On aging

rhinocaster · March 3rd, 2008, 01:56 PM

This subject has been on my mind for the last several days.

I have to say that I'm not happy. I'm 43. Still "Young" to some, but certainly not young. Like Chris Rock said, "If I died today everyone would say, 'Oh, but he was so young'." That doesn't make me young. In your 40s you can already feel the different lives you've lived. It takes quite a while to get here.

I've always been a very strong and physically fit person. In my 20s I thought nothing of getting up every workday at 5am and riding my bike 60 miles before work. My friend and I would take walks on Saturdays that we called, "There and backs." They were a walk to and from a beach 25 miles away. Over a mountain! I was a paratrooper. I wrestled and played baseball in high school. Until 2 years ago I ran large printing presses and I've loaded as much as 10,000 lbs of paper in a 10 hour day.

In my 30s life was much the same as my 20s. A little bit of maintenance on my body at the gym was all that was required.

In my 40s, everything is changing. Weight comes and sticks like glue. I'm less interested in taking the 40% (Off the top of my head) more time at the gym that it's going to take to maintain any kind of solid fitness level. I used to ENJOY the discomfort that came with strenuous activity and exercise. I really don't enjoy that feeling anymore.

I think that if I was 22 and stepped into my current body for 1 minute I'd go straight to the hospital!

I think I do need to put the time in. Life is too short.

pengipete · March 3rd, 2008, 02:09 PM

I've noticed more changes between 40 and my current 47 than I ever did between any other period. There's that part of me that doesn't want to accept that I can't do all of the things that I used to.

It's a good idea to excercise at any age but you don't need the same sort of excercise as you did in your youth. You're not looking to build up on the outside so much as maintain the insides. Carefully raising the heart rate and some moves to maintain joint flexibility will be the best things in the long run but you must get medical advice before starting any vigorous training routine.

Mark Davis · March 3rd, 2008, 02:12 PM

I used to think 50 was real old when I was a kid now that Im 57 60 doesnt even seem old.

I keep windering when I will start to feel old.

Maybe Im lucky. I havent been sick with the flu or anything like that since the 70's. All my friends call me iron man cause they always get sick but I just seem to stay the same.

If you think your old at any age you can make yourself feel old. I think the numbers are a trick. I have several young friends 21-23 and I can party harder than any of them they just cant figure me out.

rhinocaster · March 3rd, 2008, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pengipete

I've noticed more changes between 40 and my current 47 than I ever did between any other period. There's that part of me that doesn't want to accept that I can't do all of the things that I used to.

It's a good idea to excercise at any age but you don't need the same sort of excercise as you did in your youth. You're not looking to build up on the outside so much as maintain the insides. Carefully raising the heart rate and some moves to maintain joint flexibility will be the best things in the long run but you must get medical advice before starting any vigorous training routine.

I appreciate the warnings, but there are only a couple of things in my life that I'm going to be really vigorous with anymore!

rhinocaster · March 3rd, 2008, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

I used to think 50 was real old when I was a kid now that Im 57 60 doesnt even seem old.

I keep windering when I will start to feel old.

Maybe Im lucky. I havent been sick with the flu or anything like that since the 70's. All my friends call me iron man cause they always get sick but I just seem to stay the same.

If you think your old at any age you can make yourself feel old. I think the numbers are a trick. I have several young friends 21-23 and I can party harder than any of them they just cant figure me out.

I hear ya' Mark, but there's not denying physical changes as we age. The way we build muscle and store fat changes, and our metabolisms can change to an alarming degree! It ends up getting us all. Even Cal Ripken had to retire.

Big John · March 3rd, 2008, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhinocaster

........ It takes quite a while to get here.

Yeah, in your case 43 years !!, you might not realise it but we are all racking up the numbers and there's absolutely no getting away from it.
Sure, at a few days off 51 i feel different physically than i felt at 25 but on the other hand i hope i have also gained another 25 years wisdom and maybe guitar playing chops too, if you feel you want to spend more gym time then do so but don't try to be a 20 year old again you're not.
rhinocaster go play your Tele !!

ChicknPickn · March 3rd, 2008, 02:25 PM

One thing I notice is that there are more women who are beautiful at age 60 than there are men who are buff when they're 60. One friend of mine just ran her first marathon at the age of 62, and everyone thinks she's had plastic surgery on her face, but she's all natural. I think guys lose more after age 40 than women do. Testosterone injections can make a difference, but now the news is that they can set prostate cancer cells into rapid-reproduction mode. Risky stuff.

Mark Davis · March 3rd, 2008, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhinocaster

I hear ya' Mark, but there's not denying physical changes as we age. The way we build muscle and store fat changes, and our metabolisms can change to an alarming degree! It ends up getting us all. Even Cal Ripken had to retire.

I agree with ya 100% but other than my blindness caused by a failed cataract operation Im the same as I was at 35. Same weight same blood pressure. Maybe its cause Ive already had so many things happen to me in my youth 2 major motorcycle accidents one in 1967 that kept me out of action for 2 years and another in 1990 that Im still on disability from that Im done with bad things happening to me? LOL

Ive always had eye problems from birth I was 2 lbs 2 oz in 1950 and back then it was rare for someone that premature to make it. I got an eye problem called Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP).

My Grandma Clark is 99 and is in good health she just had a checkup and the dr said she could easily live another 15 years and my Dads mom my other grandma Hensley had 5 husbands outlived all of them lived to 100 and outlived all her kids too.

Ive actually had more fun between 50-57 than all the years before that.

esteban · March 3rd, 2008, 02:36 PM

You guys scare the bejeezus out of me.

chet · March 3rd, 2008, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhinocaster

This subject has been on my mind for the last several days.

I have to say that I'm not happy. I'm 43. Still "Young" to some, but certainly not young. Like Chris Rock said, "If I died today everyone would say, 'Oh, but he was so young'." That doesn't make me young. In your 40s you can already feel the different lives you've lived. It takes quite a while to get here.

I've always been a very strong and physically fit person. In my 20s I thought nothing of getting up every workday at 5am and riding my bike 60 miles before work. My friend and I would take walks on Saturdays that we called, "There and backs." They were a walk to and from a beach 25 miles away. Over a mountain! I was a paratrooper. I wrestled and played baseball in high school. Until 2 years ago I ran large printing presses and I've loaded as much as 10,000 lbs of paper in a 10 hour day.

In my 30s life was much the same as my 20s. A little bit of maintenance on my body at the gym was all that was required.

In my 40s, everything is changing. Weight comes and sticks like glue. I'm less interested in taking the 40% (Off the top of my head) more time at the gym that it's going to take to maintain any kind of solid fitness level. I used to ENJOY the discomfort that came with strenuous activity and exercise. I really don't enjoy that feeling anymore.

I think that if I was 22 and stepped into my current body for 1 minute I'd go straight to the hospital!

I think I do need to put the time in. Life is too short.

Yep...

chet · March 3rd, 2008, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

I used to think 50 was real old when I was a kid now that Im 57 60 doesnt even seem old.

I keep windering when I will start to feel old.

Maybe Im lucky. I havent been sick with the flu or anything like that since the 70's. All my friends call me iron man cause they always get sick but I just seem to stay the same.

If you think your old at any age you can make yourself feel old. I think the numbers are a trick. I have several young friends 21-23 and I can party harder than any of them they just cant figure me out.

I wouldn't push it if I were you.

3 Chord · March 3rd, 2008, 02:38 PM

I'm 41 now and I am starting to realize that getting old is actually the goal. Do I want to feel aches and pains, lose some hair, get a little belly, no but at least I am getting a chance to get there.

There is no getting out of it, so embrace it I say. Plus I am a better guitar player now than when I was 20, still a hack, but a better hack.

BillyG · March 3rd, 2008, 02:49 PM

After eating burgers and fries for 40 years, it's very difficult to change eating habits. If I had a time machine, I'd beat my old-self senseless into eating right. (I'd also bring back a couple of blackguards.

pengipete · March 3rd, 2008, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhinocaster

I appreciate the warnings, but there are only a couple of things in my life that I'm going to be really vigorous with anymore!

That's good but don't forget to excercise your left arm as well.

rhinocaster · March 3rd, 2008, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pengipete

That's good but don't forget to excercise your left arm as well.

JimiBryant · March 3rd, 2008, 03:06 PM

all you young guys.. stay fit, get exercise, and eat well or you'll surely feel it once ya hit the big four-oh..

I feel like I have the brain of a 13 year old in the body of my grandfather!

I've noticed that it's getting harder to read the fine print these days, and I can definitely tell that years of loud concerts with no ear protection has taken a toll on my hearing as well.

CrazyManAndy · March 3rd, 2008, 03:12 PM

Some fun articles to read: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bbinfo.htm

Yes, yes, I know it says bodybuilding, but don't let that scare you away. I love the place, tons and tons of good info. Even if your goal isn't to be a professional bodybuilder, most of the information there is still useful for getting in shape and staying healthy. And many of the writers are actually involved in other fields, like sports or strength training. They even have an "Over 40" section of articles.

CMA

ChicknPickn · March 3rd, 2008, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimiBryant

. . . I can definitely tell that years of loud concerts with no ear protection has taken a toll on my hearing as well.

Ain't that the truth! You guys who still have your high-frequency hearing, take care of it! I wear foam plugs to just about every live event I attend these days, and it helps, but once you notice yourself saying "what was that? . . . . say that again???" all the time, it's too late.

octatonic · March 3rd, 2008, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhinocaster

In my 40s, everything is changing. Weight comes and sticks like glue. I'm less interested in taking the 40% (Off the top of my head) more time at the gym that it's going to take to maintain any kind of solid fitness level. I used to ENJOY the discomfort that came with strenuous activity and exercise. I really don't enjoy that feeling anymore.

Eat and drink less- a lot less for some.
You can't put the weight on if you don't consume the calories in the first place.
I am (only) 36 though- but I consume no more than 2000 calories on a gym/fitness day and 1700 on a day off.

rhinocaster · March 3rd, 2008, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by octatonic

Eat and drink less- a lot less for some.
You can't put the weight on if you don't consume the calories in the first place.
I am (only) 36 though- but I consume no more than 2000 calories on a gym/fitness day and 1700 on a day off.

Yes, it's a very simple formula. Take in only as much as you expend, or less if you want to lose weight.

The formula is the only simple part, however.

pengipete · March 3rd, 2008, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimiBryant

I can definitely tell that years of loud concerts with no ear protection has taken a toll on my hearing as well.

Half past six.

Mark Davis · March 3rd, 2008, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimiBryant

all you young guys.. stay fit, get exercise, and eat well or you'll surely feel it once ya hit the big four-oh..

I feel like I have the brain of a 13 year old in the body of my grandfather!

I've noticed that it's getting harder to read the fine print these days, and I can definitely tell that years of loud concerts with no ear protection has taken a toll on my hearing as well.

The eyes are the first thing to go. Notice how many people wear glasses that are over 40.

Again Im lucky to have really good unreal hearing. But Ive always been like that mainly because my eye sight has been so bad all my life now that Im blind on 1 side and 20/800 on the eye I can barely see out of my hearing is way better than most people.

Last time I was tested in 2002 I could hear from 40hz to 18000hz. Most people cant hear anything over 15k.

As an example of how good Ive always been able to hear my mom would always make me go all the way to the back of the house in the bedroom that was away from the kitchen after she made a trip to the grocery store cause I could count her steps and always find all the candy she had hidden.

Once my Mom and Dad were whispering something they didnt want me to hear but I heard it plain as day and just repeated it right back. Thats when my Dad said damit Mark you can hear an ant pissing on cotton. LOL

mikespe · March 3rd, 2008, 04:12 PM

Ask yourself this question: Do you have a wife and kids that you love and adore? If yes then all the aches and pains are worth it. Those aches and pains hurt so much more when your 41 and alone. Yea I know, you should be healthy for yourself...but let's face it...love has a way of making bad things seem so much more bearable and better!

March 3rd, 2008, 01:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
rhinocaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Oregon Age: 44 Posts: 1,144	On aging This subject has been on my mind for the last several days. I have to say that I'm not happy. I'm 43. Still "Young" to some, but certainly not young. Like Chris Rock said, "If I died today everyone would say, 'Oh, but he was so young'." That doesn't make me young. In your 40s you can already feel the different lives you've lived. It takes quite a while to get here. I've always been a very strong and physically fit person. In my 20s I thought nothing of getting up every workday at 5am and riding my bike 60 miles before work. My friend and I would take walks on Saturdays that we called, "There and backs." They were a walk to and from a beach 25 miles away. Over a mountain! I was a paratrooper. I wrestled and played baseball in high school. Until 2 years ago I ran large printing presses and I've loaded as much as 10,000 lbs of paper in a 10 hour day. In my 30s life was much the same as my 20s. A little bit of maintenance on my body at the gym was all that was required. In my 40s, everything is changing. Weight comes and sticks like glue. I'm less interested in taking the 40% (Off the top of my head) more time at the gym that it's going to take to maintain any kind of solid fitness level. I used to ENJOY the discomfort that came with strenuous activity and exercise. I really don't enjoy that feeling anymore. I think that if I was 22 and stepped into my current body for 1 minute I'd go straight to the hospital! I think I do need to put the time in. Life is too short. __________________ Just because I "Don't" get it doesn't mean I "Won't" get it!

March 3rd, 2008, 02:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 57 Posts: 11,812	I used to think 50 was real old when I was a kid now that Im 57 60 doesnt even seem old. I keep windering when I will start to feel old. Maybe Im lucky. I havent been sick with the flu or anything like that since the 70's. All my friends call me iron man cause they always get sick but I just seem to stay the same. If you think your old at any age you can make yourself feel old. I think the numbers are a trick. I have several young friends 21-23 and I can party harder than any of them they just cant figure me out. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

March 3rd, 2008, 02:36 PM	#9 (permalink)
esteban Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Austin, Texas Age: 19 Posts: 1,114 3 Photos	You guys scare the bejeezus out of me. __________________ When I die, they'll say, he couldn't play sh*t, but he sure made it sound good. - Hound Dog Taylor

March 3rd, 2008, 03:06 PM	#16 (permalink)
JimiBryant Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chicago Chicago that toddlin' town Age: 46 Posts: 1,296	all you young guys.. stay fit, get exercise, and eat well or you'll surely feel it once ya hit the big four-oh.. I feel like I have the brain of a 13 year old in the body of my grandfather! I've noticed that it's getting harder to read the fine print these days, and I can definitely tell that years of loud concerts with no ear protection has taken a toll on my hearing as well. __________________ I am very proud of the fact that I'm so humble!

March 3rd, 2008, 02:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
pengipete Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gloucester U.K. Age: 47 Posts: 908	I've noticed more changes between 40 and my current 47 than I ever did between any other period. There's that part of me that doesn't want to accept that I can't do all of the things that I used to. It's a good idea to excercise at any age but you don't need the same sort of excercise as you did in your youth. You're not looking to build up on the outside so much as maintain the insides. Carefully raising the heart rate and some moves to maintain joint flexibility will be the best things in the long run but you must get medical advice before starting any vigorous training routine.

March 3rd, 2008, 02:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
ChicknPickn Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Suffolk, VA Age: 45 Posts: 423	One thing I notice is that there are more women who are beautiful at age 60 than there are men who are buff when they're 60. One friend of mine just ran her first marathon at the age of 62, and everyone thinks she's had plastic surgery on her face, but she's all natural. I think guys lose more after age 40 than women do. Testosterone injections can make a difference, but now the news is that they can set prostate cancer cells into rapid-reproduction mode. Risky stuff.

March 3rd, 2008, 02:38 PM	#12 (permalink)
3 Chord TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Billings MT Age: 41 Posts: 86	I'm 41 now and I am starting to realize that getting old is actually the goal. Do I want to feel aches and pains, lose some hair, get a little belly, no but at least I am getting a chance to get there. There is no getting out of it, so embrace it I say. Plus I am a better guitar player now than when I was 20, still a hack, but a better hack.

March 3rd, 2008, 02:49 PM	#13 (permalink)
BillyG Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Summerville, SC Age: 40 Posts: 428	After eating burgers and fries for 40 years, it's very difficult to change eating habits. If I had a time machine, I'd beat my old-self senseless into eating right. (I'd also bring back a couple of blackguards.

March 3rd, 2008, 03:12 PM	#17 (permalink)
CrazyManAndy Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 139	Some fun articles to read: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bbinfo.htm Yes, yes, I know it says bodybuilding, but don't let that scare you away. I love the place, tons and tons of good info. Even if your goal isn't to be a professional bodybuilder, most of the information there is still useful for getting in shape and staying healthy. And many of the writers are actually involved in other fields, like sports or strength training. They even have an "Over 40" section of articles. CMA

March 3rd, 2008, 04:12 PM	#23 (permalink)
mikespe Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Western New York Age: 41 Posts: 992	Ask yourself this question: Do you have a wife and kids that you love and adore? If yes then all the aches and pains are worth it. Those aches and pains hurt so much more when your 41 and alone. Yea I know, you should be healthy for yourself...but let's face it...love has a way of making bad things seem so much more bearable and better!