Physical activities…..

[historicalarms]

I had a lunch yesterday that some folks would pay a lot of money for...homemade smoked venison summer sausage with home smoked "old chedder" cheese.

 

[Susquatch]

My grandparents, my parents, uncles, and aunts didn't exercise or eat healthy. All of them lived to their mid 90s.

How did they live so long? They worked hard and ate what they had - mostly stuff that would kill a modern person - bacon, bacon fat, sausage, potatoes, beets, beef, pork, chicken, turkey, venison, duck, goose, heavy soup, butter, bread, salt, cream, whole milk, and lots of cookies, pastries, rolls, pie, cake. Very few veggies.

I confess that I don't work nearly as hard as my previous Generation. Like them I don't really watch what I eat but I do watch how much I eat to keep my weight reasonable for my height. And yes, I could die tomorrow because of it.

My job was mostly an office job, but I rarely if ever took the elevator, I took the stairs. And I didn't take buses or taxis if I could walk.

I don't like programmed exercise of any kind. I mostly walk and work.

But all that said, I think I'm in reasonably good shape despite what most might call poor habits. I have what my kids call "old man strength" - lots of power but low stamina. I've had many stress tests and other than the bundle branch block and arithmia I've had since I was a baby, the doctors always say I have the heart of a 30 yr old athlete (too bad I don't look like that). My active heart rate is 55-70 and 35-45 at rest.

Nonetheless, I've had my share of health issues including bowel problems, stomach ulcers, kidney stone problems, appendix problems, many rounds of pneumonia, a recent stroke, chronic cough, lots of cuts and stiches, no broken bones.....

Man has evolved from an eat whatever you can find environment that I don't think included any special health guidelines other than survival and the same goes for exercise.

So I dunno. I guess I just think the whole exercise and healthy diet thing is over rated. Perhaps even promoted by the heath business sector.

Just my opinion for what it's worth. I'll prolly croak tomorrow just cuz I said that.

 

[slow-poke]

My grandparents, my parents, uncles, and aunts didn't exercise or eat healthy. All of them lived to their mid 90s.

How did they live so long? They worked hard and ate what they had - mostly stuff that would kill a modern person - bacon, bacon fat, sausage, potatoes, beets, beef, pork, chicken, turkey, venison, duck, goose, heavy soup, butter, bread, salt, cream, whole milk, and lots of cookies, pastries, rolls, pie, cake. Very few veggies.

Both my grandparents lived to almost 100, 99 and 95 and they ate similar diet except lots of veggies from their garden. They lived in their home to the end. My grandfather was riding his bike at 97.

I think that ultra processed food is a killer, combine that with no exercise and deduct 20-30 years off your life the way I see it. The diet in all the blue zones is void of processed food. All those centenarians keep walking, biking, moving.

 

[Tom O]

When Dad passed at 86 we were told it was from a birth defect the blood vessels in the back of the neck were twisted and finally let go. Grandad passes at 86 after breaking his leg that got infected I’m sitting here waiting to see if I get 86’d too.

 

[DPittman]

My grandparents, my parents, uncles, and aunts didn't exercise or eat healthy. All of them lived to their mid 90s.

How did they live so long? They worked hard and ate what they had - mostly stuff that would kill a modern person - bacon, bacon fat, sausage, potatoes, beets, beef, pork, chicken, turkey, venison, duck, goose, heavy soup, butter, bread, salt, cream, whole milk, and lots of cookies, pastries, rolls, pie, cake. Very few veggies.

I confess that I don't work nearly as hard as my previous Generation. Like them I don't really watch what I eat but I do watch how much I eat to keep my weight reasonable for my height. And yes, I could die tomorrow because of it.

My job was mostly an office job, but I rarely if ever took the elevator, I took the stairs. And I didn't take buses or taxis if I could walk.

I don't like programmed exercise of any kind. I mostly walk and work.

But all that said, I think I'm in reasonably good shape despite what most might call poor habits. I have what my kids call "old man strength" - lots of power but low stamina. I've had many stress tests and other than the bundle branch block and arithmia I've had since I was a baby, the doctors always say I have the heart of a 30 yr old athlete (too bad I don't look like that). My active heart rate is 55-70 and 35-45 at rest.

Nonetheless, I've had my share of health issues including bowel problems, stomach ulcers, kidney stone problems, appendix problems, many rounds of pneumonia, a recent stroke, chronic cough, lots of cuts and stiches, no broken bones.....

Man has evolved from an eat whatever you can find environment that I don't think included any special health guidelines other than survival and the same goes for exercise.

So I dunno. I guess I just think the whole exercise and healthy diet thing is over rated. Perhaps even promoted by the heath business sector.

Just my opinion for what it's worth. I'll prolly croak tomorrow just cuz I said that.

Genetics is the biggest factor I believe. I didn't win the genetics lottery, both parents died in their 50/60's and I'm likely to closely follow in their footsteps . Fortunately modern medicine has no doubt prolonged my life already but my hard living has not helped my situation.

You can't do anything about your genetics but you can do lots with healthy lifestyles, diet and medical attention. I'm impressed by how many members here are so active in terms of excercise. Keep up the good work folks.