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Post by 1dave on May 23, 2015 11:43:24 GMT -5
EDIT: (Thanks Pat!)May 2015 I'm 78 years old. I worked two years as an Engineer. I couldn't stand setting at a desk all day long so became a construction electrician. I got a lot of exercise packing 4" rigid conduit, pulling miles of 500MCM cable, etc. When I retired in 1990 I noticed most of my office working peers had died, and about half of us "roustabouts" were gone too. In 2013 they split my chest open and did a bunch of by-passes and replaced the aorta valve with a piece of leather made from a calf aorta valve. Insurance paid for three months of "Cardiac Rehab." They had 6 different stations to revolve around, starting with five minutes at each one. That was hard work! We slowly worked up to 15 minutes at each station at the end. From there on I figured yard work and rockhounding would do the job. This past winter was tough on me. I ballooned from 220 to 250 pounds. I HAVE BECOME ONE OF THE ELDERLY! My heart doctor told me I needed to join Gold's Gym or some other exercise program. A two year contract with transportation is over $1,000. Why not buy my own equipment. The 8 pound weights were only $20. Of all the other equipment I only had room for ONE. The one that did me the most good was the elliptical. After several days searching the net I found this site! Tons of good info. I finally settled on the post 2013 Schwinn 430 (has all the 431 improvements added) at $577. Now that I have it there are a few things I didn't know. In 2001 Schwinn was bought by Nautilus who moved the factory to China. NOT made in USA as I thought, but it is well made. They ship it with a 27 page "assembly manual", but you have to download their 44 page " Owner's Manual" to figure out how to use the control consul. Is 16 more pages really that expensive? I can pull that red lever and increase the elevation as much as I want, BUT at my age I'll never get to the point where I will use it. At the lowest setting for my age and weight, the slowest speed I can go puts me over 100% on heart rate. Five minutes per run is still my limit, but having this at home I can do it 3 times per day. I'd never do that at a gym. What is your information and story?
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Post by mohs on May 23, 2015 12:54:55 GMT -5
Wow. 78 years!! Good luck with all that Dave
During the winter I doubled up my work load by taking a part-time position at Amazon ware house That had me on my feet for 10 hours a work day and covering about 16 miles in hustle mode. That really toned things up. I continued morning jogging, for a couple month after that. But now that the weather as changed I’m not keeping up.
Mostly though I follow Buzz Aldrin sage advice.
mostly™
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Post by nowyo on May 23, 2015 14:00:24 GMT -5
Awesome and timely post, Dave, as I'm in the middle of cardiac rehab right now myself. My chest was split open and plumbing rearranged in February. While I prefer not to think of myself as elderly-I'll be 58 in a couple of months-my body apparently doesn't agree with my mind.
Looking at getting some sort of exercise equipment because I know I'm not going to run to town and go to the gym. Lost some weight right off the bat but need to keep going with it, tough even with the "if it tastes good you can't have any" diet. The two biggest issues I've had are the weight thing and bizarre mood swings which may or may not be related to medications. For now I'm just exercising, we've made some changes in my meds, and I've been avoiding social contacts.
Mostly looking at treadmill/elliptical things. Just started looking so don't really have any input. Things like jogging are out, my knees would never take it. Hopefully some other folks will have some good input.
Russ
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Post by Pat on May 23, 2015 14:36:34 GMT -5
At 74, I don't go to a gym or use any machines. I'm not a rat and the repetition thing is incredibly boring. Husband is 81. We do all the housework except shampooing carpets. We do all the yard work except for trimming trees. Big two-story house; big end of cul-de-sac yard. We walk a mile around our neighborhood most days. We are not overweight. We watch what we eat, avoiding most processed food. Must feed husband two donuts a day just to keep his weight up. No donuts for me! I'd much rather get my exercise while getting stuff done instead of going the rat route. 1dave I think there is a typo in your first sentence, or I am misinterpreting it. "May 1915 I'm 78 years old." You are only 78, not 100
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Post by 1dave on May 23, 2015 18:39:22 GMT -5
At 74, I don't go to a gym or use any machines. I'm not a rat and the repetition thing is incredibly boring. Husband is 81. We do all the housework except shampooing carpets. We do all the yard work except for trimming trees. Big two-story house; big end of cul-de-sac yard. We walk a mile around our neighborhood most days. We are not overweight. We watch what we eat, avoiding most processed food. Must feed husband two donuts a day just to keep his weight up. No donuts for me! I'd much rather get my exercise while getting stuff done instead of going the rat route. 1dave I think there is a typo in your first sentence, or I am misinterpreting it. "May 1915 I'm 78 years old." You are only 78, not 100 Thanks Pat! Typo corrected. Amazing how easy mistakes are to see when made by others, and impossible to see when made by "me". I've noticed that nervous "rapid twitch" people stay thin. Taint fair!
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Post by snowmom on May 24, 2015 4:05:16 GMT -5
I joined the local pool this winter after realizing that I will not be going out in below zero temps to walk. Walking is the most natural exercise for human beings, we are designed to be walking machines. I too find use of exercise equipment incredibly boring, but will walk long distances outside happily since there is always something to see outside. I have put myself on a diet of nothing but veggies and lean meat (nothing fried). Lost 10 lbs so far, trying to lose another 20 to 30. Learning I can't cheat at all. "if it tastes good you can't have it is right!" I hate it! I am trying to find other areas in my life where I can still find enjoyment instead. Swimming was great for me, toned and helped gain muscle mass. I was in not good shape, and started by doing "water walking", using resistance of the water and just exercising untiltil I was tired. Added about 5 minutes per week until I was up to a half hour a visit. minimum of 3 times a week, 20 minutes of exercise that makes you breathe harder is the goal to aim for (cardio/respiratory fitness).More is better if you can handle it. Then I was able to do laps, slowly,and for only 25 minutes, but that helped increase my cardio/lung capacity. As soon as it was nice outside I switched to walking and try to walk as much as I can. Come winter, it will be back to the pool. Of course not everybody has access to a pool. There are all sorts of exercises I can't do , due to physical limitations, but I think the key is finding ones you can tolerate and being consistent in doing them. I hate the idea of doing an 'exercise routine'.I hate dieting, quitting smoking was easier, because you could just stop doing it, but of course you can't just quit eating. keeping on keeping on, some days better than others. even 3 steps forward and 2 back is still progress.
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Post by 1dave on May 24, 2015 17:10:07 GMT -5
Peracarditus hasn't helped.
I can't pull weeds or walk longer than 5 minutes without having to sit or lay down. Very exasperating!
What surprised me from the above was:
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mrzulu
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2015
Posts: 245
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Post by mrzulu on May 25, 2015 13:05:25 GMT -5
I am going to walk to the market. When I return I'll give my 2¢.
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Post by radio on May 25, 2015 14:10:10 GMT -5
wow! glad you had a good outcome as opposed to the alternative I just turned 61 last month, so I'm a young pup
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mrzulu
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2015
Posts: 245
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Post by mrzulu on May 25, 2015 15:38:08 GMT -5
wow! ...I just turned 61 last month, so I'm a young pup lol...me too! I turn 61 Thursday! I have been blessed with reasonably good health. My Father died in 1980. He was 58. Lifelong smoker. Died a very young man yet he was the longest lived in his family. My Mother was the longest lived in her family as well! She passed two years ago at 86. She didn't smoke! I don't smoke either! So I figure I've got a least 20 years or more ahead of me. I found out the State of California agrees. They gave me a complete hip replacement on April 6th. Today, I am able to walk a mile without stopping and maintain my breathing. What is extraordinary is in 2008 I weighed 395lbs. (Being a successful Michelin Chef has its consequences.) I am now 230lbs and I am NOT diabetic and I escaped COPD. I did a cardio test on an incumbent stair step bicycle thing on an 8° incline at 60 steps per min for 12min then upped it to 110 per for 2 min then a cool down at 60 with no incline for 1 more minute. I did not get winded. My Doc ruled out COPD conclusively and discontinued a bunch of meds during my rehab. So here I am. Gonna be 61 this week and I am nearly pain free without a bunch of goofy drugs. I am so fortunate. I have several kilos of rocks to play with and getting some new tools to play with next week. I begin my retirement with some new suspension parts installed. I walk at least half mile daily. I resume PT soon I hope. At any rate, I am ready to go to the high desert of Southeastern Oregon and parts yet unknown!!! Life is good! Michael (Edited for continuity, grammar and spelling)
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Post by radio on May 25, 2015 17:06:00 GMT -5
wow! ...I just turned 61 last month, so I'm a young pup lol...me too! I turn 61 Thursday! I have been blessed with reasonably good health. My Father died in 1980. He was 58. Lifelong smoker. Died a very young man yet he was the longest lived in his family. My Mother was the longest lived in her family as well! She passed two years ago at 86. She didn't smoke! I don't smoke either! So I figure I've got a least 20 years or more ahead of me. I found out the State of California agrees. They gave me a complete hip replacement on April 6th. Today, I am able to walk a mile without stopping and maintain my breathing. What is extraordinary is in 2008 I weighed 395lbs. (Being a successful Michelin Chef has its consequences.) I am now 230lbs and I am NOT diabetic and I escaped COPD. I did a cardio test on an incumbent stair step bicycle thing on an 8° incline at 60 steps per min for 12min then upped it to 110 per for 2 min then a cool down at 60 with no incline for 1 more minute. I did not get winded. My Doc ruled out COPD conclusively and discontinued a bunch of meds during my rehab. So here I am. Gonna be 61 this week and I am nearly pain free without a bunch of goofy drugs. I am so fortunate. I have several kilos of rocks to play with and getting some new tools to play with next week. I begin my retirement with some new suspension parts installed. I walk at least half mile daily. I resume PT soon I hope. At any rate, I am ready to go to the high desert of Southeastern Oregon and parts yet unknown!!! Life is good! Michael (Edited for continuity, grammar and spelling) Happy almost birthday
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mrzulu
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2015
Posts: 245
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Post by mrzulu on May 25, 2015 17:20:18 GMT -5
lol thanks...
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mrzulu
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2015
Posts: 245
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Post by mrzulu on May 27, 2015 23:45:02 GMT -5
Physical Therapy starting again next week...
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Post by Pat on May 28, 2015 0:12:53 GMT -5
mrzulu, happy birthday, and hope the PT makes you as good as new.
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mrzulu
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2015
Posts: 245
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Post by mrzulu on May 28, 2015 5:44:00 GMT -5
mrzulu, happy birthday, and hope the PT makes you as good as new. Thanks! lol it's already like that! I have new suspension parts installed!
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Post by rockpickerforever on May 28, 2015 12:36:35 GMT -5
Shock absorbers and rubber bushings are always the first to go, lol.
Happy birthday, mrzulu!
A lot of us here born in and around 1957, I'm just a few months younger than Russ nowyo. Like Pat, I don't go to the gym or use any machines. Twenty minutes of exercises first thing in the morning, and about five miles of walking four days a week. Walking is my secret sauce , has been the key for me to lose about 90 pounds over the last couple years. I am not diabetic, and have no health issues, just decided it was time to quit carrying the extra lbs around with me. More energy, need less sleep, and no longer have to buy clothes made by Omar the tent maker.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2015 21:19:52 GMT -5
If you haven't already, try giving up all grains. The pain and 15 more pounds will disappear. Man did not evolve eating grass seeds.
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Post by Pat on May 28, 2015 23:35:03 GMT -5
If you haven't already, try giving up all grains. The pain and 15 more pounds will disappear. Man did not evolve eating grass seeds. Scott, do you include breads/cookies to quit? Or do you just mean the itty-bitty pieces of grain? Sounds like you gave up grains, and like the results.
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Post by rockpickerforever on May 29, 2015 12:12:54 GMT -5
If you haven't already, try giving up all grains. The pain and 15 more pounds will disappear. Man did not evolve eating grass seeds. Scott, do you include breads/cookies to quit? Or do you just mean the itty-bitty pieces of grain? Sounds like you gave up grains, and like the results.
So what about giving up alcohol? Aren't beers and whiskey fermented grains? Hmmmm?
My favorite quote by Ben Franklin is actually a misquote (he was talking about wine, lol):
“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on May 29, 2015 13:16:54 GMT -5
If you haven't already, try giving up all grains. The pain and 15 more pounds will disappear. Man did not evolve eating grass seeds. I went on a low carb diet almost 2 years ago.No grains,sugar religiously for a year and a half. Lost 40 lbs,felt like a new person.Have incorporated a little bit of grains and sugar every now and then,but agree with you on the grains. snuffy
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