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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,445
Legend
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OP
Legend
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,445 |
There is your chronological age and your biological age.
Because of how the internet tracks you. Once you have looked at an article; of course you get feeds to related articles.
So I saw something like "if you can do this at age 70-75" you are in x percentile.
There are all kinds of gerontology studies that measure your biological age.
One is how many times can you get up from a chair unassisted in 30 seconds?
Another is can you walk at a decent pace for 30 minutes. Then there are cognitive type questions about isolation an social interaction. As well memory recall tests etc.
I decided to test myself because I will be 79 in September. I was wondering what could I expect in the coming years.
On the 30 second chair test. I did 27 reps from low stool not a regular chair.
A score of 27 reps actually mirrors the physical capabilities of a healthy 20 to 30-year-old, who averages roughly 33.
I plugged in that I swim 1500 yards per week. It said that can reduce biological age by 20 years.
I have been lap swimming for close to 15 years and I cut back to 1500 yards.
I was blown away. I had a massive heart in 2024 with a 5% chance to survive. I completely recovered and am back to my normal abilities. I do deep squats every day so the chair test was no big deal to me because I do sets of 15 twice a day. I never tried seeing what I could do in 30 seconds.
I feel ageing but I took a lot for granted. I measured myself to "can I fly fish wading in rivers." I cannot because of osteoarthritis in my back. After 30 minutes my back hurts and it is no longer worth it because you can't fish for 30 minutes and expect much.
My mother lived till 97. My father made it to 71. I always figured if I made it to 75. I got a full ride. There was a thread about "how much is enough." Well the first thing is how long you live is a big factor.
Ya never know when something will bite you and out you go. But if you can it is important to be physically the best you can be.
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 14,440
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 14,440 |
I find myself thinking more and more about aging as I get older (I know... funny how that works). My playing hockey has been a really good barometer. Starting at mid-thirties, just doing a couple laps around the rink and a quick stretch was no longer enough to get my body ready to play. I realized that I had to be more disciplined about exercising (not just hockey as exercise, but cardio and stretching) so I didn't pull a muscle or worse while playing. I've still got work to do there, but now (getting into my mid-forties) I'm finding that sometimes all the discipline in the world won't stop a random muscle pull or other minor injury... and now those take a LOT longer to go away.
What's more interesting to me, though, is how I'm aging upstairs. Even after I got married, I was still playing 3-4 times a week non-stop with a couple tournaments each year. Now I only play once a week and look forward to taking the summers off. Yes, kids and house and job are the reasons (just like everyone else), but I always imagined that I wouldn't be able to handle playing so little.
Sorry for the tangent, reading your post and feeling my shoulder from when my dog yanked on the leash got me in a sharing mood.
"FIALURE IS NOT AN OPTION...!"
-mac
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,445
Legend
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OP
Legend
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,445 |
The older you get the more you find out what you used to do is further away from what you can do now.
I used to have to go up on the roof for various reasons. I stopped doing that. It is not the ladder. It is getting from the roof back on the ladder. I started to become more conscious about it. I just ended it with why take the chance?
Also endurance slips away. Not all at once but a slow decline.
You accept the declines even though you find it frustrating.
IMO the worst thing you can do is give in to things. Your internal dialogue starts saying I can't do this. And slowly you start backing off all kinds of things. You should push yourself. You should take the steps instead of the elevator.
You should care about health because it really hard to enjoy your life if you feel lousy or limit your true ability.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 50,940
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 50,940 |
My chronological age is 63. My biological age is 496 and 2 months. 
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 19,246
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 19,246 |
I used to have to go up on the roof for various reasons. I stopped doing that. It is not the ladder. It is getting from the roof back on the ladder. I started to become more conscious about it. I just ended it with why take the chance?
Don't you know it. Last year, I had to sit there and think about how I'm getting onto the ladder from the roof without losing my balance, and I struggled doing it. I don't know if it's the lack of flexibility or just the lack of confidence, but I decided right there that I'm not doing this anymore. I've been up there many times in the 30+ years I've been in this house, climbing up and down that ladder without a second thought.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.
- John Muir
#GMSTRONG
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,445
Legend
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OP
Legend
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,445 |
A close friend of mine who I have known for many years and a DIY guy.
He got up on the roof and just lost it. He had to be helped down.
It is confidence and balance. Once that gets a little shaky. Give it up.
I have fished in rivers since I was a small boy. Waders, boots, fly rod, and lots of walking. Rivers all over the country. Wild, fast water with free stone bottoms all over the West. You have to be in shape. It is easy to fall in current on slippery rocks. I never gave it a thought.
I went fishing in Nevada on the Truckee river about five years ago when I was living in Reno. High steep banks with big boulders in the river. After a short period of time. I just stopped. Walked back to the car up a steep hill. I was happy to get the waders off and just sit in the car. I knew then it was over.
I am going to Iceland in July. One of the best places on earth to fly fish. I am not even packing a rod.
For my age I am in good shape. But aging breaks you down like a river wears down stones.
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Forums DawgTalk Everything Else... Aging
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