Personal Health?

[Fourbtgait]

Though being retired, still lift 3 times a week, blah blah.
The most profound or biggest boost to my health, was being forced away from a male Dr., to using a female Physician’s Assistant. Whereas he was always rushed, saying no issues. She actually listened. When I reiterated something I had said to the Dr before, she took it several steps further and found the actual reasons why, prescribing lifestyle changes all for the better.
Sure, at first it was uncomfortable talking personal issues with a female, but finding out she listened was eye opening. I lost track of her, requesting another female PA and she listened. I finally found her at a different clinic then lost her again. But before she left, I asked her who else at the clinic was as good as her, she referenced a female Dr. 4 years later, I am still confident a female in healthcare gives better service than male.

 

[iggie]

Though being retired, still lift 3 times a week, blah blah.
The most profound or biggest boost to my health, was being forced away from a male Dr., to using a female Physician’s Assistant. Whereas he was always rushed, saying no issues. She actually listened. When I reiterated something I had said to the Dr before, she took it several steps further and found the actual reasons why, prescribing lifestyle changes all for the better.
Sure, at first it was uncomfortable talking personal issues with a female, but finding out she listened was eye opening. I lost track of her, requesting another female PA and she listened. I finally found her at a different clinic then lost her again. But before she left, I asked her who else at the clinic was as good as her, she referenced a female Dr. 4 years later, I am still confident a female in healthcare gives better service than male.

I have come to the same conclusion about F vs M health care.

 

[Tom Butler]

Though being retired, still lift 3 times a week, blah blah.
The most profound or biggest boost to my health, was being forced away from a male Dr., to using a female Physician’s Assistant. Whereas he was always rushed, saying no issues. She actually listened. When I reiterated something I had said to the Dr before, she took it several steps further and found the actual reasons why, prescribing lifestyle changes all for the better.
Sure, at first it was uncomfortable talking personal issues with a female, but finding out she listened was eye opening. I lost track of her, requesting another female PA and she listened. I finally found her at a different clinic then lost her again. But before she left, I asked her who else at the clinic was as good as her, she referenced a female Dr. 4 years later, I am still confident a female in healthcare gives better service than male.

I have come to the same conclusion about F vs M health care.

Curious, but mom always said the same thing.

 

[Bakerite]

I started doing yoga in my 20's and have done it off and on since. Now 70 and retired I'm doing it on YouTube every morning and it really helps get my day off to a good start. I also walk most every day and eat well. Daily music practice is my form of meditation. I think weight training would be make a good addition. I am contemplating quiting all alcohol after this past week.....
My ex was one of the first PA's and was loved by her patients for the kind of care she dispensed. Agree that the women caregivers I have seen tend to be great.

 

[509]

I have come to the same conclusion about F vs M health care.

..............Agree that the women caregivers I have seen tend to be great.

Curious, but mom always said the same thing.

Geez, what a bunch of sexist pigs!!!

I have had two male doctors and two females as my primary physicians over the past 40 years.

The male doctors had a better sense of humor. One female doctor was an outstanding diagnostician.

My current doctor, is a graduate from Moscow. No, not the one in Idaho, but the other Moscow. I told him I got rid of my accent, and he should do the same. He did give up using his last name since nobody, including me could pronounce it. He is a real good doctor.

I come to every appointment with a list of questions and issues that keeps the appointment focused. Data like blood work is completed first, and I always come in with a complete blood pressure data run.

I do believe in better living through chemistry.

I did have a Dr. that was Mr. Natural and while I liked him personally I finally found another doctor, the outstanding diagnostician. The first question I asked her was "do you believe in better living through chemistry". She said yes.

I am more comfortable being naked around woman. That is a big advantage to a female doctor. Then you forget, and your partner asks "why are you coughing".

 

[fatbillybob]

Worst thing is buying exercise equipment that end up as coat racks. I'm too impatient to drive to the gym. I also don't like crowds. There is nothing better walking the beach hunting for fish but it isn't cardiovascular. The best thing I have bought in the last 10 years has been a wahoo kicker core that replaces the back wheel of my bike. The core attaches to the internet via the Zwift AP and I can watch the cartoon workout on my Ipad and track my heart rate in real time. I can just do rides, targeted workouts, do a riding series say to improve racing skills, and race other zwitfers. My best description is zwift is cartoon peleton at a fraction the price. I really like racing against other people on the AP. It's the 1st fun indoor bike training that keeps me motivated. IMO it is so much better than training outside because you can just train and not worry about cars or traffic lights and you can get proper warmups and cool downs supper important for old riders.

 

[BriGuy]

Worst thing is buying exercise equipment that end up as coat racks. I'm too impatient to drive to the gym. I also don't like crowds. There is nothing better walking the beach hunting for fish but it isn't cardiovascular. The best thing I have bought in the last 10 years has been a wahoo kicker core that replaces the back wheel of my bike. The core attaches to the internet via the Zwift AP and I can watch the cartoon workout on my Ipad and track my heart rate in real time. I can just do rides, targeted workouts, do a riding series say to improve racing skills, and race other zwitfers. My best description is zwift is cartoon peleton at a fraction the price. I really like racing against other people on the AP. It's the 1st fun indoor bike training that keeps me motivated. IMO it is so much better than training outside because you can just train and not worry about cars or traffic lights and you can get proper warmups and cool downs supper important for old riders.

I've discovered that it is physically possible to slow down the progression of time by riding a stationary bike. Never has an hour felt so long.

Seriously, though, modern indoor bikes with all the feedback they provide are great!

 

[Coach Potter]

Everything in moderation.

Including moderation.

 

[Coach Potter]

Congratulations!

Amazing man! Stories like yours are my favorite kind.

 

[SurfnFish]

alcohol consumption is something that every aging adult should consider carefully. When we're younger we metabolize alcohol much better, and usually have none of the underlying issues that can be exacerbated by alcohol, a script that flips with age. Moderate drinkers, we gave up alcohol in our early 60's, which coincided for me with the death of two good friends dying too damn early from liver disease.

 

[CanoeGuy]

Don't let yourself go as you get older! My cautionary tale to you younger folks:

I have always been fairly active and fit but fragile. I was easily injured in my competitive sports days - basketball and track. A few years ago I was actually in really good shape from road cycling and a little strength training. Then to prepare for what I expect to be a very active retirement, I bought an empty cargo van and started building the campervan I have been dreaming about for at least a couple decades. The time spent in the shop took away from the bike. Last summer my accessory navicular flared up. That really limited what I could do. I had the surgery in mid February. No weight on the foot for 6+ weeks. Issues with the incision healing delayed the start of PT. When I finally was able to start walking it was clear that my body didn't react well to 2 months of nearly zero activity with about 8 months of limited exercise before that and 2 years of not great exercise before that. The chondromalacia in my knees is worse than it has ever been and now have plantar fasciitis. Every time I feel like I am making progress with my foot, I increase my activity level too fast and my foot tells me it is not ready. I made the mistake of taking a friend and his family paddleboarding the other day. They were the slowest paddlers ever - we were on Hosmer for 4+ hours. My foot couldn't take that level of activity, so I spent a good bit of time kneeling. That set of my lower back... Gonna be a long road back.

GET IN SHAPE AND STAY IN SHAPE!

 

[Evan B]

Don't let yourself go as you get older! My cautionary tale to you younger folks:

GET IN SHAPE AND STAY IN SHAPE!

One thing I've learned since really taking this seriously in my mid 20s: hardly anyone will listen to this advice. They have to come to the realization on their own. Not one friend, family member or acquaintance I've had this discussion with since realizing the same thing has taken my advice. None, zero. They either continue to make excuses or just say "I don't wanna," or they had a "rock bottom moment" of their own that made them come around. Wish it was something people would listen to, but I just haven't seen it happen.

I think what's even more frustrating for me is having someone I know decide they want to do something, but choosing the path of least resistance or some fad that won't yield sustainable results. Others get focused solely on one thing like steady state cardio, which while still being better than nothing, is inferior to anerobic strength training for overall health and fitness as we age. And I'm someone who REALLY enjoys the cardio, and is good at it.

Like I said before: I'm happy to help and could make a thread on the topic, I just know most who WANT to do something are likely already doing it. My audience would be for those who are in that situation but don't know how to do it (which is actually a lot of folks). One thing I'll say about strength training is that without some kind of professional coaching, you're likely to do the major lifts incorrectly. No amount of watching youtube or reading online is going to get you lifting right. In my training/coaching of hundreds of people, I've never once had someone come in fresh off the street and be able to do ANY barbell or dumbell lifting with proper form unless they had previous experience with a professional coach of some type.

 

[DimeBrite]

One thing I've learned since really taking this seriously in my mid 20s: hardly anyone will listen to this advice. They have to come to the realization on their own. Not one friend, family member or acquaintance I've had this discussion with since realizing the same thing has taken my advice. None, zero. They either continue to make excuses or just say "I don't wanna," or they had a "rock bottom moment" of their own that made them come around. Wish it was something people would listen to, but I just haven't seen it happen.

I think what's even more frustrating for me is having someone I know decide they want to do something, but choosing the path of least resistance or some fad that won't yield sustainable results. Others get focused solely on one thing like steady state cardio, which while still being better than nothing, is inferior to anerobic strength training for overall health and fitness as we age. And I'm someone who REALLY enjoys the cardio, and is good at it.

Like I said before: I'm happy to help and could make a thread on the topic, I just know most who WANT to do something are likely already doing it. My audience would be for those who are in that situation but don't know how to do it (which is actually a lot of folks). One thing I'll say about strength training is that without some kind of professional coaching, you're likely to do the major lifts incorrectly. No amount of watching youtube or reading online is going to get you lifting right. In my training/coaching of hundreds of people, I've never once had someone come in fresh off the street and be able to do ANY barbell or dumbell lifting with proper form unless they had previous experience with a professional coach of some type.

A fitness thread is an excellent idea, I would read it (and apply it).

Salmon season is coming soon and the risk of beach alterations is omnipresent.

 

[Coach Potter]

One thing I've learned since really taking this seriously in my mid 20s: hardly anyone will listen to this advice. They have to come to the realization on their own. Not one friend, family member or acquaintance I've had this discussion with since realizing the same thing has taken my advice. None, zero. They either continue to make excuses or just say "I don't wanna," or they had a "rock bottom moment" of their own that made them come around. Wish it was something people would listen to, but I just haven't seen it happen.

I think what's even more frustrating for me is having someone I know decide they want to do something, but choosing the path of least resistance or some fad that won't yield sustainable results. Others get focused solely on one thing like steady state cardio, which while still being better than nothing, is inferior to anerobic strength training for overall health and fitness as we age. And I'm someone who REALLY enjoys the cardio, and is good at it.

Like I said before: I'm happy to help and could make a thread on the topic, I just know most who WANT to do something are likely already doing it. My audience would be for those who are in that situation but don't know how to do it (which is actually a lot of folks). One thing I'll say about strength training is that without some kind of professional coaching, you're likely to do the major lifts incorrectly. No amount of watching youtube or reading online is going to get you lifting right. In my training/coaching of hundreds of people, I've never once had someone come in fresh off the street and be able to do ANY barbell or dumbell lifting with proper form unless they had previous experience with a professional coach of some type.

I can relate to almost everything you said! My wife and kids are my only personal success stories. I have been pretty damn fit for better than 15 years. The older I get while maintaining a six pack the more “help” I get asked for. I can’t think of anyone who has been helped by my advice.

I have written countless workout programs, eating plans, and given a million pep talks (the football coach in me can come out even with grown ups) and I can’t honestly think of a single success story.
I don’t think a single one of those people has done anything I suggested for more than a week or two…if at all.

 

[Evan B]

I have written countless workout programs, eating plans, and given a million pep talks (the football coach in me can come out even with grown ups) and I can’t honestly think of a single success story.
I don’t think a single one of those people has done anything I suggested for more than a week or two…if at all.

Exactly. Just a mix of lots of excuses, lack of motivation, and a weird sense that "what I'm doing is enough." That "what I'm doing" usually being going fishing once a week or walking the dog for 15min, or something along those lines. I also think a lot of people are just massively ignorant about how the sedentary lifestyle and crap diet leads to all the usual "aging" symptoms. I know people pushing 70 who are more physically fit than my lazy 17yr old.

Being fit isn't going to necessarily help you live longer, but it's definitely going to add a lot of enjoyment to those years you have. I have someone in my family who has not done a minute of exercise in their 68yrs of life. A few years ago they decided they wanted to finally get out and enjoy the outdoors more: biking, hiking, paddleboarding, kayaking, and seeing the world. They can't do ANY of those things now. They tried, but can barely walk, have no balance, no stamina, zero core strength, and just plain lack any physical ability beyond short walks to the car to go somewhere. Our 17yr old still is in his "invincible" stage despite seeing this family member unable to enjoy life, but he's headed there himself if he doesn't start following his parents' example.

 

[Coach Potter]

Exactly. Just a mix of lots of excuses, lack of motivation, and a weird sense that "what I'm doing is enough." That "what I'm doing" usually being going fishing once a week or walking the dog for 15min, or something along those lines. I also think a lot of people are just massively ignorant about how the sedentary lifestyle and crap diet leads to all the usual "aging" symptoms. I know people pushing 70 who are more physically fit than my lazy 17yr old.

Being fit isn't going to necessarily help you live longer, but it's definitely going to add a lot of enjoyment to those years you have. I have someone in my family who has not done a minute of exercise in their 68yrs of life. A few years ago they decided they wanted to finally get out and enjoy the outdoors more: biking, hiking, paddleboarding, kayaking, and seeing the world. They can't do ANY of those things now. They tried, but can barely walk, have no balance, no stamina, zero core strength, and just plain lack any physical ability beyond short walks to the car to go somewhere. Our 17yr old still is in his "invincible" stage despite seeing this family member unable to enjoy life, but he's headed there himself if he doesn't start following his parents' example.

You’re spot on! I have no illusions that anything I’m doing is going to prolong my life. I’m only trying to prolong HOW I live it now…not how long. My favorite activities, and the places I prefer to do those activities, happen to have a physical requirement for participation.

 

[Evan B]

You’re spot on! I have no illusions that anything I’m doing is going to prolong my life. I’m only trying to prolong HOW I live it now…not how long. My favorite activities, and the places I prefer to do those activities, happen to have a physical requirement for participation.

Also turns out I just plain like lifting, exercising, and punishing myself with long runs

 

[John Svahn]

I swam competitively through high school, then raced bicycles and nordic ski raced for 15-20 years after that. One morning I woke up in my late 30s and decided that I had been an athlete my entire life and I was over it. I also had some health complications (gnar skin cancer that required multiple surgeries and course of radiation). After a few years I put on 40 lbs and then decided I wanted to be an athlete again. Still trying after 20 years. Developed a bad diet when racing and got used to eating 4 k calories a day.
Long story short, get in shape, stay in shape!

 

[Coach Potter]

To answer the OP….

I train everyday…7 days/week every week.…no rest days. I haven’t always done this. I have only been doing this for the last 2 years. Previous to that, I was using a traditional 2-3 days on and one day off.

Going to an everyday schedule has been super beneficial to staying consistent. Seems obvious right…what’s more consistent than everyday. It wasn’t so obvious to me that a normal split was harder to maintain than everyday. A day off can turn to two and three etc.

Training daily also forced me to change how I train because it wasn’t possible to do what I was doing before on an everyday basis, you would wear out quickly. My new rule for training became, “don’t do anything today that might keep you from training tomorrow.” In other words, I make a serious effort not to make myself too sore or sore at all. If my body doesn’t hurt I can train everyday and the volume of work starts to really stack up when you’re that consistent.

I alternate strength training with conditioning every day. If I strength train on Monday then Tuesday is a conditioning day and that has gone that way since January of 2023. I have missed some days here and there but I can count them on both hands.

Everything I program for myself is done through the lens of the demands of a backpack hunt. That’s the most physically demanding thing I do so that’s what I train for. A backpack hunt requires both strength and endurance…sometimes both at the same time. I rarely have to do anything fast but sometimes I do have to work at an elevated heart rate due to the load and steepness of terrain.

My strength training days are barbell and dumbbell dominated with lots of single leg stability work and special exercises for specific issues to me. I have a fake hip and an arthritic ankle…those things require some attention.

My conditioning days are mostly loaded walks (backpack or weight vest) or fan bike in the winter. They are never more than 45 minutes on the bike or 55 minutes of loaded walking. Over time, the distances or output now (both biking and walking) in the same time and same effort is about 50% more than when I started.

I eat mostly meat, fruit, and a few nuts. I drink alcohol occasionally but less and less all the time. I have been nicotine free for almost 2 months. I was never a smoker but Copenhagen had its hooks in me for several decades. Leaving the coaching profession has helped that cause!

I want to backpack hunt and everything that goes along with that into my 70’s. If I can do that, everything else will be easy.

 

[Herkileez]

I've trained with weights since the age of 13, in addition to always being physically active, never allowing myself to get too far out of shape.
I can't handle the gerbil workouts on treadmills, stationary bikes, etc, but, instead, keep physically active with things like pickleball 3 times per week, actual biking, etc. IMO, fitness doesn't always have to be an ordeal, but should involve something enjoyable wherever possible....and having a few laughs socializing along the way is a bonus.