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For me, it is trying to stand back up from a squatting position. This physical movement seem to appear rather quickly. I have to have the cat litter boxes right next to a waist high cabinet so I can push myself up. So weird, as I used to be a gym rat for decades until I had to stop to help out my parents.

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Very surprised that my nervous system has aged like it has. Thought that stressors or changes would be easier to deal with like accepting them or ignoring them. Thought my emotions would even out. I’m finding out my nerves have aged along with my body. Bummer
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OMG! I'm right there on many levels. I'm 82, live alone, have house cleaners in 1x monthly, hire lawn care. Until about 4 yrs ago was also a gym rat, working out 4/5 days, walking my 2 dogs 2 to 3 miles daily. Then, had several surgeries, back & knee. That, and the restrictions from Covid, slowed me significantly. The hardest thing now is taking care of myself and shopping. I have trouble climbing stairs, keeping up with laundry. I'm not ready for these changes, but have little choice !!
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Hey folks. Been awhile but I couldn’t resist this thread. I just turned 70 and I’m in pretty good health except for nagging old football injuries, about 99 years as a building trades electrician, a bad back, two rotator cuff surgeries and ankle surgery. But I can still do what needs to be done around our place just much more slowly and carefully.

We live in northern Michigan so lots of snow management here. Still have two horses and we stupidly adopted an high energy herding dog. We love her but OMG she demands that we go go go all the live long day. Every year re rigging my tractor for winter gets much harder. My wife and I can still lift the cab onto the thing but just barely. Then there’s two hours or so of wrestling around on a cold concrete floor getting the mower off, blower on etc Afterwards I feel like I lost a twelve round fight. So sore! Then there’s snow tires to be put on the Jeep. That’s a back breaker. Damn things are big ol truck tires, heavy as all hell. All my men friends are worse off than me. I don’t know anyone that doesn’t have a bad back so nowhere to go for help unloading 100 bales of hay.

Balance issues? Yep. Weight gain? Check. On my last belt notch. Skin? Paper thin old man skin. Guaranteed to be going for bandaids if I so much as check the oil in the car.

we got e bikes two years ago and love them. You can get as much of a workout as you want by pedaling and adjusting the battery level. And you’re sitting up straight, no more neck and back pain. I highly recommend them for all oldsters.
keeps us out and moving.

Good to see my old friends here still kicking.
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Anxietynacy Dec 7, 2024
Windy, thanks for the story, my hubby is like you, a very hard worker his whole life, he is 72, I've been noticing that he is slowing down a bit and much more achy after.

The e bikes what a great idea, Im gonna consider that. Sence we are both active people, might be a really good idea.
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How everyone ignores you! My mother used to say when you hit 60 it gets worse every year! My doctor told me that I could live another 10 years last year! So I guess I have 9 left!
I was in the hospital for a couple of days and if you are not alert they can treat you pretty bad! I felt sorry for the ones that had no visitors! When you get old life is very lonely!
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CaringWifeAZ, I know what you mean. I use to go to the gym, had tons of energy. I could move furniture around with no problem. Open any jar. Do yard work for 8 hours straight. Didn't mind doing housework (except for cooking).


Now that I am in my late 70's, oh my gosh, how things have changed. I retired at 75 and since then I feel like a sloth. Yard work is maybe 15 minutes at the most (had to hire a company). Need tools to open a pull-top can. And I swear, the cat food companies must be using super glue on their pull off top cat food. Housework I put off until I know someone is planning on visiting.


But I try to keep my mind active doing genealogy daily for hours on end. Plus watch the old game shows where one can play along from home, love "Match Game". Takes a few seconds longer for my brain to find the answer, but it's there :)
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Lol!
I can't squat any more. I'm 62.

I was always strong and fit and thought I would remain that way!
But, a couple of years ago, I went through a bout of depression. I removed myself as far as I could from my husband, who I have care for for 9 years.
I started sitting a lot, streaming movies. I had the mindset that I was fit and strong, so a little stiffness wouldn't last long - I thought I could easily overcome it. I have not. Now, I can barely walk from one end of the house to the other. It is painful. My muscles are stiff. My joints are stiff.
I never thought this would happen to me!

My advice to everyone - Keep moving and being active! You have no idea how fast you will decline when you stop moving! The older we get, the longer it takes to recover from anything!
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anonymous144448 Dec 6, 2024
Can you self refer to physical therapy? It really helps
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cw - I've been living that for quite a few years. Either the loss or the illness of significant people. It makes a difference. Once in a while I catch myself thinking "I must call so and so," then realising they are gone. The two people in my life most likely to help me both have cancer. Both are doing well, but you never know.

grandma1954 - But every day this side of the dirt is a good one! Love that and totally agree. Sorry abpo the knees and the tinnitus.

valentine - ((((hugs))). I never expected my mum to live to 106 and that I would be her (distance) caregiver till I was 81. it's a different ballgame than it was when I was young.
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I didn't envision that when I turned 64 my almost 100 year old mom would be living with my older sister. It's been really hard on everyone except Mom. But it is what it is.
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cwillie...I'm with you when it comes to getting up. Because of my bad knee(s) I say I sorta look like a just born baby giraffe, I have to work my way up to standing position. That crept up on me after I broke my knee.
I also can't get up out of bed quietly, I sorta sound like an ad for that cereal. I snap, crackle, pop as I walk.
Not sure if it is age or the fact that this might be residual from COVID but I have Tinnitus that has become more bothersome. Sorta like having cicadas in my head. I can ignore that but sometimes I hear music or voices and I find myself walking around the house listening before I realize it is in my head!
I still do what I can, walk at least 2 miles on the treadmill daily and I keep myself busy. I have 3 critters that sorta like having me around and they keep me busy as well.
But every day this side of the dirt is a good one!
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Here's something that hit me again the other day, it's the loss of people in your life you have come to depend on for counsel and good advice. It's not just your parents (although maybe it starts there), as time passes it may be your siblings and friends. And then there are all kinds of people from your plumber to your mechanic and your family doctor that retire and leave you with nobody you know who is trustworthy.
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I actually had an employee at Kohl's, tell me where the clothes I may want , are probably on the other side of the store. I was in the teen section.

That was very insulting. sometime the pants in the younger section fit me better, sometimes,.

Golden that was great! I do admit I am not small chested and sometimes at 60 I still like to show the girl of a little. 😆

Not that I want to be large, but if I got them I might as well. 😂

I actually do quite a bit of clothes shopping at BJs , everyday tees and warm things.
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Golden, I am with you!

I bought a flowery pj set & I plan to wear the top as a top out to dinner tomorrow night. It has puffed sleeves with a frilly neckline. With some black elastic waist pants (I have several now) 😂. Add some jangly earrings.. Voila!

The ladies of this town (on a mini-break) have been spotted with pink hair, extreme green cardi, big earrings, super bright eyewear, campingwear, farmwear, everything. Love it.
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I guess you are right Golden. I've always been too self conscious.
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Reply to Gershun
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I guess I don't get the problem. Wear what feels good and looks good to you. Don't knock others or yourself down.

If you want to wear printed blouses and elastic waist pants - go for it,

If you want to be an Iris Apfel and wear tons of jewellery and bright colours - go for it.

If you want to wear jeans and t-shirts - go for it.

I've had cowboy boots for years - not because they were in style, but because they were useful and looked ok. Still do.

I don't care about what age you are. Wear what you want to wear. That may change as you get older. It's what you are comfortable in, in terms of how your look and how you feel. I don't care what the fashion mags say. or what is the latest fad. If you live long enough, they come around again anyway.
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funkygrandma59 Sep 24, 2024
AMEN Golden! My thoughts exactly.
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We need to dress like the TV show character "Elsbeth", minus all the tote bags she carries around with her. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwRIsL6r6lc
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Evamar Sep 23, 2024
Awful!
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Geez, I’m still wearing jeans, band and cartoon tees, flannels, hoodies and overalls. With high top sneakers. Same stuff I wore in high school. Only size 18 instead of size 4. 😭
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The judgement about what is age appropriate to wear.

I'm currently in a US western state. I met a woman in her 70's who lived and worked on a remote cattle ranch for 40 years. I was at her house and she has a nice pair of leather boots on display. I asked about the cowgirl boots. She said she bought them at auction and would like to wear them but she only sees the young girls in sundresses wearing the cowgirl boots. She did not feel like it would be age appropriate to wear the boots.

It mad me sad that a woman who had owned and worked on a cattle ranch for 40 years did not feel like she could wear cowgirl boots due to her age.

We are in a western town by the way.
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Anabanana Sep 23, 2024
Crazy! Life’s too short. She should wear the boots!
I have fun knit animal hats and have been twice informed that they were age inappropriate - meant for children. “My inner child’s head was cold.”

You know what I’m too old to wear?!? The fashion opinions of others! (And those funny one piece coverall pyjamas. Can’t get them off fast enough. 🚽)
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Moody, I get it when you say getting sick really throws you for a loop now. I find whenever I get sick I feel 100 times worse and it takes much longer to recover.

Plus it's true when people say they feel invisible. It's like once you hit a certain age you aren't considered important enough to even be acknowledged anymore. Maybe that's why some people get louder when they age. That and hearing problems.

I hear Tynagh about finding appropriate clothes. I can still fit into young styles but I never want to be that woman in her sixties who is wearing tight fitting sweat pants that say juicy on the bum. Where are the clothes for those of us who aren't quite ready to just wear printed blouses and elastic waist bands every day?
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Anxietynacy Sep 23, 2024
Gershun, I like Kohl's
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The amount of food I have started to wear
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freqflyer Sep 23, 2024
kellse, same here. Like, what's up with that?
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At age 63 I've outlived 3 friends.
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If I'm sick for a day or two, it feels like I've been down for a week! Huffing and puffing as I go up to the 2nd floor of my house. What the heck?

I NEVER do that, until after I've been sick!

I'm only 60, and I go to the gym 5 days a week! What's it going to be like when I'm 80? Gaaaah!
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"I just go for clean and not frightening."

🤣🤣🤣
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The sudden lack of balance is astounding. I was never coordinated but this is a whole new level of being uncoordinated. And the droopy face, though I'm not wrinkly, my face looks like it sort of melted. And the weight gain...I never dreamed I would be so large. I have no idea what to dress in anymore. I used to have certain styles that looked nice on me, but now nothing looks particularly nice. I just go for clean and not frightening. And I'm just generally achy and nearly always sad.
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LostinPlace Dec 6, 2024
Tynagh,
I relate. Same with me; my face isn't wrinkled but it's melting slowly like a candle.
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So I was reading today that I'm not imagining that my teeth are more cooked than they used to be, apparently it's not uncommon that bone loss in aging can cause teeth to shift.
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MargaretMcKen Sep 23, 2024
I hope 'crooked' not 'cooked'! And yes, mine are too!
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For me, it was a sudden problem (balance etc) not obviously related to ageing, but clearly much more common as bits of the body wear out.

I’ve just been reading Oliver Sacks last book (Rivers of Consciousness), which has made me realise (all over again) how people of all ages have huge problems that they didn’t expect – tourettes etc sound just awful. It’s more common as you age, and there is less to gain than ‘curing’ someone younger. How do we cope with dignity as we age?
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Anxietynacy Sep 18, 2024
That's a good way to look at it Margaret, people of all ages can sit around feeling sorry for themselves, for there issues mental, physical, or Nero divergent, but it's how you deal with them.
I'm going to look up that book today.
My son has tourets, my other is Asperger's, me dyslexic, I wondered if there all related.
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Same for me. The loss of muscle strength and stability walking
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Ihave4dogs Dec 6, 2024
It's so frightening! Simple chores like laundry seems like a workout! I used to get up put the laundry in the washer, put the dogs out and get a shower, bring the dogs in and eat breakfast with them and put them back out, get dressed and bring them back in and pack everything for work, fill the dog's water dishes in 2 hours! That same routine minus work stuff takes all day! There are some days I'm not even showered all day! I'm a depressed mess!
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Another thing that surprised me was how the grown children now view us (we both are now 78). Well, both hubby and I each have a 28 year old Jeep Grands that we both love, and bought as used vehicles. The kids keep insisting on taking us to a new car showroom to buy a new car. Stop it !!


There is no way we want anything to do with the vehicles they make today. Way too much distraction inside. In our old vehicles we know where every button is blindfolded.


We don't need a car to talk, beep, or sound an alarm... we don't need to answer a cellphone via that screen... we don't need a backup camera...


we don't need google map because I know how to read a map.... and what happened to the gear shift??? sorry but turning a dial just doesn't cut it. Plus I don't want to dig out my reading glasses just to go from "park" to "drive".


Our old Jeeps are great climbers, we don't need to shovel our driveway (not easy at our age) as they can climb over what the street snow plow puts in front of our driveway. We don't need to worry about door dents in parking lot as we probably couldn't find a new dent from the old ones. Yes, the paint is peeling off the roof of one Jeep, but heck, easier to find in a parking lot :)
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cwillie Sep 2, 2024
I fell the same way. My corolla is an'09 and although I'd kind of like to upgrade I don't want most of the bells and whistles that come with newer cars, I'm hoping if I wait a few years the pushback against some of the more ridiculous options will result in some better designs.
(side note - why do they call them options when they're not optional?)
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Brandee again--

I learned eating the low inflammation diet really eliminated my aches and pains.

It takes a bit more cooking and planning but my results have been dramatic.
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Sometimes our restrictions are in our mind.

I'm currently in Montana. It is unbelievable who active seniors are here. People in their 70's and older mountain bike, ski, hike, walk.

I'm only 63 but people 20 years older than me are more fit. I was invited by a group of women to go kayaking. Most of them are close to 80.

We watched a bike race. There were a lot of finishers in their 70's who finished the 90 mile course or the 50 mile course. The course was high elevation riding on dirt/gravel trails.

It was inspirational.

I'm working on upping my game.
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Having to fear another infection. Until this year I never worried about it but now have been hit by them.
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