Guys 50+ Questions on Fitness Longevity?

[Okhotnik]

Try intermittent fasting at least once a week

Put on some sun screen on face every day, Avoid sun in summer mid day, wear hearing protection any loud engines and even shooting .22 s. Don't take unnecessary risks riding ATV's, boating, dirt bikes, snow mobiles and listen to the little voice in your head.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

You can do everything suggested and more and still end up fat and limited. Doctors tend to be Pez dispensers for big Pharm and they prescribed meds for me that caused a 40+lb weight gain in one month (Prednisone). That increase my BP so they put me on more meds that made weight loss impossible. All of this took a toll resulting in a cardiac procedure. Turns out even tho all the treating physicians were in the same building and group and had access to all my records via www.followmyhealth.com, they never consulted one another. I finally fired em all, got a new team and now am in a position to resolve these health issues. My point is simply this...your body will always experience limitations but your head and your heart can push well past em. When you think you've hit your wall...you've only used 40% of the capability. I've pushed past much younger guys on grueling treks because my head and my heart werw in the game more than my body. At some point your body will fail you...that's the moment you discover your true ability. That's when you transcend the limitations of the physical (thanks endorphins) and begin to understand exactly who & what you are. remember these words: "Pain is weakness leaving the body." One day you'll see.

 

[dallen]

Don't jump from aircraft while in flight, don't walk for days with 120+ pound rucks, wear hearing protection........all those things you do when you are young (er) will make you pay later. Some things can be worked, some are gone forever. I regret the amount of hearing gone....and the things I cant hear anymore...and the things I hear all the time now. I do a lot of body weight conditioning, heavy weights are not my thing, just too easy to tweek something. I walk.....A LOT......and am always active. Only 53, and believe I have another 15 years of sheep hunting in me.

 

[keller]

After 45 or so weight comes on a pound at a time.weight loss goes off an oz at a time.

 

[Mosster47]

I don't know if anyone else has had this issue, but if I eat something I consider to have high sugar like a bowl of ice cream my joints ache a lot more the next day and my recovery takes longer.

Everyone has different reactions to different foods and for me processed sugar is the only thing that makes me have a noticable reaction.

 

[flyinsquirel]

Try intermittent fasting at least once a week

Put on some sun screen on face every day, Avoid sun in summer mid day, wear hearing protection any loud engines and even shooting .22 s. Don't take unnecessary risks riding ATV's, boating, dirt bikes, snow mobiles and listen to the little voice in your head.

Mind sharing your intermittent fasting routine?

 

[bojangles808]

Mind sharing your intermittent fasting routine?

i do a sort of manageable version of intermittent fasting. you want to try and input calories only in an 8 hr window, so the rest of your day you are burning calories, especially in the morning.. I skip breakfast and don't eat until i have an early lunch around 11a. then I try not eat after 7p. I still have coffee in the morning with a little creamer so it's not a super strict version of IF but I've found I'm able to maintain my weight easier, and lose weight easier depending on how much exercise I'm doing. I don;t have to have as strict a diet either

 

[Gen273]

Great information in this thread!

 

[bojangles808]

big thing for me that i've focused on as I get into my mid 30s is mobility. especially in the hips glutes and hamstrings. lots of stretching, foam rolling, myofascial releases with a lacrosse ball in my glutes makes me feel a lot better. haven't quite gotten into yoga but i think mobility goes alot way especially when your back gets tight from sitting in an office chair or recliner, soft couch etc. Lying or taking a nap on a harf floor also provides relief. if i do work out i focus on core or big leg muschles and try to make it an activity I like like hiking and surfing, I hate going to the gym.

 

[Fatcamp]

I have seen yoga and flexibility mentioned numerous times. I would say flexibility is one of my weaker areas. What do you guys do for yoga? You follow a program, take a class, etc? Not sure where to start in that area but would like to.

Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube.

 

[ScottinPA]

I've been using SaraBethYoga on YouTube. I do this 2x a week but stretch on my own every morning with 50 pushups.

I also jumped on the Starting Strength program in 2017, followed it strictly, and really got stronger from it. Started back on it this year but planned to take it so far and incorporate more aerobic. COVID closed the gym so it's bodyweight and dumbell stuff at home.

 

[SoDaky]

I just turned 77 earlier this month and still hunt or fish something as near every day as seasons/weather permit so perhaps the rambling,miscellaneous thoughts that follow may help someone or give some food for thought.
I also believe in Intermittent fasting and my version sounds identical to that of bojangles above-except I use a blast of Stevia with my AM coffee(s) instead of creamer.I as well do not have a strict diet but rather just try to eat fairly well.I have my sins-ice cream, blue corn chips/cheddar cheese covered with Salsa,and gorp including cashews and M n Ms.I don't sweat that a bit but rather know I will just work it off.Diets suck.I enjoy eating.On the other hand,I don't drink or smoke.Despite snowshoeing near daily after coyotes all winter I know I'll gain 6-8 lbs every winter.Again,no sweat,enjoy it.Just work it off pre Fall.No doubt it does get harder with age though.
I have always been wound tight.A true 'A'.I'm also capable of easily stressing myself out(Covid has done a great job)so I have been forced to recognize that and deal with it as best as I can.Remedy?Hard physical work,hard exercise and most importantly for me,sleep.I rarely sleep more than 6 hours but try to get more plus a 'nap' if feasible in times of stress.
I believe in goals.I have long and short term ones that motivate me and keep me focused on doing whats necessary to achieve them.I do push myself to get there.Sometimes maybe a bit too hard.If pushing gets to the 'stressful' level,I've learned to slow down or back off.Give it time.
Examples?a long term one would involve elk hunting.I fell in love with archery elking in the 80s.I set a goal of getting a bull in 3 different States.Now I've done it in 5 plus a rifle bull in BC.
Short term example?
Presently working on getting my new lab comfortable with nearby shooting from his blind next to my field blind.
Physical activity.Simply believe in the 'use it or lose it' attitude cause,with age,you discover it's true.No longer a 'weights' guy.I use 5lb barbells maybe 3 times a week in a series of 6-7 'lifts'.
I do a brief stretching routine each morning that takes may be 5 minutes thats starts with ankle movements and ends with neck twists or rolls.Nothing big,nothing drastic,quick.That's it.I live on a 'farm' that we retired on and it keeps me busy.On this land and other land I own I try create and maintain dream wildlife habitat and,trust me,that will keep you in shape.Pretty much year around.Try find a hobby or something similar that you enjoy but need to really physically work at.
I used to 'run'.A lot.Up to 15 miles a day.Excessively in my present opinion.It hurt my knees and feet I believe.Now I walk-a lot.Starting in May it will be with a pack with 20`40 lbs in it.
That leads me to comment on gear.My pack nowadays is a Tarryall vs a Reckoning or bigger.Downsizing near everything becomes required with age.60lb bow vs 75.20 ga vs 12.In some terrain,maybe higher more supportive boots.Gear changes are just necessary-don't fight it.
Of course consequences flow from all this.More planning becomes required to 'continue'.Maybe hang stands only 12-15 up feet vs 18-22.Maybe 'flatter' elk terrain,2 day max spike camps from your camper or pickup,maybe no longer going it alone,arranging for a packer,carrying an InReach,etc.Planning and 'thought' requirements increase with age BUT you can still do it! I hunt slower and smarter.Maybe I cover 5 miles a day bugling vs 12,maybe I sit in a tree or at a wallow,but I can still do it-and so can you.
Dang,sorry about the 'book'.Few more misc:
1.You may outlive or move from friends.Try find younger tough ones.They WILL motivate you.Hard to find but try.
2.Along those lines,consider mentoring kids re hunting/fishing.Great motivation and taking young kids has opened up thousands of private acres to me to hunt.
3.If location permits,get a dog.Want to stay 'young'?Get a dog.
I hope to go pretty hard another 10 years.We'll see.I'm motivated and have my goals looking forward.
Good health and hunting to all!

 

[5MilesBack]

Mind sharing your intermittent fasting routine?

I fast from dinner until lunch the next day........every day. Not really intentionally.......I just can't eat right after I get up, it makes me nauseous. So I wait until lunch to eat, but always have my coffee first thing in the morning. When I think about it, that's like 18 hours of fasting every 24 hour period. No wonder I'm not fat.

 

[Rsvrip]

I think of my father every day.

I remember him 100lbs over weight and wasting the last 25yrs of his life sitting in a recliner telling everyone about the “good old days”. That gets my 46yr old butt moving.........

 

[bbell]

Thanks for the replies on yoga. I will try those out. I downloaded the down dog app and did it yesterday and today. Nice way to start out the morning for sure.

 

[coloyooper]

Get a young girlfriend or wife.
That’ll keep ya young and in shape

That's what I read about on Bowsite all the time

 

[TxxAgg]

This is good motivation. I like to check back in and read the replies.

 

[coloyooper]

I have seen yoga and flexibility mentioned numerous times. I would say flexibility is one of my weaker areas. What do you guys do for yoga? You follow a program, take a class, etc? Not sure where to start in that area but would like to.

Yoga with Adriene on Youtube is a good one. Anything from beginner to advanced. She ain't terrible on the eyes either.

 

[DavePwns]

Have a long term perspective of persistent and consistent self discipline.

Understand and know who you are and what motivates you and what your goals are. Write it out.

Have balance in life so that you can remain consistent.

Keep stress levels in check and everything else with health is a hell of a lot easier.

These are just a few tips to really focus on.

 

[FLAK]

I fast from dinner until lunch the next day........every day. Not really intentionally.......I just can't eat right after I get up, it makes me nauseous. So I wait until lunch to eat, but always have my coffee first thing in the morning. When I think about it, that's like 18 hours of fasting every 24 hour period. No wonder I'm not fat.

Sounds like my routine. But I'm still fat.