I love your comments and whole heartily agree. I am doing everything I can to keep my mind and body working with hopes to live a long productive life. I am the youngest of a family of eight children, who have all now passed away, but after living long, healthy lives. My parents lived long lives as well. Two sisters who did not change their life styles, ended with dementia, and one sister had a massive stroke which damaged her mentally. To me, life is no longer worth living when you don't have the mind to manage it.
Cora Wakefieldof TX11:30PM May 26, 2012
The foils of aging are more related more to lifestyle and poor choices than to genetics and "old man time" I am 71 years young and I get around with no problem. My memory is almost as good as when I was young. Both my parents are still alive and doing fairly well. As my brother-in-law says its ALL genetics! I say not so fast. I have a younger brother who passed away 6 years ago. A fast life style with booze, tobacco, stress, overweight and No exercise took it's toll and that is why he is no longer here. Pay attention to the IMPORTANT things, like healthy foods, exercise, no stress, family and a good mate. With this plan you will look forward to each day and be so busy you can't get all the tasks done you planned. Also, Retired people need to go on vacations TOO. It's something to look forward to. Life IS a trip and not just a destination! Relax and enjoy the ride because you don't get a second one here!
Lee Hansenof MI3:58PM January 31, 2012
Excellant article. I'm 82 and doing Zumba. Not the Golden version. Don't know what I'm doing right, but whatever it is, it's working. Don't smoke, drink, or use drugs, except those prescribed. Have Atrial Fib, sleep 10 hrs a day, drink 2 oz. red wine daily and total exercise amounts to about five hours a week, not including my daily moving about routine. Have bad arthritis in one shoulder and BP is very high in that affected arm. Likely to be one of those who live to be almost 100. Mother passed at 93. Pop at 84. Both from strokes.
Your advice in all catagories was well received. Especially the BP readings and the weight for the over 70's. I'm 130 lbs. and try to keep it there to avoid a rise in BP.
Hope this gives encouragement to those younger than I. Fiber and excercise are definately helping me to stay healthy. Thanks for the wonderful article.
Beatrice Rainesof CA2:04PM January 30, 2012
I generally agree with all of those who have written in comments as they relate to their lives. I am "68" retired eight years ago. My father said to me in his last year of life at "88" that he still thought like an 18 year old. As I drove home from my last visit with him some 10 years ago, I thought about that ".....I still think like an 18 year old" and then and now it always brings joy to me. In my case at "68" I am still thinking like an 11 year old and will be on my Harley, going out with friends, enjoying some intellectual readings (not too much), cooking and enjoying another 40 years of marriage with my wife.
Rick Faulknerof VA8:41AM January 30, 2012
Very refreshing to learn of such a site as this, a wealth of hard worked for information that benefits all, and not just the privileged well done
Lord Diorof ID12:57AM March 08, 2010
Very refreshing to learn of such a site as this, a wealth of hard worked for information that benefits all, and not just the privileged well done
Lord Diorof ID12:57AM March 08, 2010
It's all in the mind. The Orientals know this. The Occidentals dont seem to know they know it - the brain controls all known body-functions, voluntary or involuntary, subliminal or conscious, reflex or exerted, spasm or motor... cellular through systemic. Man simply needs to train his conscious-mind to become more entrained with the subconcious realms of thought [where the war against aging, sickness & addiction rages on, and where the necessary balancing of hormone/enzyme/electrolyte action, levels, & discharge, fluid pressure build-up, function-specific cell replenishment, all, take place]. Whatever steps taken to achieve this sound mind-body control whether meditation, prayer, mantra, guarded attention or wholesome entertainment, should be backed up with appropriate action - right exercising, sleep, good/right food, caution in indulgences, breathing exercises & adoption of good physical postures in all situations.
Yemi Awojobiof UT4:54AM January 27, 2010
Check out the elders of the Japanese island of Okinawa...
Another thing that would help Westerners, psychologically, would be to alter the messages sent by the media.
How often do you see an elderly, yet very vibrant, man or woman in a commercial for a product? As in engaging in some athletic activity? Those media messages can really make a difference, psychologically, in terms of how people view inevitable aging, or how younger folks can view the elderly.
As a Gen-Xer, I'm fascinated by the East Asians. They do not seem to suffer the same rates of dementia, heart disease, or other ailments at the same rates as Westerners.
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Cora Wakefield of TX 11:30PM May 26, 2012
Lee Hansen of MI 3:58PM January 31, 2012
Beatrice Raines of CA 2:04PM January 30, 2012
Rick Faulkner of VA 8:41AM January 30, 2012
Lord Dior of ID 12:57AM March 08, 2010
Lord Dior of ID 12:57AM March 08, 2010
Yemi Awojobi of UT 4:54AM January 27, 2010
Angie Koutrotsios of IL 10:38PM September 20, 2009
Fran O'Brien of NY 4:49PM March 02, 2009
Charles of FL 3:16PM February 24, 2009