HEALTH Health as a prepping concern

[dstraito]

I used to be very robust and healthy. I could work all day at whatever I wanted to do from clearing land, splitting logs, digging.

I once spent an entire day lifting 150-200 lb railroad ties to my shoulder and moving them about 50 yards away.

I wanted a pickup so I could haul things around but I think I may have just realized if I need a pickup to haul it, I won't be able to lift it, at least not by myself.

I have a decade only 35 inch TV that I put into its current location about 8 years ago. It quit working so I decided to replace it with a smaller TV (27 inch) a little bit older.

I couldn't move the TV by myself. My DW and I barely were able to get it off it's stand and to the floor.

I had no idea I'd lost so much strength. Granted, my workouts of lifting and riding a stationary bike have been replaced by walking but still.

Mortality comes sneaking into my reality.

One of my goals is to start incorporating resistance training back into my regime but it does cause me concern.

If my expected doom-and-gloom scenario comes to play, my health could pose additional hardships on myself and my family.

I guess this is where organizing a bug-out group would be better than trying to go it alone but most of the people in my neighborhood are DGI's and Pollys.

I like the quote "Expect the Best, but prepare for the worst". I'm not sure how else to prepare for an aging failing body.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

 

[Old Gray Mare]

I like the quote "Expect the Best, but prepare for the worst". I'm not sure how else to prepare for an aging failing body.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

Kids! IMHO there is a reason Amish families are so big. When the older generation has worn out there are two younger generations to replace them.

 

[summerthyme]

dsraito... LOL! Yeah, it gets to all of us! I'd have been in a lot better shape to face TSHTF 15 years ago, in many ways! And hubby, due to his damaged spine and badly overdoing things like "moving 150# railroad ties 50 yards alone" (WHY do men think that these type activities are a good idea? There's a reason the oldtimers were often "used up" by the age of 50, and absolutely crippled by 60- if they lived that long!!)... well, his weight lifting is getting very limited.

We cope now on the farm by doing what I TRIED to get him to do before he caused his body so much damage- get a lever or a bar, rather than yanking and torquing on things. Use comealongs, pulleys, and block and tackle rigs whenever necessary. Devise ramps for easing heavy things up to a higher level. We have several commercial duty "trucks" in the barn for hauling grain bags and the really heavy bales of hay (he used to unroll/move 500# round bales by himself... now we drop them onto a 4 wheeled cart which was salvaged from a wholesale grocery operation and push it instead)

You CAN stop a lot of the "age related muscle loss" with exercise and training. Men may want to consult with their doctors and have their testosterone levels checked... as you age, your levels drop a lot, and it's a large part of your ability to be "strong". There are probably risks to supplementation... everyone has to decide for themselves if those risks are worth it. Hubby takes a low level of DHEA, an OTC hormone precursor, and notices a big difference from it.

But our main "preps" are our four strong, much younger children (all between 25 and 33 years right now) If things get so bad that we're reduced to an 1800's subsistence lifestyle, the chances are at least some of them will also be living with us on our farm. And even if we don't crash to that level, our youngest son and his wife are planning on building a house on a chunk of our acreage and will be here to help with the "heavy stuff" (this was their idea entirely, and part of their reasoning was "mom and dad will need help as they get older") We'll happily give them a few acres of land in exchange.. I just thank the Lord every day that DS found a city girl for his bride who happens to LOVE the country!

Someone once asked a homesteader in his late 60's "what he was going to do as he got older" on the homestead. His answer was simple "the same thing I'm doing now... just slower". To a great extent, that's what we plan.

Summerthyme

 

[dstraito]

Kids! IMHO there is a reason Amish families are so big. When the older generation has worn out there are two younger generations to replace them.

Argh! Don't get me started on my older two kids.

I still have hope for my youngest daughter though.

 

[dstraito]

dsraito... LOL! Yeah, it gets to all of us! I'd have been in a lot better shape to face TSHTF 15 years ago, in many ways! And hubby, due to his damaged spine and badly overdoing things like "moving 150# railroad ties 50 yards alone" (WHY do men think that these type activities are a good idea? There's a reason the oldtimers were often "used up" by the age of 50, and absolutely crippled by 60- if they lived that long!!)... well, his weight lifting is getting very limited.

We cope now on the farm by doing what I TRIED to get him to do before he caused his body so much damage- get a lever or a bar, rather than yanking and torquing on things. Use comealongs, pulleys, and block and tackle rigs whenever necessary. Devise ramps for easing heavy things up to a higher level. We have several commercial duty "trucks" in the barn for hauling grain bags and the really heavy bales of hay (he used to unroll/move 500# round bales by himself... now we drop them onto a 4 wheeled cart which was salvaged from a wholesale grocery operation and push it instead)

You CAN stop a lot of the "age related muscle loss" with exercise and training. Men may want to consult with their doctors and have their testosterone levels checked... as you age, your levels drop a lot, and it's a large part of your ability to be "strong". There are probably risks to supplementation... everyone has to decide for themselves if those risks are worth it. Hubby takes a low level of DHEA, an OTC hormone precursor, and notices a big difference from it.

But our main "preps" are our four strong, much younger children (all between 25 and 33 years right now) If things get so bad that we're reduced to an 1800's subsistence lifestyle, the chances are at least some of them will also be living with us on our farm. And even if we don't crash to that level, our youngest son and his wife are planning on building a house on a chunk of our acreage and will be here to help with the "heavy stuff" (this was their idea entirely, and part of their reasoning was "mom and dad will need help as they get older") We'll happily give them a few acres of land in exchange.. I just thank the Lord every day that DS found a city girl for his bride who happens to LOVE the country!

Someone once asked a homesteader in his late 60's "what he was going to do as he got older" on the homestead. His answer was simple "the same thing I'm doing now... just slower". To a great extent, that's what we plan.

Summerthyme

Sounds like you have a great family.

I guess I'm just melancholy thinking about how I used to be compared to now after four knee surgeries and one back surgery.

You're right, my body is a direct reflection on the things I've done to it.

My knees are shot from running Marathons and lifting heavy things.

I would really like some land, I think about doing that more and more but right now I'm putting my 11 year old daughters' future growth and well-being ahead of what I want. She is thriving in the school district she is currently in, has a lot of friends, takes piano lessons, is in select soccer. I'm trying to give her every opportunity to succeed in life.

I'm just afraid by the time I'm able to move to a country spot, I won't be able to handle the physical aspect of it.

I'll just have to keep repeating "everything happens for a reason".

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[StringBean]

Work smarter, not harder.....

My dad's mantra.

Please don't take offense as none was intended.

JJ

 

[ShakinSouth]

Resistence training provides fast results, provided it's done properly. I have to raise the weights used almost every single time I work out. Lifting and moving a bulky 10 foot ladder isn't nearly as hard as it used to be. That being said, I have to be careful with my back and joints, but don't we all? That's just common sense.

Get to lifting those weights, and you'll be glad you did.

 

[biere]

It has been a couple years but one old fella, in his 50s or 60s I reckon, had started lifting weights not that many years earlier and he talked about how much stronger he was and how much better he got around and all sorts of stuff.

I am in my mid 30s and overweight and have been slacking a lot lately, so while I am reasonably strong I am not as strong as I used to be.

I am not interested in lifting heavy. I am interested in full range of motion with light weights and I am once again learning proper lifting technique.

I am kind of trying to set some habits so I can just run this routine into old age.

The fella I mentioned at the beginning of my post had a youtube video I think but there was also some articles about him as well because he was able to outlift some people half his age and younger without really pushing himself too hard.

The biggest thing I got out of thinking about that article was being realistic. I no longer want to go out and do amazing things myself, I know when I need to ask someone to give me a hand. But I want to be stronger so I can handle my half better than I currently handle it.

So far I have not really broken much or needed any major surgeries and I kind of want to keep it that way since it does mean a lot as you age.

 

[Old Gray Mare]

I am interested in full range of motion with light weights and I am once again learning proper lifting technique.

I am kind of trying to set some habits so I can just run this routine into old age.

Tai Chi? I'd think it's a really good idea to check with a Doctor before starting any exercise program.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6WyGxWBdc8

 

[colonel holman]

The physical therapist says...

The musculoskeletal system is the only body system where the aging process is (to a significant degree)... reversible. The key is twofold: flexibility and aerobic conditioning. Each of these is relatively easy to accomplish, and safely so. Flexibility priorities are hamstrings, calf and low back since stiffness here is highly crippling to musculoskeletal function. Hamstrings are stretched by lying on back, hold thigh flexed 90 degrees at hip and straighten knee for 30 second effort. (do not try to stretch by standing and bending to reach toes, damaging to low back discs). Calf stretched by leaning forward to place hands on wall 3-4 feet away, keeping foot flat on floor to pry toes toward shin. (Do not stretch calf by lowering heels off edge of stair, as this can rupture achilles). Low back needs to restore extension, backward bending mobility (as long as there is minimal spinal stenosis) as this restores water content to discs and reduces disc bulging. Done by 10 second standing backward bending stretch or lying on belly propped up on elbows. But if one is already having a significant back problem, see a PT to determine which low back stretches are best for you... (MDs or DCs have very, very little exercise education, so go to a good PT). The very very best all around exercise is, of course, walking... benefits pulmonary function, cardiac function, low back, stress reduction, etc. So health preps are not that difficult and so very worthwhile. I teach courses in factory-workplace settings to employees on "the aging worker". Workplaces set up a 2-minute stretching routine done 3x per day. Does it work? A one-year follow-up at each workplace (400 workplaces so far) reveal an average 72% reduction in lost workdays from back, neck or upper extremity over-use disorders.

 

[Garryowen]

my experience supports Col. Holman's comments. The "Y" has a "Silver Sneakers" program in cooperation with several insurance companies. If you are a senior citizen, you may get your membership paid by the company. If they are paying for it, you can bet it can be proven effective in reducing costs. (The .gov wants to stop it, of course, to save money.)

I enthusiastically recommend the program. I have lost about 25 pounds since last Sep, and feel much better. My last lab work showed everything normal except my potassium was a bit high. (Breaking my leg set me back a bit, but probably next week I will start going in and at least doing upper body workouts a couple times a week.

regards,

Garryowen

 

[dstraito]

Work smarter, not harder.....

My dad's mantra.

Please don't take offense as none was intended.

JJ

Great idea and I do incorporate levers, dolly's, and other people when I can!

Sometimes there is not a good solution when you don't have anyone to help you lift a heavy tv to a stand.

The correct thing to do would have been to wait until I could find someone to help me but if I always did the correct thing I probably wouldn't be in this condition.

 

[dstraito]

It has been a couple years but one old fella, in his 50s or 60s I reckon, had started lifting weights not that many years earlier and he talked about how much stronger he was and how much better he got around and all sorts of stuff.

I am in my mid 30s and overweight and have been slacking a lot lately, so while I am reasonably strong I am not as strong as I used to be.

I am not interested in lifting heavy. I am interested in full range of motion with light weights and I am once again learning proper lifting technique.

I am kind of trying to set some habits so I can just run this routine into old age.

The fella I mentioned at the beginning of my post had a youtube video I think but there was also some articles about him as well because he was able to outlift some people half his age and younger without really pushing himself too hard.

The biggest thing I got out of thinking about that article was being realistic. I no longer want to go out and do amazing things myself, I know when I need to ask someone to give me a hand. But I want to be stronger so I can handle my half better than I currently handle it.

So far I have not really broken much or needed any major surgeries and I kind of want to keep it that way since it does mean a lot as you age.

I used to be quite the athlete. I ran marathons and lifted weights. I would work out 5-8 times per week varying cardio and weights. At one point, I couldn't find any clothes to fit because I had gotten so muscular.

I do know the right technique and I do need to get back to it, though not in the way I used to. I'd like to increase my mobility, increase my strength and decrease the pain. I seem to have a lot of problems all along my entire spine.

I've been to a chiropracter but that doesn't really help since I have some nerve damage.

I've thought about acupuncture and someone else recommend Tai Chi so I may give that a try.

It's a shame we can't have our accumulated knowledge and experiences in a young body. I really wasted my youth.

I thought I was invincible but a motorcycle and a car wreck are proving me wrong everyday.

Still, being alive, even with pain beats the alternative.

Thanks for the great ideas everyone.

 

[coalcracker]

Resistence training provides fast results, provided it's done properly. I have to raise the weights used almost every single time I work out. Lifting and moving a bulky 10 foot ladder isn't nearly as hard as it used to be. That being said, I have to be careful with my back and joints, but don't we all? That's just common sense.

Get to lifting those weights, and you'll be glad you did.

Good points, Shakin. I agree.

dstraito, you have to start with very light weights and work your way up. Don't let the ego influence you to lift more weight than you should. Don't lift everyday. Do a lot of cardio days - walking, treadmill, step machine, or whatever. You've done this before. You know how it works. Just go slower. Take more rests between sets and take more days off. The process will take some time. If you feel pain - stop. No ego. Another thing that you may find helpful is yoga. Once we guys get past the gayness of it, we find the stretches really help loosen up our aging bodies. I believe Tai Chi is similar.

Physical fitness is the most neglected prep! And if the collapse doesn't happen for another 20 years, we still reap great quality of life benefits.

Good luck.

 

[colonel holman]

The best prep you can do and it costs nothing

 

[Ender]

I used to be quite the athlete. I ran marathons and lifted weights. I would work out 5-8 times per week varying cardio and weights. At one point, I couldn't find any clothes to fit because I had gotten so muscular.

I do know the right technique and I do need to get back to it, though not in the way I used to. I'd like to increase my mobility, increase my strength and decrease the pain. I seem to have a lot of problems all along my entire spine.

I've been to a chiropracter but that doesn't really help since I have some nerve damage.

I've thought about acupuncture and someone else recommend Tai Chi so I may give that a try.

It's a shame we can't have our accumulated knowledge and experiences in a young body. I really wasted my youth.

I thought I was invincible but a motorcycle and a car wreck are proving me wrong everyday.

Still, being alive, even with pain beats the alternative.

Thanks for the great ideas everyone.

Eat right- find the correct herbs for your knees etc. and run.

Run 1/2 a block if that's all you can do- but run and slowly build up your distance. And wear thin-soled shoes.

My grandmother is 66 and can run a couple of football fields- worked slowly to get there, but is in great health.

 

[Army Girl]

I have been running again and pushups. Running and pushups were something I did a lot of in my 20's and 30,s, I'm in my 50's now and have taken it up again. Whatever you do just start small and build on it over time.

 

[dstraito]

Eat right- find the correct herbs for your knees etc. and run.

Run 1/2 a block if that's all you can do- but run and slowly build up your distance. And wear thin-soled shoes.

My grandmother is 66 and can run a couple of football fields- worked slowly to get there, but is in great health.

Darn you getting all logical on me but you're right, Eating right is half the battle.

I do like my comfort foods and I am on a campaign to eat better.