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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think once I am 70, I will just eat what I want, when I want.

47 replies

Happymum22 · 30/06/2013 15:36

I am currently battling with my latest weight loss efforts! I am not large, just on the top end of my BMI and, having had a 'bingey' few months, am keen to get back into healthy routines and diets.

Was chatting to DD20 who said 'When I'm old and retired I'm just going to eat whatever I want, whenever I want and enjoy all the amazing food out there. By then I really won't care about the impacts on my body or being fat'

Thinking about it, this sounds a rather nice plan. Anyone agree?

OP posts:
CloudsAndTrees · 30/06/2013 15:39

I agree.

I have lots of plans for when I get old. It's going to be fun.

NatashaBee · 30/06/2013 15:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lovesmileandlaugh · 30/06/2013 15:43

But as you get older your weight may affect your quality of life. For example, my Nan had bad arthritis and her weight definitely made a difference to her pain levels and her ability to get out and about!

TimeofChange · 30/06/2013 15:43

Well, I'm 60 and to me 70 isn't that far away.
I hope to still be slim, fit and active at 70 and 80.

I want to enjoy my retirement, not have high blood pressure, diabetes, joint and mobility problems just because I eat too much crap food.

tumbletumble · 30/06/2013 15:43

I think that was my thought process when I was pregnant!

The thing is, it's no fun being fat. You may not care how you look by then (although my 71 year old mum would disagree!) but what about issues like impact on mobility, getting out of breath from mild exertion etc?

southeastastra · 30/06/2013 15:44

but if you can't get about aged 70 it would be grim, you would be housebound!

expatinscotland · 30/06/2013 15:44

I hope to be dead by then.

squeakytoy · 30/06/2013 15:44

I eat what I want, when I want now, I just dont eat loads of it.

Absolutmum · 30/06/2013 15:47

My mother is 80 and just eats crap all day. She has a terrible sweet tooth and diabetes.
She's been like it for the last year or so and seems ok. I'm not going to try and change her at this stage, she's a grown up and it's her life, so why not!

expatinscotland · 30/06/2013 15:49

My dad is 77 and eats what he wants. He's never been a big eater, though, and is naturally slim. He's been smoking since 1954. At this ointment, as he puts it, something will kill him, probably sooner rather than later. He is enjoying himself and his retirement.

hmc · 30/06/2013 15:50

YABU - better to be a fit and active 70 year old (which is the 'youth' of old age imo) than obese and adding to old age's aches and pains

yamsareyammy · 30/06/2013 15:56

huh. I intend to eat better as I get older, not worse.
If I am to live to old age, I want to be as healthy as possible.
My problem is the motivation for fitness.
[Just managed to bore myself].

ZZZenagain · 30/06/2013 15:57

you won't have much appetite. The elderly people I know eat like birds, barely at all. Enjoy it while you can

quirrelquarrel · 30/06/2013 15:58

My 75 year old grandmother is so dynamic and to be honest, she does as much as any woman 10, 20, 30 years younger than her! If she threw all caution to the wind and became fat and ate crap her quality of life might be much less than it is now, she wouldn't gain much. It would be like a healthy 50 year old saying chuck it, might as well, haven't got anything to lose!

Easy to say when it's a long way off :-p

yamsareyammy · 30/06/2013 15:58

I dont fancy a nasty end. Too much of a coward for that. Though there is no guarantee that healthy eating and fitness are going to stop it.

thatstoast · 30/06/2013 16:01

Nevermind eating what I want, I've always said if I reach 80 I'm going to start smoking crack.

hmc · 30/06/2013 16:20

Grin @thatstoast

Mintyy · 30/06/2013 16:23

70 isn't old! Mick Jagger is going to be 70 next month. That is far too young to "give up".

My ddad died at 81, he was as fit as fiddle and incredibly active (until the bastard lung cancer got him).

hmc · 30/06/2013 16:29

Yep, have to agree - my dad is 85 and is really good health. Does lots of walking, gardening etc and very few health issues; he enjoys life. He would have had a different retirement if he had stuffed himself silly since turning 70

CMOTDibbler · 30/06/2013 16:32

Trouble is, these days 70 can be not old at all, great health, travelling round the world or it can be a point where you are really falling apart.
And being obese makes a huge difference at that age in terms of joint health, diabetes, blood pressure etc - and unfortunatly these are things that may not kill you outright but leave you really compromised and miserable.

GW297 · 30/06/2013 16:38

My 28 year old sister has been saying this very thing for as long as I can remember!

thebody · 30/06/2013 16:45

My dmil never smoked or drank and died at 60.

My dfil was a smoker and drinker and 22 stone and lived till 78.

Absolutely no guarantees so just enjoy.

Mabelface · 30/06/2013 16:45

toast, I always said that I'd be mainlining hard drugs if I hit 80 Grin

VivaLeBeaver · 30/06/2013 16:45

Me too.

And I'm going to start smoking!

expatinscotland · 30/06/2013 17:07

I love how people think their lifestyle guarantees a long, healthy life full of 'retirement'. Bet dementia units and nursing homes are full of them.

Eat right. Exercise. Die anyway.