How to age well

[TinTinCheeseHat]

Like many of us, I'm struggling with elderly parents with loads of health conditions. It has made me very aware of my own aging and wanting to stay as strong and healthy as possible.

There have been some really great posts recently from people in their 60s and 70s who are in great shape. Can we share some ideas of how to do this?

I know much of it is obvious about eating well, exercising, not smoking etc, but just feel I need some positive stories of aging well. And I'm not talking about superficial stuff, we're all going to get wrinkly, I mean staying strong as long as possible. Can you tell me positive stories of your healthy and active relatives to give me a bit of hope?

This a great idea for a thread OP.

I'm sure lots comes down to luck and genetics but there must be things we can go to help ourselves?

My face is about 20 years younger than my body. I feel ancient.

Early to bed, early to rise, drink lots of water, exercise daily, ear a little of what you fancy, no eating between meals, moderate portions and less than 7 alcoholic units per week are all snippets of advice I don’t take.

Yoga - to make sure you can use all your limbs, keep flexible, maintain core strength.

Lots of water. Omega 3 oils for the joints. Almond oil daily for the face and neck.
No excess weight to look after joints and heart.

My MIL was a yoga teacher and still teaching 5 classes a week till she retired aged 74. We walked up Mam Tor when she was about 76 no problem. She did state to age when she hit 80 but I think a lot if that was due to lockdown. She said the only other fear she experienced on a par was when a child in WW2.

I'm now in my 60s and really didn't start exercising until in my mid-50s, usual story of work, busy life, sorting kids lives and so on.

I started doing Pilates and then joined the gym. I'm not super-fit or strong but I do cardio work and strength/resistance stuff. Away on a short break I carried my suitcase up flights of steps easily and my daughter noticed the muscle tone in my arms recently, which pleased me no end.
Importantly the gym and classes have made me new friends, we have coffee after, we chat.

I'd second everything that @Whatshallabee says and add that your mental state is vitally important: keep up friendships, grab any opportunity for social contact, stay engaged with the world, learn new things and go to new places, even if it's just locally.
Try not to get into a rut of endless routine, find little things to aim for and look forward to. Be creative: tend a garden, do crafts, take photos.

I was going to say yoga, too. Helps preserve flexibility and strength. (I must take my own advice and get back to doing it regularly!)

Also, generally keeping active. My grandma always said once you start just sitting down a lot, you soon find that's all you can do.

All the exercise, diet, water stuff - yes. But I think it’s also about staying busy and outward looking.

Those who start to stay indoors and potter at retirement age seem to age more quickly than those who have outside hobbies, volunteer, stay involved in their community and are keenly interested in other people.

Agree with all the suggestions about keeping up some physical activity and with what @VeronicaBeccabunga writes about mental activity. Stay curious about things is another suggestion I'd add - try not to get stuck in your ways.

69 last week.

A sense of humour and a strong sense of the ridiculous
A positive outlook (for when you wake up and something is hurting that wasn't hurting yesterday)
Maintain a decent weight but don't deprive yourself
Always have something to look forward to, however small.
Stay curious

Taking notes of the exercise advice because that's where I'm lazy

Keep physically active
Look after your teeth, and feet!
Watch your weight
Have a couple of hobbies/interests
Nurture your friendships

Built to move by Kelly and Juliet Starrett is great - 10 different tests to assess your mobility and other key factors that are important for healthy aging, with recommendations for getting better.

Level up by Stacey Sims is great with lots of tips for staying fit and strong during peri and menopause - particularly the importance of strength training to counteract muscle loss.

Healthy loe processed diet and social connections are also important.

What about brain training? Is anyone doing anything specifically on this?

I think we underestimate how important social connections are - social connections with people of all ages too, not just elderly people.

Dps are late 80's and have been pretty healthy but now getting lots of health issues. They inherited a lot of money so never had stress about paying bills, retired early and my dmum barely worked anyway.
They went on lots of winter sun holidays between 50 and late 70's. They still have a active social life and keep busy with reading, gardening, board games, cooking etc. Used to walk occasionally but other than that they've never done a scrap of exercise for years. Never smoked.

FIL passed away when he was 100 and I would say only started to struggle with his age when he was in his very late 90s.

I think the key was genetics, keeping active mentally and physic, being an active member of his local community and eating and drinking in moderation.

Stay slim, zero or almost no alcohol, stay active, eat well and try and surround yourself with people that support you and make you laugh!

I'm 52, so not 'old old' but I do all of the above and look and feel better than I did in my 30s.

58 year old… see a lot of aging in my job (GP)
-eat lots plants
-keep learning new things
-prioritise good sleep
-don’t worry about what scales say ( I think recent study showed older people with BMI 25-30 actually aged better and died less than so called “normal” BMI)
-think about building muscle and improving flexibility
-move your body every day
-prioritise relationships and friendships
-wear sunscreen!
-keep laughing

This with bells on.
Dh & I have a small circle of friends who we see weekly and who life is so much better with them in!
They are fun, kind & supportive and we are all 'ageing' together and negotiating issues like parenting teens, bereavement etc as a 'gang'

Exercise - start as young as possible, and keep going.

I saw a video recently that explained how the later you start exercising, the more difficult it is to get into really good shape. Whereas those who start exercising regularly in their 20s/30s and keep themselves fit will be as healthy as an ‘average’ 40 year old by the time they’re in their 60s/70s (might not be entirely accurate, but it was so interesting).

I also think there’s something to be said for not ‘acting’ old! My own parents are 60ish and very active (cycling, lots of walking, lots of holidays) and I still think of them as being quite young. They are in good health.

ILs are a similar age but act as if they’re 10/20 years older. “We can’t do long walks, we’re too old! We can’t go there, we’re too old!” etc. As a result, they look (and probably feel!) a lot older.

What's that old saying...

If you don't drink, smoke or chase women you may not live to be 100 but it will seem like it.

God knows I'm a classic late middle age bloke - carry too much weight and drink a fair bit but I think there is a balance to be had here.

Activity to me is the key. I walk a lot, go to lots of different events, go to good restaurants and travel.

The mental stuff is also important - I do the Times cryptic crossword, Octordles, pub quizzes.

Being still in full time employment helps but Ive got an eye on when that stops

My Mum stayed fit & very active until her early 70s when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
Unfortunately being fit & healthy meant she lasted a lot longer so the horror show that is advanced dementia went on & on which was not pleasant.
First in her family to get it, fit & slim, didn't drink or smoke, great social life, did bridge & crosswords to exercise her mind - everything the government advise.
She did live until nearly 82 with all her own teeth & no fillings which is pretty impressive.
I'm trying to stay fit, eat well, keep my brain exercised as it makes me feel good but I'll be really f**ked off if I get a dementia diagnosis before my late-80s.
I do have a couple of fillings though!
Life is a lottery.

I’m 50 next year and feel better physically than I ever have.

Weight-bearing exercise, cardio and yoga.
No smoking or drinking.
Eat loads of plants.
Take a Vitamin D supplement.
Stay curious. Talk to younger people about what’s going on.
Keep learning - I’m currently having art, singing and French lessons. Keep that brain active.
Get out of your comfort zone regularly.
Be in nature as much as you can. I like walking in the woods and wild swimming.

This is really interesting. My gran lived until she was 94 and only had health problems right at the end of her life. She walked everywhere, for miles and miles sometimes, her whole life and this helped. She was very slim, a small person all round. She smoked her whole life though, and drank occasionally. Her diet was quite typical of someone of her generation, meat and two veg or fish, she didn’t really snack. And her hair kept most of its colour until she died too. Genetics were important in her case followed by always being very active. But she didn’t consciously try to live a healthy life.

My mum is 60 and does tons of yoga, she is in phenomenonal shape, can hold plank for ages, do headstands, press ups. She's amazing. And it makes her glow and look so healthy.