get the same flack from the insurance co about BMI --- I told the guy --- look when my waist is bigger than my chest --- we will worry about it, till then-- move on!!
Being a Certified Personal Trainer (got certified back in the 2004) I have been getting the BMI insurance thing for years --- back when I worked for Coca Cola I used to get phone calls--- literature and news letters from H.R. about my "obesity" because I was COSTING them more $$$ in insurance due to my BMI on every annual physical (D.O.T. deal) --- I finally had to email a picture and a BMI index document from my Doctor to convince them.

 

[CabanaBoy]

I play drums and try to keep doing stuff. I have osteoarthritis in my feet, knees, back, hips (was told the right needed replaced around 2001 or so), hands, etc. Sometimes I move so so and sometimes it seems every step, etc hurts. So, the drums do good for me and if I can keep moving it seems to help too. I need to try and get back to being a skinny hippy dude. I can't sit or stand any length of time or I get stuck that way for lack of better words. It seems any type of 'exercise' makes me go ouch somewhere and literally years later I still hurt from the original ouch. When diagnosed back around 2001 I was told I was too young for what I had, it was only going to get worse, and I just wore my body out from 'exercise', hard play, and hard work. I need to get another motorcycle. Riding a motorcycle seems to be therapeutic for my hips and legs. Driving a car any length of time just plain makes it hard for me to walk when I try to get out. Oh, I do purposely try to park farther from the stores to walk farther, purposely stand up and sit a lot, and also take three trips to get stuff around the house to walk a little more. Man, I'm a wore out wimp these days - lol. Hmmm, this may be my longest post on TTR - lol...

 

[eSGEe]

HEY RAY!!! look at that WE WHERE JUST DISCUSSING too much IRON can be bad for you!!!!

I just purchased a water treatment system (we are on a well) that removes IRON -- and other metals -- and sulfur smell from the water---

 

[BlackSG91]

Since I stopped drinking which will be 38 weeks tomorrow on Friday my appetite has got back to normal where I'm eating well regularly and walking quite a bit. I also ride my bicycle in the morning just to get me limbered up. I was involved in a fatal accident back in 1988 where I broke my left forearm and left leg (femur bone) and spent almost 6 months in the hospital. It was hard playing guitar with a cast on my left arm. I had a steel surgical rod installed in my left femur bone for a few years and had that taken out but I still have to this day metal plates in my left forearm with 5 screws holding each plate for a total of 10 screws. My left arm hurts sometimes depending on the weather and I have a bum leg where I walk a bit crooked. I can't walk fast and I have a real hard time running so I'm not that very physically fit but I do my best to keep active. I do see my doctor regularly every 3 months and my blood pressure has gone down compared to before so I have made improvements in some areas but old age is catching up with me.


;>)/

 

[eSGEe]

the first 10 words of your post = HUGE IMPROVEMENT Black-- the rest will work itself out
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!!

 

[Truss_rod]

You're now the third person I know with haemochromatosis - and a year ago I had never even heard of it. Do you give blood regularly? I think it may be one of the few diseases they could still use leeches for

Yes I give a pint of blood once a month now. It used to be every other week but Anemia became a huge factor. It's "Ferritin" in the blood they test and when it was first discovered my Ferritin was over 900, normal is below 50.

 

[gball]

Since I stopped drinking which will be 38 weeks tomorrow on Friday my appetite has got back to normal where I'm eating well regularly and walking quite a bit. I also ride my bicycle in the morning just to get me limbered up. I was involved in a fatal accident back in 1988 where I broke my left forearm and left leg (femur bone) and spent almost 6 months in the hospital. It was hard playing guitar with a cast on my left arm. I had a steel surgical rod installed in my left femur bone for a few years and had that taken out but I still have to this day metal plates in my left forearm with 5 screws holding each plate for a total of 10 screws. My left arm hurts sometimes depending on the weather and I have a bum leg where I walk a bit crooked. I can't walk fast and I have a real hard time running so I'm not that very physically fit but I do my best to keep active. I do see my doctor regularly every 3 months and my blood pressure has gone down compared to before so I have made improvements in some areas but old age is catching up with me.


;>)/

That's rough, sorry to hear it. I have not broken anything that badly - took out a bunch of ribs a few times skateboarding and that hurt like hell, but once those heal there is no lingering problem. Broke my collarbone and tore up my rotator cuff in a mountain bike "incident" about 4 years ago, and that gives me lingering discomfort but nothing too crazy, can definitely manage it.

 

[Inspector #20]

I don't really do anything but walk. I'm 52, 6'-2" 220 pounds, and take no medication of any kind. I can eat like a horse, or eat very little, and stay between 215 & 223. I generally drink (2) 12 ounce beers every night and maybe 2-3 ounces of 80 proof Scotch and that's it as far as drinking goes. I really don't binge drink.

I do not smoke. I dont eat pork of any kind, no processed meats, no eggs and I generally eat an east India/Arabic diet.

I just had a life insurance physical and they were amazed at my vitals, so I guess I'm doing OK....

 

[Inspector #20]

The average American vs Canadian video got me wondrin' what everyone here does as far s keeping themselves "in shape" since it seems we are all in an older average age bracket.

I've maintained the same exercise regimen, minus some short periods due to external forces, since I was in high school. Gym to lift weights 4 days a week, 2 days of cardio, 1 day of rest. I'm 6'4" and right now about 215 pounds and they tell me I am overweight because of the absurd BMI, but I still wear the same pant size I did when I was in high school, so go figure. I take zero medications (which really confused my insurance company the last time I had to renew, haha) and I feel that staying strong has a huge influence on every aspect of your health.

My wife and I are on a largely plant-based diet. I have not excluded anything from my diet entirely, I just don't eat meat very often, maybe chicken or fish once a week and beef once a month. Pork maybe 2-3 times a year. I don't really eat anything sweet and try as hard as I can to avoid any processed food. Absolutely no soft drinks (so I guess there is something that I have excluded entirely after all!). I do drink booze whenever the urge strikes though, so there is that.

Anyway, the point is, the video got me curious. I feel as good as I did physically at 20 years old, and I think I look OK, but when I meet (most) people my age I feel as though there is some kind of huge disconnect. They seem 20 years older than me, tired, out-of-shape and resigned to just "being old" even though I don't think you are old in your 50's or even 60's.

I get the impression that most if not all of the folks around here are pretty vibrant, and perhaps that's a natural byproduct of this hobby, but was just wondering how many of us are cheating the averages.

Good work!!!!!