At almost 69, I walk 3-4 miles most days and that includes some steep inclines so it's quite good exercise. I instinctively feel running would be a bad idea at my age, I want to keep reasonably fit, not wear my body out. I can still race my grandson for 50 yards without ill effects but that's about all I want to do in the way of running. Not remotely interested in attending a gym as I much prefer the outdoors summer or winter.
Exercise and Health
- Thread starter Al
- Start date
Triple_Se7en
$50 Site Donor 2024
Al
I (71 years old) also have a-fib and it was diagonosed 15 months ago. For nine months I took Zarelto 20s once a day. Since then I volunteered to try Eliquis 5m twice a day. Still on Eliquis.
I have walked for the past 20 years. Sometimes I walk three miles at a time. I have found that if I do not complete that three mile walk in one hour, I feel like I gained nothing out of it. I do not walk fast and I do accomplish three miles in one hour without my heart racing or skipping beats..
Over the years, all that running got your heart-pumping..... which you needed. (Now today)...Walking speeds of 1.9 MPH only gets a sick heart pumping above normal. Consult your heart specialist and ask for permission to get that walking pace increased. Trust his judgement and also trust your own. If your heart is racing somewhat at 1.9MPH, be sure to tell him that, prior to increasing your speed.
Good luck and best wishes Bud.
I (71 years old) also have a-fib and it was diagonosed 15 months ago. For nine months I took Zarelto 20s once a day. Since then I volunteered to try Eliquis 5m twice a day. Still on Eliquis.
I have walked for the past 20 years. Sometimes I walk three miles at a time. I have found that if I do not complete that three mile walk in one hour, I feel like I gained nothing out of it. I do not walk fast and I do accomplish three miles in one hour without my heart racing or skipping beats..
Over the years, all that running got your heart-pumping..... which you needed. (Now today)...Walking speeds of 1.9 MPH only gets a sick heart pumping above normal. Consult your heart specialist and ask for permission to get that walking pace increased. Trust his judgement and also trust your own. If your heart is racing somewhat at 1.9MPH, be sure to tell him that, prior to increasing your speed.
Good luck and best wishes Bud.
The local news today talked about a study saying lack of movement is reason #5 for premature end of life.
They recommended 4000 steps a day minimum and said it almost halved that risk... then they showed an old woman saying
she does however many feels right and she is going strong.
Guess my point is minimal exercise helps, go with your doctors recommendations if you have a condition.
A few friends jog, others ride a bike(I used to mountain bike) and everybody over 35 complains of knee pain.
Walking 40-50min a day seems to be great for both physical and mental health, of course you can go more or less.
They recommended 4000 steps a day minimum and said it almost halved that risk... then they showed an old woman saying
she does however many feels right and she is going strong.
Guess my point is minimal exercise helps, go with your doctors recommendations if you have a condition.
A few friends jog, others ride a bike(I used to mountain bike) and everybody over 35 complains of knee pain.
Walking 40-50min a day seems to be great for both physical and mental health, of course you can go more or less.
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Hermann
Site Donor 2023
I have been walking religiously for about a year now, averaging 4-5 days a week. In that year I have lost about 2 inches on my waist in addition to 3 inches I lost, when I started IF. Previously I had only been a when I feel like it walker. My leg muscles are now very lean, upper and lower. My resting heart rate continues to decrease over time. On hot days I get up early and actually looking forward to it laying in bed at 6am, waiting for it to get light outdoors. Have slowly added minutes to my walk. My average walk is 1.2 miles in about 23 minutes. My doctor says anything over 5 minutes is beneficial to some extent. At age 69 when my feet start talking to me, that's it. Better uninjured, than that goal which is still attainable.
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I wouldn't be so sure your cycling did that. ~347k miles of cycling hasn't significantly "worn out" my knees or ankles, as far as I can tell. I know other people who've also ridden a lot, and don't have such problems, although they haven't kept track of miles, with the exception of one friend who's 83 and has way more miles than I do.
Cycling with maladjusted cleats on cleated shoes can mess up one's knees.
I was also an avid cyclist in my youth and did fifty miles a day each spring for a couple of years. I used to race and was pretty unbeatable. You develop great leg and also chest muscles doing this, since at that time we had lay forward bars. As a result, I had no feeling in my thumbs for a couple of years. When training I would eat like a horse and got down to 125 Lbs each spring. I do have mild ankle and knee fatigue now at almost 67 YO, maybe my youthful cycling is the reason?
I think that overall staying active is the key to remaining reasonably fit as one ages. I cut the grass with a cheap push mower, for example. Everyone else in our neighborhood uses a lawn tractor or ZTR. Park out in the no-ding zone at work and when shopping, since the extra steps can only do you good. A nice walk through the neighborhood with the wife is always good.
Keep moving as you were intended to do and your life should be longer, or at least of higher quality.
I think that overall staying active is the key to remaining reasonably fit as one ages. I cut the grass with a cheap push mower, for example. Everyone else in our neighborhood uses a lawn tractor or ZTR. Park out in the no-ding zone at work and when shopping, since the extra steps can only do you good. A nice walk through the neighborhood with the wife is always good.
Keep moving as you were intended to do and your life should be longer, or at least of higher quality.
many pros note running raises cortisol not good, unless your training for a competition. only YOU know how you feel doing whatever. best wishes for better health!!! seeing so many obese individuals i pray they open their eyes + close their MOUTHS for a healthier life now + especially in later life when the body dont function as well, HEALTH is WEALTH!!
AI, as noted, it's almost a certainty that your running is the reason or the biggest reason you're in excellent shape at your age. Running is one of the healthiest things a person could do for both their body and mind. Exercise in general is great but running in particular does so much for the body. Walking, which is obviously easier for people out of shape to start with, is also incredibly healthy for the body.
With that said, anything done in excess in life can become bad for you. My unprofessional opinion is I do believe your valve leakage is from running. As somebody that also runs relatively frequently(1100 miles during COVID 2020, but usually 300-700 depending on work), I've periodically read articles, magazines and running discussions on the internet throughout the years. While I'm not on a running forum, my point is small tidbits of knowledge have been picked up over time just the same as being a member of this forum leads to one learn more about cars.
One thing that's always been noted is consistent high intensity running will have increased wear on the heart. When I say increased wear, I'm paraphrasing but I think it's understood what's meant. While running is great for the body, there's a point that all of the health benefits will come with some negative side affects.
High intensity running is certainly relative. I'm inclined to believe your running wasn't truly high intensity given the mileage and most long-distance runners taking things slow. Still, I'd imagine there's a cumulative affect from so much running and mileage over the years.
I think one quality nearly every runner has is ambition. Running faster, running for longer distances(like a marathon or half marathon), running for a total mileage best in a single year, etc. There's a point where we're likely all being too ambitious and should 'keep it slow' or in other words keep both the distance/intensity down to something moderate. The more we run at a certain point, the more returns are diminished and likely bring other side affects.
At 28 years old, I'm likely far below the average demographic on this board. I started running when I was 17 and a complete fat ass. It is mind boggling how much better I started to feel after regular cardio workouts for a month, yet alone when I lost the weight and to this present day. The biggest quality of life turn around was my asthma. Something that used to be nearly debilitating is almost non-existent for me now.
@Strommen95 Good for you!!!
I think Paleozoic...in alot of things...unqueue modern fadism.
Running good...helps us chase down prey, sometimes for hours or days...then we take back prey and eat...lots and lots of meat...then do nothing for days, maybe make tools, tan hides, whatever.
Then it's fruit season...gorge on the sugary goodness, which is only available for weeks...and rest...and don't eat pears for another 10 months.
When we fix the research to a continued behaviour, repeated daily that's bad mojo.
Have seen runners burn huge caloric intakes, burn out their knees and end up obese, to the point that knees have to be fixed but won't be until they lose weight.
Every morning drive past a guy walking who was there, but took on a letterbox drop job, with his brother picking him up at end of every block, and moving him to the next...immobile to an absolute wanderer.
Running good...helps us chase down prey, sometimes for hours or days...then we take back prey and eat...lots and lots of meat...then do nothing for days, maybe make tools, tan hides, whatever.
Then it's fruit season...gorge on the sugary goodness, which is only available for weeks...and rest...and don't eat pears for another 10 months.
When we fix the research to a continued behaviour, repeated daily that's bad mojo.
Have seen runners burn huge caloric intakes, burn out their knees and end up obese, to the point that knees have to be fixed but won't be until they lose weight.
Every morning drive past a guy walking who was there, but took on a letterbox drop job, with his brother picking him up at end of every block, and moving him to the next...immobile to an absolute wanderer.
Food is destroying our health as well as many drugs with all sorts of side effects. Everything is a “syndrome” now with a dedicated drug for it.
People didn’t run much back 30-40 years and earlier, there weren’t many gyms around, and none if you go a 100 years back.
People living in cities didn’t have a hole lot more daily physical activity back in the 60s, 70, and 80 than we do today. Yet look at the pictures from those times and how thin and lean everyone was.
Today people are either very muscular or fat, there is hardly any lean people left.
So what has changed, food quality of course. Then we pay for gyms to burn off the calories. It’s a great business model.
People didn’t run much back 30-40 years and earlier, there weren’t many gyms around, and none if you go a 100 years back.
People living in cities didn’t have a hole lot more daily physical activity back in the 60s, 70, and 80 than we do today. Yet look at the pictures from those times and how thin and lean everyone was.
Today people are either very muscular or fat, there is hardly any lean people left.
So what has changed, food quality of course. Then we pay for gyms to burn off the calories. It’s a great business model.
Don't eat sugar or simple carbs. Period. But cheat a little trying to keep easy carbs under 15 g/meal.
I just cannot do "regular" work outs.
I do work out.
Schedule some routine and I will NOT do it.
I do bike, hike, walk, play pickleball, dig holes, lift weights. And pretty darn active in general
My thing is my blood sugar, I take care of that and everything else, weight, BP, etc all seem to be fine for a a 65 yo fert.
I just cannot do "regular" work outs.
I do work out.
Schedule some routine and I will NOT do it.
I do bike, hike, walk, play pickleball, dig holes, lift weights. And pretty darn active in general
My thing is my blood sugar, I take care of that and everything else, weight, BP, etc all seem to be fine for a a 65 yo fert.
JHZR2
Staff member
I’d suspect that some of the knee and ankle bit is genes too. I remember as a rower in college - There were a few folks who just had bad knees. Just plain bad. Surgeries, damage. Some were legit injuries, but the rest was just weak joints.
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Since well before the 50's people that did not die of communicable disease routineloy died before 76 years old of heart disease..".good" food notwithstanding
I'm on Eliquis 5mg twice a day indefinitely due to some reoccurring blood clots. Due to @alarmguy I'm getting a smart watch to monitor for any abnormal heart issues.Al
I (71 years old) also have a-fib and it was diagonosed 15 months ago. For nine months I took Zarelto 20s once a day. Since then I volunteered to try Eliquis 5m twice a day. Still on Eliquis.
I have walked for the past 20 years. Sometimes I walk three miles at a time. I have found that if I do not complete that three mile walk in one hour, I feel like I gained nothing out of it. I do not walk fast and I do accomplish three miles in one hour without my heart racing or skipping beats..
Over the years, all that running got your heart-pumping..... which you needed. (Now today)...Walking speeds of 1.9 MPH only gets a sick heart pumping above normal. Consult your heart specialist and ask for permission to get that walking pace increased. Trust his judgement and also trust your own. If your heart is racing somewhat at 1.9MPH, be sure to tell him that, prior to increasing your speed.
Good luck and best wishes Bud.
People routinely die all the time, it’s kind of our thing you know
Most deaths occurred during the birth or early on in the childhood. That is why the average lifespan was so low back then.
But if one survived that, most people lived quite long lives. And most importantly they had much better health all the way until the end without any drugs.
Now an average American takes four prescription drugs. If you’re above 50 that number jumps to thirteen.
Like I said earlier, it’s a great business model.
But this thread is about exercise and health. There is no denying that exercise helps a lot, I’m trying to point out people only 40-50 years ago were much healthier and didn’t exercise more than us today.
So there is obviously something else going on.
Yes, very true, I grew up in a fairly wealthy area, income didn't matter back in the 1960s. it wasn't unusual to have a friend whose father died from a heart attack. Rather common really. My dad only made it to the age of 70. Died in his driveway, he was one of the lucky ones to at the time get a triple bypass at the age of 62 - St Francis Heart in Roslyn NY
With todays technology and maybe drugs he would have lived even longer. I know because a family member has the same plight as he does however with a triple all in one device implanted in his chest, we know it saved his life at least once, pacemaker, defibrillator and a newer one that also controls the timing of left and right chambers.
Amazingly he lives a pretty normal active life. But this is why I am sooooo crazy about TRYING to take care of myself. Heck, the last two days I have been pricking my finger (and my wifes *LOL*) with a new blood sugar monitor, even though we don't have diabetes I wanted to learn more to make sure I never have it IF, IF I can avoid it. Same with the BP machine we have and Apple Watch
It keeps me motivated and I can learn the relationship of what I eat to my blood sugar levels now.
I want to stress I DO NOT dwell on this stuff, I enjoy it, like instrumentation on any one of my vehicles. It keeps my interested and motivated. I do not stress over this at all.
I do agree with another post in here, the lazy way we choose the food we eat is a big problem now. The garbage some put into their bodies on a daily basis is staggering as I constantly see the lines of cars outside fast food places. ITS INCREDABLE. IM SURE SOME DOG FOODS ARE MORE HEALTHY then that fried garbage and fat laced grilled stuff.
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As you know I love my Apple Watch. just keep in mind, your doctor is your monitor, not the watch. The watch can give you information to bring to your doctor but it's ALWAYS the doctor you should be talking to about any concerns.
Bringing this information to him greatly speeded up my treatment.
You also need to learn about the watch, download the ECG app, allow it to send alerts and understand that it can only alert you to a small number of things, the key is, always see a doctor. If the doctor can't find something and then at home you do feel something, you can do an ECG to show the doctor. It will alert to AFIB, low heart rates, high heart rates if you set it up properly.
Im sure you know this but I needed to make clear not to rely on the watch but if you can use the watch to bring more information to the doctor that is great which my doctors in my case thought it was great.
Im not sure what shape you are in, but you can also turn on fall detection in case you fall it will notify anyone you put in your contacts and also SOS emergency. Assuming you have a connection.
