Use it or lose it" in relationship to longevity means that to maintain physical and cognitive abilities as you age, you must actively engage and use those abilities regularly, or you risk losing them over time; essentially, staying active and mentally stimulated is crucial for a long and healthy life.
Thank you for this. It gives me a lot to think about personally and I’m thinking about giving this book as a gift to a couple of people who appreciate fitness challenges.
I continually check in with skills I want to maintain. My goal setting each year includes writing about my dream life and looking 10 years ahead. I then step back to the present and list things I have to start doing now to create what I want for the future. Just simple things like dreaming of sitting in my own library room requires me to continually add to my book collection and store them neatly. The actual room can come later.
I’m 66 and help care for my 93 year old mother. She’s mostly healthy except for a bone-on-bone valgus knee, arthritis, macular degeneration, hearing loss, and cognitive decline. She was widowed last year, has no friends in her rural community, and lives alone now. She doesn’t move because it hurts and it hurts because she doesn’t move. She sits in her chair all day and moving exhausts her. She doesn’t have any confidence leaving the house, even on the weekly trip to the hairdresser, who works out of her home. It’s heartbreaking and I’m terrified I’ll be like her at 93.
And yet…I lift weights twice a week, read as much as I can, walk when I can. I’m retiring at the end of the year and plan to learn Icelandic and Norwegian, restart yoga practice, increase my creative practice (art, writing, knitting, spinning, weaving) and travel the US and internationally. After my mother retired, she stayed home and cooked and cooked and took care of the house for my father, who didn’t want to go anywhere.
I *know* what I’m doing now will keep me healthy and still…what if it’s not enough?
Hi Teri, It sounds like you are on the right path and have solid plans. We can only do what we can, and I suspect anything and everything helps. Our bodies do age, and we have to consider that as well. I know that at 86, I've had to adjust somewhat, but still the best I can.
That old laziness seems to take care of itself, doesn't it? I tell my doctor I am suffering from chronic sloth and terminal lethargy. Somehow sounds a little more serious than just plain being inert. Sigh.
Deciding how I want to live 10, 20, 30 years from now and making choices today to get there seems so obvious, but I only had vague ideas. But, yea, I’d like to walk unassisted until I die. I want to keep my strength and balance, and this thought alone motivates me to exercise when I’m not feeling like it. Thank you!!
I found this post so inspiring Janice! Thanks so much. I spend thirty minutes a day doing hard word puzzles and logic puzzles. I tell myself it is a workout for my brain, but, truthfully, I just like to play with words. Maybe I can call it entertainment AND exercise?
I agree with Peter Attia and have read his book several times. He addresses the four horsemen, but there are many other issues that can cause us to go sideways. Currently, I’m reading Good Energy by Casey Means, MD, and learning more about metabolism and energy in simple, layman’s terms. Armed with the best of information is always the first step... there are times I want to crawl back into bed and just give up. But I know I must keep going because life is precious, and I must keep reminding myself of this to live it the best while aging. I just wish I could depend on a solid foundation that somewhat stays the same. I think it's the most difficult aspect of aging, always having to pivot.
Hi Patti, That's kind of my take on it. Life is precious, and I want to make the most of it. It's so true about other causes and the foundation changing - I've really noticed differences this past year, and I can't trust my body the way I could.
Use it or lose it" in relationship to longevity means that to maintain physical and cognitive abilities as you age, you must actively engage and use those abilities regularly, or you risk losing them over time; essentially, staying active and mentally stimulated is crucial for a long and healthy life.
Thank you for this. It gives me a lot to think about personally and I’m thinking about giving this book as a gift to a couple of people who appreciate fitness challenges.
Hi, The book is a little detailed but filled with good ideas. I hope your friends will enjoy it.
I continually check in with skills I want to maintain. My goal setting each year includes writing about my dream life and looking 10 years ahead. I then step back to the present and list things I have to start doing now to create what I want for the future. Just simple things like dreaming of sitting in my own library room requires me to continually add to my book collection and store them neatly. The actual room can come later.
Hi Val, That's a very nice process. I love it.
I’m 66 and help care for my 93 year old mother. She’s mostly healthy except for a bone-on-bone valgus knee, arthritis, macular degeneration, hearing loss, and cognitive decline. She was widowed last year, has no friends in her rural community, and lives alone now. She doesn’t move because it hurts and it hurts because she doesn’t move. She sits in her chair all day and moving exhausts her. She doesn’t have any confidence leaving the house, even on the weekly trip to the hairdresser, who works out of her home. It’s heartbreaking and I’m terrified I’ll be like her at 93.
And yet…I lift weights twice a week, read as much as I can, walk when I can. I’m retiring at the end of the year and plan to learn Icelandic and Norwegian, restart yoga practice, increase my creative practice (art, writing, knitting, spinning, weaving) and travel the US and internationally. After my mother retired, she stayed home and cooked and cooked and took care of the house for my father, who didn’t want to go anywhere.
I *know* what I’m doing now will keep me healthy and still…what if it’s not enough?
Hi Teri, It sounds like you are on the right path and have solid plans. We can only do what we can, and I suspect anything and everything helps. Our bodies do age, and we have to consider that as well. I know that at 86, I've had to adjust somewhat, but still the best I can.
Mental fitness and physical...I love the idea that without regularly practicing you can get LAZY--oooh isn't that easy ??
That old laziness seems to take care of itself, doesn't it? I tell my doctor I am suffering from chronic sloth and terminal lethargy. Somehow sounds a little more serious than just plain being inert. Sigh.
Hi Jill, I've found that it's really easy to get lazy. There are many times when I have to remind myself what the goal is.
Deciding how I want to live 10, 20, 30 years from now and making choices today to get there seems so obvious, but I only had vague ideas. But, yea, I’d like to walk unassisted until I die. I want to keep my strength and balance, and this thought alone motivates me to exercise when I’m not feeling like it. Thank you!!
Hi Marta, It was an eye-opener for me when I figured it out.
I found this post so inspiring Janice! Thanks so much. I spend thirty minutes a day doing hard word puzzles and logic puzzles. I tell myself it is a workout for my brain, but, truthfully, I just like to play with words. Maybe I can call it entertainment AND exercise?
Hi Sharron, Whatever we can do to get through it - can exercise be entertainment? There must be a way.
I agree with Peter Attia and have read his book several times. He addresses the four horsemen, but there are many other issues that can cause us to go sideways. Currently, I’m reading Good Energy by Casey Means, MD, and learning more about metabolism and energy in simple, layman’s terms. Armed with the best of information is always the first step... there are times I want to crawl back into bed and just give up. But I know I must keep going because life is precious, and I must keep reminding myself of this to live it the best while aging. I just wish I could depend on a solid foundation that somewhat stays the same. I think it's the most difficult aspect of aging, always having to pivot.
Hi Patti, That's kind of my take on it. Life is precious, and I want to make the most of it. It's so true about other causes and the foundation changing - I've really noticed differences this past year, and I can't trust my body the way I could.