Is there a forum for old people?

MrAlaska

MrAlaska

New member
This forum and others I have found seem to be populated primarily with people in their 20's and 30's. There is nothing wrong with that but I would be more at home comparing notes in a forum populated by people in their 40's and 50's who have abused their bodies most of their life. I did have a rather successful health phase in my 30's so I do have some reference to compare and I am here to tell you that a body pushing 50 is capable of some subtleties that can make fitness almost an entirely different science.

The internet is a big place. There must be somewhere people congregate to discuss things like worrying about not having health insurance when they stop doing lunges for fear of popping out their knees. I am a member of a segment of the population whos bodies, forced enough times to survive on goldfish and martinis, have learned over the years to efficiently process food to the extent we can lead an active life full of stress and exercise while burning no more than a spoonful of applesauce for fuel. I am an engineering marvel and I want to find more of my kind!
 
I'm 58, so I guess I qualify! I've been yo-yo'ing all my life. When I was younger, I could take off 40 or 50 lbs. with no sweat. Now it's really, really tough. It's like your body is telling you, "You've tried this before, buddy, so I'm not going to drop an ounce until you convince me you're really serious."

Here are some observations that I think are relevant to my "advanced" age:

1) Motivation: I quit smoking 35 years ago because I was convinced it would kill me. I started this time (last July, actually) because I was convinced my extra weight would kill me -- before I got to see my kids married, see my grandkids, etc. It's no longer a matter of looking studly -- this time, it's just a matter of survival.

2) Dedication: In the past, I was pretty sporadic about exercise. Now it's 6 times a week, an hour a day. Both weight training and cardio. It's hard, hard, hard. I don't get those "endorphins" I felt when I was younger. A lot of the time, you just have to drag your ass to the gym.

3) Patience: This time, I set my goal 2 1/2 years into the future, which comes to a loss of around 2 lbs. per month. That represents a calorie deficit per day of around 200 calories. While I've been doing better than that, it gives me an attainable goal. Patience is also critical when you hit the inevitable plateaus, which in your 50's, I'm convinced, last weeks if not months. I just recently was on a plateau for 40 days, during which my weight did not drop an ounce, even though I had a daily calorie deficit of around 500. Finally, yesterday, my weight dropped. Patience, patience, patience.

4) Fads: Over the past 40 years, I've seen every diet, and some of them (Atkins) twice. I've come to realize that any diet that is based on something you can't do for the rest of your life will very likely doom you to failure. I can't cut out carbs -- I like pasta and bread too much. But I can get used to whole grain bread as opposed to white bread. The best "diet" is one I saw written up in the NY Times Magazine 2 weeks ago: "eat real food, in moderation, and mostly plants."

5) Help: This time, I'm getting help from everyone I can. My wife (we've been together 33 years) keeps cookies, chips, and candies out of the house. She respects my need to go to the gym. I get help on the web. I use a personal trainer once a month. I realize that paying money for your health actually costs less than paying money for medical care from being fat.

I'm not saying this doesn't apply to all the people in their 20's and 30's. But I do understand your need to relate to people who have been in this predicament for a long time, even decades.

Good luck!
 
Hiya, TomO. I would certainly say you qualify! It sounds like you are on the right track as well.

Motivation I do not have much problem with. On days I do not feel like exercising I tell myself if I get a normal blood pressure reading I will allow myself a break. The numbers have been coming down over the months but still high enough to scare me back on the machine.

I am well read on the basics of diet and nutrition but have not always applied what I know. This latest shift in my lifestyle has been coming on for a while but I turned up the intensity beginning in January by cranking up the resistance on my elliptical machine and increasing my AM & PM workouts to 30 minutes each. I am still trying to organize a reliable dumbell routine that I can work into my schedule, which is what brought me onto the net looking for inspiration.

Thanks for dropping in!
 
Hello Mr Alaska!

Sorry, no, I don't know of such a forum .... but I never noticed that this one was particularly full of people of any one age group .... a rather nice mixture really :)

I'm 44 years old .... but I never before considered myself 'old people'! I abused myself all of my life, until last year - beer, junk food, biscuits, crisps, chips, port vinho etc, and had never ever exercised more than the odd hike.

If you don't find your haven of golden oldies ... come back here and pull up a chair, we'll pour you a horlicks and play a game of chess or whatever oldies like us are suppose to be doing ;)
 
Hiya TF,

I don't really consider myself old, either, although the last couple years I have noticed the feeling of invincibility that I always took for granted seems to be slipping away. I referred to myself as old when I started this thread because I had just read a thread full of people who must have been teenagers having a spirited argument about nothing at all and I wished to seperate myself from that kind of action. I still have a few years before celebrating the golden phases!
 
Welcome to the Forum, MrAlaska! Sorry, I'm just a baby of 21. :eek: But it's nice to see you here anyway. There are certainly plenty of people here over the age of 40. And even us youngsters can be helpful from time to time. Haha Most importantly, there are people here who are experts - either qualified health professionals or people who have been on this weightloss journey for years. I'm sure you'll find the help and support you need. I suggest starting a journal in the Weight Loss Diary section. Good luck!
 
Welcome to the journey! I have not noticed a huge area of one age or the other; to be honest in a months time half the forum can easily sway from one age group to the other. I understand about the whole age thing though... when I read someone close to my age I tend to compare notes more so than I do with those older than I am (as I am a 23yo).

Good Journey to you!
 
I'm 48 myself, and so I guess I'm one of those "old people". NOT. But I understand that our weight loss efforts might be a bit different. Motiviated even more by health matters than vanity, though I still look forward to the day I can fit into a size 34 jeans and show off a tight butt and six pack abs.

Hang in there though and keep posting here. We old people are around and interested in what you have to say.
 
42 here - and while i will often refer to myself as an old broad - I'm dont always feel so old - until I look in the mirror at my experience lines :D

A while back - I did stumble into a forum that was predominately 40 and above and while it wasn't weight loss or health orientated it was discussed and these were some of the whiniest people I've ever encountered -- One ache and pain and they were ready to call the undertaker.

I much prefer all age groups that is here... while 20 somethings might have some difficulty understanding the challenges that older members face.. every age group has challenges and they all can learn from each other.
 
I'm 49

and about to turn 50 this coming March. I just joined this forum a week ago and I must say, so far I'm impressed. There is a great diversity of people here with lots of varying experiences/issues. So i'm looking forward to being a member of this forum for a long time

-Bill
 
Thanks everyone! The diversity of people on this site does seem to be a nice mix. I wish I had more time to get involved but I will be taking what I need and contributing what I can in the mean time. See yas around!
 
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