How old is old?

Mizmo said:
How you feel about old is a state of mind and body regardless of actual age.
I am almost 90. My mind tells me I am still young, my body tells me a different story completely.
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what actually happens when the body gives up due to age.. Do you start feeling certain issues and then they become worse very quickly..like having difficulty stepping up stairs, or reaching up for something.. I'd love to know
 

What you consider as old depends on your vantage point. I used to think 50 was old when I was in my 30s. At almost 80 now, I think I've just about run out of down the road possibilities.
 
At near 64 I donā€™t feel all that old, although I certainly have made some modifications. Diet, exercise, stress reduction, my faith, and rest go a long way. Being retired helps a lot and as such these are now the best years of my life, even with my (treated) prostate cancer that lurks in the background. So I am going to be thankful for what I have right now.
 

hollydolly said:
What actually happens when the body gives up due to age.. Do you start feeling certain issues and then they become worse very quickly..like having difficulty stepping up stairs, or reaching up for something.. I'd love to know
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I guess it is different for everyone.
I have had so many health problems throughout my life but somehow my mind wouldn't let them conquer.

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in my 60s though I will say it was with me for years before that.
A lot of my pain then was blamed on the spinal fusion I had when I was 30.
The Meds profession just hadn't found a name for it. Probably the mild exercises I did over the years helped with flexibility as I aged.
Had no problems with stairs and reaching until the cancer hit me five years and chemo messed all that up. Then I had the wonder thumb issue but I think the fighting with the medical profession helped me through that. It sure was a hassle getting that done.

So I would say as you age to do some mild arm and leg exercises to keep them flexible and you will have no trouble with stairs etc.
But, again, one never knows what is going to hit next. We take life as it comes.
Just keep movin :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
Exercise.gif
 
hollydolly said:
what actually happens when the body gives up due to age.. Do you start feeling certain issues and then they become worse very quickly..like having difficulty stepping up stairs, or reaching up for something.. I'd love to know
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I agree with Mizmo......I have always been one that keeps going and pushing forward but the older I get I find myself just giving up endeavors (just not worth the effort) or working around different things, like buying a stash of groceries so you won't have to get out..etc etc.
trying to stay on top of every sneeze or ache so it won't turn into a doctor visit and an arm load of meds.
....this is not to sound so doom and gloom because I feel good that I am still pretty healthy and I enjoy my home and other comforts of life.
 
Jackie23 said:
I agree with Mizmo......I have always been one that keeps going and pushing forward but the older I get I find myself just giving up endeavors (just not worth the effort) or working around different things, like buying a stash of groceries so you won't have to get out..etc etc.
trying to stay on top of every sneeze or ache so it won't turn into a doctor visit and an arm load of meds.
....this is not to sound so doom and gloom because I feel good that I am still pretty healthy and I enjoy my home and other comforts of life.
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Thanks Jackie, I don't know if it was the same with you, but in reality Mizmo had more trouble with ageing due in great part to the critical illnesses she endured.. d..however I'd like to know at what part in a persons' life do you think..hmmm.. today I can't climb the stairs''.. or today I can't brush my hair as well as I used to.. or climb in the bath... how does these things happen when illness isn't involved..? :unsure:
 
hollydolly said:
Thanks Jackie, I don't know if it was the same with you, but in reality Mizmo had more trouble with ageing due in great part to the critical illnesses she endured.. d..however I'd like to know at what part in a persons' life do you think..hmmm.. today I can't climb the stairs''.. or today I can't brush my hair as well as I used to.. or climb in the bath... how does these things happen when illness isn't involved..? :unsure:
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Yes, I was agreeing with Mizmo about the exercise part, as for as the last part of your post...I'm not real sure, I do know that if I start feeling sorry for myself, I can get in a real funk very quickly, but to me its the physical pain in joints that makes it hard to move and in my case it's a gradual process that tells me I can no longer do certain things, in my case, it's not something that happened suddenly and I decided one day....so maybe I'm not the one to answer.
 
Jackie23 said:
Yes, I was agreeing with Mizmo about the exercise part, as for as the last part of your post...I'm not real sure, I do know that if I start feeling sorry for myself, I can get in a real funk very quickly, but to me its the physical pain in joints that makes it hard to move and in my case it's a gradual process that tells me I can no longer do certain things, in my case, it's not something that happened suddenly and I decided one day....so maybe I'm not the one to answer.
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Yes I can understand how pain would eventually stop you be able.. I find that myself with regard to some things due to the pain in my knee, fingers or my back.. but I;m fortunate that I'm still very active..I try to keep myself that way. A friend of mine said last week when they were visiting..'' stop rushing about , you'll do yourself a mischief''.. this from the friend who is younger than me, and uses a walking stick... I have no intentions of slowing down.. it keeps me fit.. and hopefully I'll keep doing that as long as my body will allow
 
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Many things in this world get better with age but the human body is not one of them.

Medics say there are periods of aging, starting ages 30's , 60's, 70's believe it or not beginning mostly with muscles.
I was able to get in and out of bath at age 80 with no problem despite all of my health problems.
What I would give to just soak in a nice bubble bath now...wow!
To me , I think it is more important to keep flexible.

Enjoy your baths while you can
bath-tub.gif
 
Mizmo said:
Many things in this world get better with age but the human body is not one of them.

Medics say there are periods of aging, starting ages 30's , 60's, 70's believe it or not beginning mostly with muscles.
I was able to get in and out of bath at age 80 with no problem despite all of my health problems.
What I would give to just soak in a nice bubble bath now...wow!
To me , I think it is more important to keep flexible.

Enjoy your baths while you can
View attachment 248623
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I haven't taken a bath at home for more than 20 years.. I hate baths, I will always prefer a shower..
 
With respect to "things going downhill on their own", we lose muscle mass as we age. And when certain muscles go away we get all kinds of stability issues. I was having all kinds of shoulder issues and could not sleep on my side without pain kicking in, and sometimes a lot of pain. And it seemed to get worse and worse. But I started doing 4 basic shoulder exercises with latex exercise bands, MWF, 3 sets of each exercise with 15-25 reps. And I actually have rehabbed my shoulders! Pain is gone and I can sleep on my side. OK, I am not at age 25 but maybe 55? At any rate, with some dedication, you can fight back on muscle loss. A good friend of mine, at age 84, is even more dedicated than me with his regular workouts at a fitness center and he continues to keep his mobility and do things like move and split firewood!
 
I clearly feel older than I look, that changed for me at the age 0f 65,
things were happening in my body with arthritis and other stuff, and
I could feel a bit of myself having to make adjustments.

Far as how I actually look, I look my age, don't look younger, nor look older.

I miss taking my tub baths, always preferred them, so lots of things like this
that now are still done but done differently~
 
hollydolly said:
I think it's always 10 years older than you are now,... :D...I;m 67 and as you can see by my avi which is a recent photo.. I don't look it... whereas as I just said on another thread, my granny at the same age, looked like, spoke like, acted, and dressed like an archetypal old woman...
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That difference that you mention Holly comes down to knowledge. Baby Boomers learned the dangers of sugar and smoking. When I started work it was commonplace for those over forty to wear dentures. Sugar in hot drinks, oral hygiene and so much more led to rotten teeth. Extraction led to the loss facial firmness and muscle control, that in turn gave the little old lady look. The men had it too but less so because shaving works those facial muscles or a beard hid the appearance.

The dangers of smoking have been well documented but previous generations simply didn't know. Nothing ages the skin like smoking.
I have posted many a photo of my wife and I, all taken within the last five years, except for a few showing us when we were younger. My grandparents all looked so much older at the age we are now. Age can also be an attitude of mind. Think frump!
 

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