Coming up to 60.... what do you do to stay as healthy as possible as you age?

[loveyouradvice]

Just that really....Realised with a shock that I live life as if I expect to live forever.... and that of course I won't

So taking stock... building health for the next 20+ years and keen to be amongst those vibrant intrepid types in my 80s if possible.

What do you do?

I'm already focussed on great sleep, nutrition and exercise. And have done 16.8 intermittent fasting 5-6 days a week for the last six months.... and expect to go on doing it 4-5 days a week post pandemic.

I'm adding:

• trialling 10 minutes mediation every morning
• more balance exercise - dance and tai chi
• the fun one - seeing friends more! Building local networks... great excuse to spend more time socialising! (Yup, I know its outdoors but I rather like that)
• looking into antioxidants and thinking of eating turmeric every day!

Im not a health nut but am keen to do some simple stuff from now rather than thinking at 70, why on earth didnt I start ten years ago.....

What do you do - or wish you had done earlier??

Some light weight training
Some cardio

How did your fasting affect your weight loss ?

What about exercising your mind OP?

I am a similar age and my biggest fear is dementia. I exercise regularly (Joe Wicks and hill walking during the pandemic; normally would be more varied) and eat healthily but also try to keep my brain challenged.

At the moment I'm learning a new language with half an hour of Duolingo every day. I should probably be doing maths puzzles or something like chess too but tbh that doesn't appeal at all whereas a new language does.

Do you enjoy doing all this stuff?

Just thinking it would be pretty crappy to reach 70 and look back and realise you've spent the previous decade or so obsessing about the future instead of living the life you have in the present.

It's a balancing act.

New language definitely - for me it's French.

Don't drink.
Don't smoke.
Eat less meat.
Do something you think you've never done and possibly think you'll hate now and then on the off-chance you discover something new and exciting.

Masturbate regularly.

I'm lucky I like exercise, vegetables & sleep!

Avoid getting Covid, and take the vaccine as soon as you are offered it.
I was previously a healthy, non smoking, 10 stone 64 year old. Then I was hospitalised with Covid.
I now have long term lung damage, a chronic cough, and I’m breathless at 100 yards on the flat. There’s been no improvement after 8 months. I always expected to have a healthy old age. I don’t now. I just hope I’ll get to be old at all.

What exercise are you doing?

Gosh, its all sounds rather tedious.
I enjoy people watching , a stroll, a glass of red and a trashy book.

Avoid or cut down on certain foods. Eat more greens, veg. Drink more water, get tested for osteoporosis. Avoid stress and get more sleep.

Im 50 but i want to have a good quality of life to about 85.
Im fasting 36 hours 1-2 /?times a week.
Meditation is my next project
I fall asleep to guided meditations but i want to be able to still my mind.

I used to punish myself with gruelling workouts but i want to take up pilates

Travelling
This year has been a shitshow!

I think remembering to enjoy yourself is as important as some of the more sanctimonious stuff.

Being sensible, but being with people who make you laugh, if you can.

Vitamin and mineral supplements. Fasting 18-20 hours a couple of times a week and 15-16 other days. Trying to eat low carb to reduce insulin resistance and to hopefully keep the weight off around my middle. I stopped dying my hair - no more chemicals dumped on my scalp every 4 weeks. Would like to add more exercise.

My health went to pot at 60 having previously been fit and well. RA and breast cancer have wiped out the last 2 years but I'm doing ok now.
My aim now is to stay as well as possible and enjoy life more.
I've never dieted but my weight is fine so I eat what I like. I try to some exercise most days, a variety of exercise not just one thing. But not if I don't feel like it.
Always have something to look forward to.
I'm trying to learn some new skills, simple things like sewing and painting.
Want to do some holidays next year though "travel" is probably not on tge cards.

All this fasting and restricted diets must be miserable...

I didn't realise fasting is so popular.

Ok I lied about the people watching and the red wine........I am up at 5 and ready for Callenthetics for one hour, a cold shower, a quick bit of self flagellation with a spruce branch and an hour of Kundalingo yoga ( it a sort of yoga/language learning fusion).
Foraging session next, for nettles of other available weeds of choice, from which I make a tincture of herbal reduction, AKA breakfast.
Time waits for no woman, so off for a masturbation session and tantric sex before the real work begins.
Around 8.41 am , I don the mufti, ( purple lycra, hideously expensive shoes and a bobble hat) and ain to do about 20 K before 10 am.

Work full time plus, lift heavy weights, do vigorous exercise every day, take vitamin and mineral supplements, take bio identical HRT including testosterone, run like I’m being hunted, keep BMI at 22, next to no alcohol. Oh and have excellent genes. Who knows? 🤷‍♀️ Might work, might not.

I do a lot of walking. Average about 7 miles a day, can be 12 miles.

Don’t drink.
Getting enough sleep makes you look younger.
Lots of meeting people and talking to strangers - you can get very set in your ways if you don’t hear new opinions.

I agree with TheSandman masturbating regularly is probably a good idea if not sexually active, use it or lose it.

Wits I just hopped n here as I’m horrified what I’m like post lockdown but full disclosure, I’m only 45. I’m starting to think about my future health though.

I’m wondering what kind of time per mile you do?

Thanks.

I’m 46, and after watching the shitshow that was my mother’s final five years, I’m doing everything I can to have a bearable, if not comfortable, old age.

So I stopped drinking alcohol in August.
Limited myself to 1800 cals a day and have lost a stone so far.
Taken up running and now run 5k two or three times a week.
I walk 10k steps a day.
Do yoga once a week.
Go wild swimming in summer.
Am doing a Masters part time, so have made new friends of all ages, which will hopefully help keep my finger on the pulse.

I know I won’t live forever, but I want to give myself a fighting chance of avoiding pain and immobility.

I’m focussing on healthy eating. Lots of fruit, veg, healthy fats. Limited carbs & sugar. I also walk a lot & do some weight training. I love exercise so it isn’t a chore.

I need to work harder on sleep and drinking more water. I don’t drink much alcohol anyway, so no issues there.

Nothing really, I am 63 - fairly good health, no aches & pains, I think having a positive outlook on life is one of the best things, also my DPs still alive & in good health (87 & 90) so I guess I have good genes. I know I should lose weight & do more exercise- but I just find it all a bit of an effort.

Babdoc really sorry to hear you have been so ill, I had noticed you seemed to be away from Mumsnet for a while (I always enjoy reading your calm and measured comments), I wish you a full recovery.

Hey hey - thanks guys! I'm glad there are several of us....and look forward to hearing more.

Love the idea of masturbating more - I suspect that is rather good for us!! I think I'm about to buy a new vibrator having read excellent reviews on Mumsnet!

Actually I love the idea of getting fit healthy and vibrant in my 60s - I find it very empowering and interesting - and so long as I do the fun stuff like lots of friends and activities I love like dancing, swimming and walking, it sounds great.

Yes good idea to add in the weight training - I've got the flex and cardio but not the strength, so once I feel confident to go to the gym, hopefully after Christmas I will add that in.

I'm about to enrol for a part time Masters so hope that's the brain thing but do realise that learning a language is THE BEST ... once I have a bit more time, probably middle of next year I'd love to improve my French as we plan to spend more time there in our 60s and 70s....And a couple of other things I've heard help ward off dementia are table tennis and dancing ... luckily I love both and a great reason to do more of them.

Babdoc I am so sorry to hear this... don't despair... things can change. As someone who has had M.E. for 32 years, being bed/housebound for five of those, I know that it can feel uphill and impossible at times.... but I'm now someone who does zumba, works part-time, sees friends and enjoys life... I'm not 100% but so long as I get enough sleep and rest, I can have a very full and enjoyable life

Randomer don't worry I have plenty of time for trashy books and Netflix, as well as people watching ... both hugely enjoyable alongside the rest!!

Yes we're enjoying eating A LOT MORE VEGETABLES - luckily DH and I are keen cooks, so we've just switched our emphasis though I still enjoy cooking extravagant puds, but just a bit less often.

Checking for osteoporosis - yes, that is something I need to do, as my Mum and Grandma had it ... how do I do that???

Laughter and travelling - yes please!! Travel always one of my favourite things and miss it hugely.

And the intermittent fasting thing - not miserable at all, I rather enjoy it. If not socialising, it is very easy for me to eat from 11 to 7 and actually suits me brilliantly as I'm never hungry in the morning.... it has helped me lose weight as it's so easy to feel like I'm eating lots and always full... and interestingly in one of the books about aging I read recently, it was his number one tip to have a healthy old age. Supposedly putting this small stress on our bodies each day can strengthen it, and gives our system the opportunity of cleaning out some junk.... Yup, that's very technical and I realise that it's unproven but it suits me as a way of eating so quite happy to think it may have these extra benefits.

Mmm... I always enjoy a good project and I realise creating vibrant health for myself in the next twelve months is one to relish! It does mean that I am going to be doing a bit less work and a bit more health-building in the next year and that feels like a powerful choice. I do realise that things won't necessarily go to plan but there's a good chance it might work and with a magnificent great aunt who died aged 102 (and whose grandmother also died at 102!! which must have been extraordinary then) there are some good genes lurking there somewhere.

Those doing the fasting: I try not to eat between dinner and brunch/lunch but I have to have a cup of tea and a cup of coffee to get me through it. With milk! Is this cheating?