Posted on 02/24/2019 11:33:27 AM PST by Mariner
Once, you would hit the second half of life confident that nobody would expect you to whip your shirt off at a moment’s notice – or if you decided to disrobe at the beach, you would be afforded a degree of reverence becoming your age. You would hope that, if you ventured into the water, a dignified doggy-paddle would suffice. And you would not expect to have surf sprayed in your face by a 68-year-old Richard Branson, or his 57-year-old pal, Barack Obama, both of them still kiteboarding well into the age when most people are worrying about their chrysanthemums.
But times change. With disturbing parallels to the state pension, the age when you can relax and put your feet up is being nudged back – massaged by the wrinkle-free hands of a generation of celebrity midlifers. Sir Richard is just the front-runner. Close behind come Lenny Henry, 60, and Gregg Wallace (a mere 54), who have both shed many pounds recently. And then there is Noel Edmonds, 70, Mr Crinkley Bottom himself, who spent this year’s edition of I’m a Celebrity flaunting his fat-free torso in the jungle.
Why is this happening? One factor is the rise of age-group sport: as biking, running and Brazilian ju-jitsu offer sexagenarians their own competition brackets, there’s more incentive to keep limber enough to podium against one’s peers (the Ironman championships offer age divisions right up to 79).
“The popularity of CrossFit has helped drive interest in weightlifting, powerlifting, gymnastics and so on across older generations,” says trainer Sean Maloney. “I also don’t think you can discount the trend for consumers to focus more of their spending on experiences instead of material items.”
(Excerpt) Read more at uk.news.yahoo.com ...
Everyone is healthier and better with vigorous exercise and proper diet/sleep.
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I retired at age 67 after 30 years sitting behind a desk all day. However I have always been a high-energy person, never a couch potato. So before I retired I bought a horse farm to keep me busy. I also take several trips abroad or cross country every year. Only spent one overnight in hospital in 77 years, and that was due to being hit head-on by a young woman texting while driving. Probably have some terminal disease as I write this, but I seldom see a doctor except for flu symptoms and such. One prescription med for Hypothyroidism. Hoping to live at least another year!
Freepmail coming.
“But weight training is essential.”
Depends on your lifestyle. One of my hobbies is riding horses. Don’t spend much time in their mouths, although it can be needed at times, but shoveling manure and hauling 80 lb sacks of feed or 100 lb bales of hay isn’t going to leave me crippled picking up milk.
High intensity training is good if one wishes to compete, or to try to max out one’s fitness. But for long & healthy life, walking briskly an hour a day gives most of the benefit with very little wear & tear on the body.
I like riding horses, jogging, hiking. My fitness needs are different from a competitor in most sports. I wish people would learn life-long habits of sustainable activity. Met too many former football players, or serious lifters, or hard core runners who gave it up by 30 or 35.
I heard Jack Benny only lived to 39.
I ate right, exercised, didn’t smoke, very little drinking, and had a massive heart attack the day after Christmas. Coincidentally, I am one year older than my father was when he died of a heart attack. Our life styles could not have been more different. I have a newfound respect for genetics.
I have friends that buy a pint of vodka for 5 bucks. I don't think they are going to make it to 50.
That’s one way. I’m 39 in base 18, myself.
LOL
Well...glad you’re still here! My maternal (skinny) grandfather died of massive heart attack at age 51 (while sleeping)...but he did smoke and drink. But, that fact among other family genetics have made me careful...
I’m 60. I battled 40 mph wind gusts during my regular 15 mile bike ride today. I’m heading out to Utah Tuesday to ski with my 26 year old fit son for a week. We will ski hard from 10:00 until the lifts close each day. There is no reason for us geezers to slow down just because we have a little age on us.
A friend of mine knew him and said he may not have eaten sugar but he drank like a fish.
Many people use exercise to compensate for poor eating habits.
Those who head to Florida for the winter are playing softball down there too.......
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