There is currently a debate in the media about when we start to call ourselves ‘old.’ I’m now in my early sixties, an age which used to considered ‘old’ when I was younger, associated with frumpy clothes, shopping trollies and a shuffling gait. Improvements in healthcare and living standards mean that the experience of being ‘older’ is different now. Like many of the individuals interviewed in the media, I feel different, but I don’t feel old.
Something surprising happens as you get older, much of the pressure associated with being ‘young’ dissipates. The big decisions in life are largely behind us; life partners, children and careers have been decided for most people. Children have grown up (and grandchildren can be handed back), we no longer need to impress the new boss by working 12 hours a day and many people are starting to look at reducing work hours or retiring altogether. In my case, the pressures of my challenging job were taking their toll on my health, I did the calculations and decided I’d rather be financially poor than health poor so I retired. We are also more at peace with ourselves, who we are and what we look like.
This is the time to chase our dreams! Yes, you read that right – a phrase normally associated with the young. These are slightly different dreams (in the main), chasing those long-cherished wishes to visit the Taj Mahal, run a marathon or learn to paint. Older people now have the time and the brain space. My father and his friends cycled up Mont Blanc, my mother designed beautiful quilts and my mother-in-law obtained for her long- denied degree in her eighties. In 2023, a 90-year-old man finished the London marathon. Edith Murway, set a record in 2021 for the oldest competitive Powerlifter – she was 99.
There is plenty of evidence to show that keeping active and taking on new challenges can pro-long life and, just as importantly, ensure that we can enjoy retirement when it comes without being in pain or losing cognitive abilities. Google, ‘How to live longer and have a healthier life,’ and a whole plethora of articles pop up. They all say roughly the same thing:
“The key to healthy aging is to engage fully in life—mentally, physically, and socially. “Transitioning to older years isn’t about sitting in a rocking chair and letting the days slip by,” … “Older adults have unique experiences, intellectual capital, and emotional involvement that can be shared with younger generations. This engagement is really key to helping our society move forward.”
NIH News in health
https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2016/06/can-you-lengthen-your-life
“Our research findings suggest that adopting a healthy lifestyle is important for both public health and personal wellness,” said Xuan-Mai T Nguyen, a health science specialist involved in the work at the US Department of Veteran Affairs.
“The earlier the better, but even if you only make a small change in your 40s, 50s, or 60s, it still is beneficial,” she added.”
The Guardian
What might this look like for you? You don’t have to run a marathon or Powerlift, just make sensible changes in your life; walk more and add some pace to that walk, eat a balanced diet, get some sleep, don’t smoke, take on some mental challenge to keep you brain active e.g. quizzes, crosswords, read regularly and catch up with friends and social contact is important. Find different ways of allowing the stress of your working life to drift away.
Joining a gym if you are not already a regular gym attender may seem daunting, but it needn’t be and there are many benefits to be gained from lifting. Resistance exercises using even light weights have been shown to have huge benefits for older people. As we grow older, we lose muscle and bone density, this change can begin in our 30s, and can lead to problems with balance and health issues such as osteoporosis and arthritis. Most gyms will have trainers who can show you how to use the equipment and write you a program which suits your age and ability. Look, around, visit a few, not all gyms are cavernous and loud, some of the smaller, independent gyms are quieter and friendlier.
Do I walk the talk? I was never sporty at school and found gyms daunting when I started exercising to lose weight. I have tried different forms of exercise over the years and finally found my home in a small gym where people are friendly and there is easy access to the weights I need. I recently qualified as a Personal Trainer, both a dream achieved and a new challenge. I feel different in my 60s but I don’t feel old.
Skeats Strength 