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?

Speaking of TV detectives, Jessica Fletcher kept herself pepped up and lively well into old age by involving herself in a juicy murder on a regular basis.

I think a lot of it's luck and genes, the rest lifestyle. My Nan is 87. Only health issue she currently has is high blood pressure. She doesn't care about looking young but moves around like a much younger person. My grandad died 20 years ago but she's always kept an active social life and a positive attitude. She's slightly overweight but I think that helps in old age. Her diet is ok and she's never been much of a drinker. Not massively active but very mobile. Hangs around with people 10-20 years younger but I guess there's not many sociable active people of her age left.

Well if my family are anything to go by, be a hard drinking, chain smoking, farmers wife. My great gran lived to 107 and my grandmother was out milking the cows in her 90s.

Mobility with exercise and keeping a routine

Great thread, I'm making notes, I had already reduced alcohol to negligible, I had a wine Fri night. I felt dreadful yesterday, so that's off the list now.
I took up karate last year, I play another ball sport too. I'm a Rebel member so am working through the badges too..

Didn't hurt Miss Marple, either.

My parents are 77 and in very good health. They are both slim and have always eaten small portions. Although they don’t diet as such, they have lots of healthy, home cooked food and not too much of it. Neither drink more than the very occasional glass of wine (like once or twice a year). Neither have ever smoked.
They don’t exercise but are active in that they walk a lot, do lots of gardening and are generally active out and about.
They have a large social life and go out with friends very regularly. They also read a lot and keep themselves up to date with what’s going on in the world. They also worked until about 5 years ago, running their own business.
They are also very happily married and generally jolly and positive people.

Following as I'm 50 but feel much older! I'm finding it hard to get around already and have painful feet and joints. My grandmother aged well and put it down to yoga (twice weekly into her 90s), swimming, volunteering, singing!

Weights. Preserve your muscles mass.

Thrilled to find this thread. Have been thinking about it loads. Keen to take all steps to try to age well - health/fitness/looks/mental attitude - the lot. Will now RTFT.

Some really good tips/info here:

Blue Zones
Stay Young - Michael Moseley

My mum is 94 and really fit. Never smoked, moderate drinker, always physically active ( garden and walking, never gym or classes), did yoga to sort out a bad back. Not the genes as both parents died young. Slim and a healthy eater.

But she started getting dementia in her mid 80s and her mind is gone now. In a care home. Her good health is now a curse not a blessing as she could go on for years.

money which can give access to more time & private healthcare

Also genes, DHs gm lived till late 90s & had her full faculties. Was overweight & never exercised much.

THIS!

See Joan MacDonald on Instagram for my favourite example. Read her posts to see how her husband, who refused to train with her, has had a completely different aging experience.

And I highly recommend the book Outlive by Peter Attia - he's brought together all the current data on aging and has great advice on a range of aspects (of which exercise is the biggest impact of all)

So encouraging!!!

Genes, diet, exercise, exercising brain and social muscle - all important.

Also make the exercise changes by your 40s and 50s. My Monkey is mid fifties - he took up distance running in his early thirties (he was alway active but mainly football). He runs several marathons a year and can run a sub 3.15 marathon no sweat. Some of his contemporaries have aged badly - over weight, poor joints, heart issues.

I did martial arts for years and now do cardio and yoga every day - I am in my mid forties I have a resting heart rate of 58, low blood pressure and can put my hands flat on the ground without bending my knees.