What Makes Us Old?

I have had the best summer, sprinkled with new Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) pain! I am dealing quite well with my older look. I am not giving up on my appearance but I am not spending my life worrying about how old I look. That subject is for another day. I have plenty to say!  At any rate, this summer we decided to take a couple of road trips. We have a small travel trailer. It is only 17′. But it has a bed that doesn’t have to be folded up during the day and it has a small (very small) bathroom. Important for an older like me. Another indgnity of aging, I need to be able to get to the bathroom at night.  Of course, the trailer also has a frig, stove, microwave and a table.

We decided to travel with our oldest son and his family to see Glacier and Yellowstone. It was to be short travel days with all of us together at RV camps for a night or two or four. As we were leaving I was quite suddenly attacked with pain in my knees that almost stopped me from walking. I actually used a walking stick – I don’t yet own a cane. The pain made me think twice about getting out of our truck at each stop. Instead of jumping out to see the newest wonderful view or to visit the tourist store that was so inviting I thought, “Do I really want to feel the pain it is going to take to get out and walk.” Drats, to put it mildly.

Of course, I emailed my wonderful doctor and a few days into the trip he sent a prescription for Prednisone, a drug I thought I would never agree to take. Right! I couldn’t wait to arrive in the town of Ennis and find the local drug store. This drug did save the trip for me. I was able to walk and see the Yellowstone Grand Canyon, the mud pots and various other magical hot springs and pools. We even got up early and found a mother grizzly and her cub.

We traveled again this summer, this time on our own, to see Crater Lake. We camped nearby and I got to kayak and play. We then had a week at Mercer Lake in a small cabin with our youngest daughter and our grand girl. It was great. I only took the Prednisone for fourteen days but it seemed to slow and dampen the pain cycle.

Since then I have been to see my doctor. We decided to try a new drug and replace the Methotrexate. The new drug, Xeljanz is has serious potential side effects. One side effect is to greatly reduce my immune system. So I got off of all drugs and had a Shingles vaccine (it is a live vaccine) and waited. I had to go four weeks with no RA medication to make sure the vaccine wouldn’t cause me to contract Shingles. Whew! I am now on my new medication and waiting …. to see if I can tolerate it and to see if it works.

Why am I going on about this issue? Because this damn RA pain is cramping my style. We are planning to go on a five or six-week trip to Thailand, Viet Nam, Cambodia and maybe China next spring. Can I move enough to go? Will I be able to travel to these countries with a reduced immune system?  As an older, I have limited time left. I want to explore, try new things and I am frustrated to think that, in addition, to the vanity issues of aging I am also dealing with disease issues that prevent me from doing what I want!

They say olders spend their time talking about their aches and pains. Today, that is certianly me. But this is my base. I will be talking about getting back in the pool, kayaking, snorkeling and bobbing in the ocean. I intend to do everything I can to get back on my bike when we get to Hawaii for the winter.

So come along with me. Let’s not give in or give up. I am going to grab every bit of life I can. And I will likely gripe about and talk a bit about the indignities of being older and having to deal with disease. Thanks for listening.

We Have The Power!

Replaying a painful memory over and over in your head is a form of self abuse.  Toxic thoughts create a toxic body.  So make peace with yourself and your past.  Heal your thoughts and heal yourself…Jerose

Oh yes, You cannot change the bad things you did or happened to you. But you can kick them out of your head. If you regret your behavior, don’t do it again and fix it if you can. But move on! If someone injured you, so what? Its happens to all of us. Forgive those that are in your life and forget those people you have eliminated. We have so much power when we use our brains and our hearts to make wonderful times, one day or even one moment at a time. Preaching to me….please don’t think I think I know what you need. Love and Hugs

Just For Giggles! Hmmm, It Does Ring True.

A Beauty Bright Photo

Move It! Olders and Exercise.

Exercise, stretch and bend, lift those weights and do it again, and over again!  Movement really is a magic pill. Moving our bods will make us live longer and most of the time enjoy living more.

There was a great clip on TV about a woman who started exercising in her 70s. She was moving a good deal of weights across the floor and doing bench presses of a respectable amount of weight.  She went from being over weight and taking medications for high blood pressure to having blood pressure in the normal range with no medications needed and was at least 25 pounds lighter.  As an older I can tell you, and I bet you know, it is no small feat to lose weight.  This woman talked about an important side benefit.  She has expanded her community and has new friends because she goes to a gym three or four days a week.  She said, when her husband died her gym friends showed up at the memorial and supported her through her tough days.

“Make new friends and keep the old.”  Who knew we can make friends if we exercise in a community gym?   Another reason, to get up, get moving and get out of the house.

Most of us know we need to exercise.  Just like most of know we need to eat well.  But do we know the amazing changes we can make by moving?

The benefits of exercise can include: Decreased risk of cardiovascular (heart) disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Decreased risk of colon and breast cancers.  Decreased risk of diabetes Decreased risk of osteoporosis.  Decreased risk of depression and dementia.  Decreased body fat Improved metabolic processes — the way the body breaks down and builds necessary substances.  Improved movement of joints and muscles Improved oxygen delivery throughout the body.  Improved sense of well-being Improved strength and endurance.

Wowie, Zowie!  We hit the jack pot when we move.   So how do we do it?  I know I have had to fight to make myself exercise.  I have been a sloth for years at a time.  But in my younger past I rode bikes, I hiked, I ran and I played racquetball.   I remember having some fun doing these things.

So I decided that I would try to find ways to enjoy moving. The fitness magazines all said Walk!  Before 2002 when I had a hip replacement walking was not pleasant and certainly not possible to do for exercise.  So back then, I sometimes biked.  The biking movement didn’t hurt.   And I like it.  I like being able to ride a bike for 10 or more miles and make it home.  And I like seeing the sights from my bike.  Last I like being able to enjoy a bit more food with no weight gain.  My heart rate is down.  My goal is to find something I  don’t hate and can make  myself do regularly.  Heck, my real goal is to find something I like to do.

Today, I like to walk and to bike and swim.  I like to kayak – a  wonderful gift to me – because before my hip replacement I couldn’t get in or out of a kayak.  I do love to dance around the house to my music – lots of 60s and 70s. But I tore my meniscus when I was trying out aerobics.  Damn, I hate it when my body messes with my goals. I can dance again but don’t make it my regular exercise.

What do you like?  Dancing around the house for two songs?  You can do that… wear good shoes and watch your knees. Take a walk, even just around the neighborhood.  Get out of the house and go to the local pool.  If you don’t swim well, how about water aerobics?  Get to know the group taking the class.

I signed up for My Fitness Pal and track my exercise there.  I see when I am off and not exercising and I am reminded of how much better I feel when I move.  I also have an app called Runkeeper on my phone.  It records some of my exercise, like walking and biking and lets me know how many calories I burn.  Do you use anything to help you keep moving? What?

Seriously, moving can even make your skin look a bit younger.  Now who doesn’t like that?  Talk to you soon – Bernice

 

Older, Yes I am – No denial here

I am an Older! Its true. You can deny it or you can tell me, “You are only as old as you feel.” When a friend spotted my blog he tried to help me by saying “You are not old. You have matured, like fine wine.”The truth is I am an Older and I look my age. The other truth is, I don’t mind.

Oh yes, I still freak out about my wrinkles and sags. More importantly, I get mad when my body won’t do everything I want it to. But I am comfortable coming into the end stage of life. I am not done fighting. I will get stronger and I just know I will find a great face cream or laser or??? and suddenly look better.

As an Older, I don’t mind talking about death, or how I want to prepare to live as my body and brain age. I don’t  mind admitting I worry about losing my mind. I think about downsizing. I think about one story houses or apartments.  I think about remaining in charge of my life and not allowing others to decide for me.

I now remember to take vitamins and fish oil. I slather on moisture with sunscreen. I sometimes, pee when I laugh. I think about needing adult pads or diapers. I wonder if I want to try drugs to prevent the need. When will I have to this?  As it is, I don’t sleep through the night. I wake up to hit the bathroom at least once, maybe twice.

When I wear high heels to dinner or to a meeting, I take a pair of flats with me. Actually, my closet is starting to be filled with cute flats – I do love shoes. I don’t think I have bought a new pair of high heels in over a year. I, the flip-flop queen, now wear Orthaheel flip-flops with arches.  Gone are my 30 pairs of  $5 flip-flops.  Sad but true.  Do Orthaheels look like old people shoes?  I don’t think so. At least I am not wearing Birkenstocks. I know, I know.  I bet some readers wear them. But I can’t see them without thinking the wearer is an old hippie. Sorry.

Some days walking up or down (especially down) stairs really hurts. My goal is to see the amazing things in our world. We just got back from Turkey and Greece. I walked and walked. We climbed up steep hills to cave churches carved into the stone. Because my husband held my hand and I used a walking stick I made it. I know I need to go now. I don’t know when my knees will get in my way.

Strangers see my age. They offer their seats and their hands. I hate that. I am proud I can still swim a mile, and that I go on 10 mile-plus bike rides. I have a kayak and use it. I walk down my steep hill and into town and back up my “whining hill”. But I know if I stop doing these things for any length of time, my body will struggle to handle my exercise.

For me freedom as an Older isn’t denying the problems. Nor is it wallowing.  I am free to share my experiences and perspectives.  Perhaps together we can find ways to make this part of our life better.  I do love my life.  I want to live!…until I die.  Did I repeat that old saying? Yes I did and I mean it.

Remember Mame? “Life is a banquet and most poor slobs are starving to death.” We can feast together.

Don’t Tell Me What to Do, Don’t Tell Me What To Say….Life Coach Mandates About Aging

Mornings often include multiple cups of coffee sitting on my adjustable bed while reading the Washington Post or watching Charlie Rose and crew.  I may have told you that before. At any rate, I was up, bed flattened, Morning Show over getting ready for the day… teeth flossing and brushing, and slathering on my moisturizing cream, with SPF 30 when I heard a woman’s voice talking about aging.

Full stop!  AM Northwest was on and Helen was interviewing a – young woman (no wrinkles and with a firm, tight jaw line) who was a life coach. She was telling us, Olders, about aging.  This young woman had a list of ways we Olders must act and think to be happy.  Her conversation about our aging bodies was definitely from a perspective of some one too young to know about living with older bodies that don’t look  so hot.  And if  living with sagging skin and age spots were not enough we  know what it is like to  live with bodies that no longer do what we want them to do. We can fight but often we  have to adjust our activities because  of our aging bodies.

Ms. Redmond began with a somewhat  reasonable statement:

2.  Pay Attention to the Messages of Your Body Our physical being is this amazing communicator. In youth there is a pressure and emphasis to ignore these messages and to focus on appearance and “beauty”; but from mid age – on, there is a golden opportunity to feel your body and to understand the oneness of your body and mind. With this awareness comes body freedom which is the opposite of body hatred and physical judgement.

Then she opened her mouth and expanded by saying as an older I no longer should or do care  about my appearance.  She implies that if I do care, I am not properly matured.  She is not presenting olders with a “Golden Opportunity” to ….what ever she said.

I understand, I do, from her young age she can’t imagine that when she is wrinkled and saggy she will still be concerned with how she looks.   Being an Older is a far away, distant day.  For  us who are Olders reminds us  we have bodies showing  the wreckage of age.   We need to deal with by making our lives smaller.  Forget the shopping for beautiful skirt, blouse or other item that makes you feel attractive.  Don’t bother with trying to fix your face.  Jewelry on old hands, give it to the kids.

God forbid we get a face lift or laser treatment.   I remember taking my Mom to get a facial and a light resurfacing  when she was 75.  She loved the pampering and she felt prettier.  To be fair, at the age I was then, I was surprised she wanted to go for a facial and especially the light resurfacing.   I remember thinking, “Remember – no matter what age we are we care how  we look”.

Don’t  judge people’s desires using  their age.  Young people can be too focused on their looks. Olders who have given up caring about appearance may  be making their lives smaller because they are depressed. People of all ages view their bodies in a variety of ways.

Personally,  I don’t see any solution in Ms. Redmond’s  “oneness of your body and mind”. Maybe one is holding up better than the other, thank you very much.

A Blog for Olders!

Hello Fellow Olders,

I am hoping we can talk with each other about the issues, challenges and joys we face as we age.  It is good to share, and brain storm about our lives. We can go deep and talk about our feelings, or we can enjoy a bit of complaining about our bodies and what they will and won’t do. We can share fitness and diet information.  This blog is for us.

Today at my Rotary meeting our president, really made me and others laugh. He presented us with “Nine Important Facts To Remember As We Grow Older.”  He told me after our meeting, he located this somewhere on the web with no author to give credit.

I wanted to share his Facts to Remember. I hope it will make you laugh too. Here goes.

#9.  Death is the number one killer in the world.

#8   Life is sexually transmitted.

#7  Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

#6  Men have two motivations:  hunger and hanky panky, and they can’t tell them apart.  If you see a gleam in his eyes, make him a sandwich.

#5  Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day.  Teach a person to use the internet and they won’t bother you for weeks…months…maybe years.

#4 Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in the hospital, dying of nothing.

#3  All of us could take a lesson from the weather.  It pays not attention to criticism.

#2  In the 60’s, people took acid to make the world look weird.  Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.

#1  Life is like a jar of jalapeno peppers. What you do today may be a burning issue tomorrow.

Cheers to all of us Olders.

The Good! Celebrate! There are some good things about being an “older”

Cheers,  I don’t know about you but I am regularly surprised at the age I am.  I am not unhappy about the number, 66 but I do find it hard to believe I am as old as I am.

And I recognize I am headed to the end of my life.  Today it is not unusual to hear of a friend dying. And many of my friends have medical issues to deal with. I have always been healthy but have a metal hip and last year I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The Good! This post is my reminder of the good that comes with aging.  And there are advantages. For example, I am retired. I do not have to get up and go to the office each day. More importantly, I don’t have to figure out how to schedule my vacation around my work.  I can drink my morning coffee, read the Washington Post and watch Charlie Rose for as long as I like.

As an older, I get discounts. You better believe I regularly ask if there is a discount for Seniors. If I am going to be this age I darn well deserve any benefit that may come because of it. I also have Medicare. Hurray! My husband and I pay for the highest level of insurance Blue Cross provides. But out of pocket costs are crazy high.  I do not know how olders who need medical attention can afford the ridiculous co-pays.  Ok, I will not get started on the insurance crooks – subject for another day.

I am talking about the good! I am comfortable with myself. Oh we can talk about bodies and the mirror.  Just not today, that is NOT part of the good. But I don’t spend much time berating myself for not being good enough, for mistakes I make or behavior flaws. If I see something in me I want to change I work on it. If I see something in myself that I sometimes wish were not so.  I am fine with acknowledging how I feel and accepting the characteristic.

I don’t allow my appearance to keep me from swimming, snorkeling or biking.  When I was younger but aging, I missed a lot of fun because I didn’t want to be seen in a swimming suit. Stupid – for me a lover of water and a long time swimmer. I am so over that! Don’t get me wrong. I don’t like the way my skin sags and the shape of my body but I will not like it while I am swimming my mile, thank you very much.

I do not have to cook!!! I do not have anyone who is dependant on me for their food.  And lucky me, my husband does like to cook.  So do I. When I want.   As an older I do not have the responsibilities I had when my kids were growing up. I can create my day to suit myself.

I do not sweat the small stuff! And it is all small stuff.  I don’t know who I stole that from but I have adopted it.  Today, my life is fun.

Being older has many challenges!  I won’t pretend I like them. All the more reason to remember the good.  And I do.

What is “It’s All the Same Diet”? Meet the Blogger – share diet and fitness experiences-talk about aging.

It’s All the Same Diet is a blog I started when I was trying a controversial diet. The HCG diet is an extremely low-calorie diet and the food choices are limited. In addition the diet requires you to ingest HCG drops – on type designed to lower hunger and one to enhance weight loss.  It is unusual for an “older” like me to go for such a “fad” and controversial diet. I had lost some weight, once again, but was stuck about 20 pounds above my desired weight.

One of my life long issues has been my weight.  I am a person who can and does set goals and I often achieve them.  As an example I completed a two-year course in Interpreting for the Deaf and then a few years later I managed to be accepted into law school and then worked as a prosecutor for well over two decades.

But I have lost and gained weight my entire life beginning in my teenaged years.  Today I think I finally understand that losing weight is not a goal I can reach and be done.  Today I am a member of MyFitnessPal and have been for over 1400 days. During this time I have gained back 8 pounds above the lowest weight I reached – using the HCG diet.  I have not gained the 40 pounds I had to take off the last time I weighted enough to be upset with myself and once again “diet”.

Today I know today and every day is “The first day of my diet for the rest of my life.” People who sell eating plans by saying their eating plan is not a diet, but is a life style change are not talking to me.  I don’t believe them.  They creating a fantasy world where you forget your old habits. You no longer want or eat brownies or big piles of pasta or bread or chips or whatever you love.  NO. Everyday is the first day of an everlasting diet. Damn!

As an “older” woman, 66, I am passionate about living life rather than watching the end of my life go by.  I am aware that I am at the end stage of life.  That means I want to treat each day with respect.  I want to make plans that expand my life rather than condense it.  My husband and I just got back from 5 weeks visiting Turkey and Greece.  We went with another couple.  I researched the area, booked a couple of Airbnb apartments, together my husband and I found inexpensive hotels and he booked in country flights.  Something to talk about on this blog.

Today, I am using our trip as one example of life expanding experiences.  I want to introduce myself.  This blog is another way to connect with others who want to enhance and expand their experiences and their lives.

I may never rid myself of my weight issue but I can manage it.  I can even have fun by connecting with others who have the same issue. MyFitnessPal friends – limited to 4, are from around the world. One friend lives in Mexico, one lives in New Zealand, and one lives in the UK.  One of my daughters is also MyFitnessPal friend. She and I encourage each other and get to talk exercise and fitness.  I am using this ongoing problem as a catalyst to having some fun.

I will be back ready to blog and talk to you again. I expect we will encourage each other, debunk silly fitness and health ideas, talk about our older and changing bodies. Deal with older health issues and how they affect our living.  For example I have been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis.   How to keeping having new wonderful experiences with this disease?

I have a bucket list and I want to check off the items on my list before I – can’t!

Hcg Diet – Day 2 – load day

Good Morning, It was so strange to eat quite so much yesterday. I truly do not understand why this diet has “load days”. I guess if you are starting the diet for the first time, these days allow you to have a couple of days to get the food you may miss out of your mind and out of your focus. For me, after maintaining my weight loss from the my first 21 days on the HCG diet, eating so much made my body feel bad.

I had my regular breakfast. I had one cup of non-fat plain Greek yogurt with a teaspoon of strawberry freezer jam. Then for a late lunch we (my diet partner came by for a load lunch) had BBQ baby back pork ribs and deviled eggs. And we had a sautéed veggies including tomato, onion, red and yellow peppers, mushrooms and celery. We topped this off with espresso ice cream. Oh and I had white wine. I was so full I didn’t eat dinner. I didn’t try to stuff myself but the density of the food – so many high calorie count items – just filled me.

I am not going to eat so much today. I will eat my favorite pizza for dinner and I may have wine again. I have had my usual breakfast again. I will drink water today. And hope I feel less full by tonight.

I was surprised to see I weigh the same this morning as yesterday. I like that. Prior to my first start date of the Hcg diet I gained 3 pounds. I didn’t count these pounds in my weight loss. Why? I just don’t understand why we have load days. I do think there is a bit of emotional showmanship used in this diet. It is as if, you must do each step or it will not work. So I guess it gives you the feeling of controlling the process or of accomplishment.

I am taking the drops. And I do hope this 21 days will put me at the weight I want to maintain for life. I have to say – It is a bad thing to gain and lose large amounts of weight – over and over. And as a 64-year-old woman, the consequences are visible. My arms have loose skin that still looks bad after months of maintenance and some exercise. I am hoping to swim more. This is a good exercise for arms and backs. I hope it smooth’s out this old lady’s arms.