Old Guy Talk...Growing old is not for the weak.

[Mac]

Looking for some solid/constructive input.  I know this can be personal but if you have any personal experiences, please share or PM me.

Confession - I'm 54, I'm tore up. Anyone who know me or have heard of me, know I have lived my life burning the candle at both ends.  It's caught up to me.  I drank like a fish, I like to eat and when it comes to physical fitness, I'm lazy. 

Current day - I have constant pain issues, health issues keep stacking up.  I barely eat now but can't lose weight.  I barely sleep.  My primary care doctor has me on a few pills because of blood work and some issues (migraines, high cholesterol, high uric acid, high potassium).  He assured me these are all light doses and the blood work shows they're working.  I should also state, I rarely drink anymore.  Apparently my quest to drink all the alcohol in the world was fruitless as they keep making more and I can no longer handle hangovers. 

I also see a pain management team.  My pain management doctor told me I need to come off my meds as they "could be causing" several of my issues.  In turn, he is also recommending testosterone treatment as that can help with inflammation, sleep, body repair, etc... plus I'm getting older.

So my question, how many of you have faced this or are facing this?  How did you handle it/how have you thought of handling it?  I don't see my doctor as a pill pusher, but there has to be another way.  
- High cholesterol - Eat better and workout.  Drink more water.  But as I mentioned, I'm lazy.  So this is a personal motivation issue.
- High uric acid - Better diet, drink more water and lose weight.
- High potassium - This is a tough one.  Better diet and drink more water.  Even the "natural remedies" state you might need medication.  Of all of these issues, high/low potassium will kill you.

Any thoughts or inputs here would be great.
 

 

[EastMT]

I haven't done any research but my cholestrol tested on the higher side twice when testing mid to late winter (inside more). When I re-tested mid summer it was on the very low side, most likely to being more active or getting more sunlight. 

Do some reading on T replacement. From what I read your body will stop producing and you will be taking it the rest of your life. Being active, lifting weights, getting rid of an unpleasant woman in my life, and being outside (sunlight possibly) helped increase my T levels naturally.

No pop, salt, or fast food.

and for gods sakes rethink the vegan lifestyle :rofl:

 

[Richard h]

My suggestion would be to stop alcohol, totally.  I have had to do this, and it has helped me. I drink decaf coffee and water, period. My sleep did improve and also loss weight. I have gone from 38 jean waist to 34's.  I take at this time only a Zyrtec for allergies. I am cautious of what meds do. While they may help in one area, at what cost in others. Figure I'm not fighting to prolong life, just be comfortable in my life however long that is. 

 

[LegitDuner]

You're not alone.. Did keto and lost a few lbs (literally 2lbs), eat normal and just keep inching up on the pounds slowly.

I can work a demanding 12-hour day and only sleep for a few hours, haven't sleep for more than 5 hours for years now..

My shoulder, back, neck all effed..

I've tried every sleeping pill known to man and I can fight right through the grogginess and stay awake. I feel like I learned to do that by partying so hard and forcing myself to push through the "buzz" all those years.. I'm kind of glad because most of these sleeping pills are just full of side effects... And most don't allow restorative sleep...It's a real effed up place when you're absolutely exhausted mentally, physically, and spiritually but still can't sleep. Can put you in a dark place...

My pain is manageable but I do a lot of stretching, use an inversion board, acupuncture mats, special seat cushions, hot and cold water cycles, etc. I won't take pain meds but have looked into a few times, but honestly just scared of them. 

I can't explain the weight man. I've tried everything over the last 2 years.... every time I turn around I'm weighing a little bit more no matter what I do. 5 years ago I could have just eaten a dirty keto diet and lost 5lbs+ a month.

I firmly believe these are all connected. The pain causes a mood, the mood causes the weight gain and the lack of sleep or vice versa but they're all connected in my opinion.

Boy, I can't wait for those so-called golden years that we were told as young men were awaiting us...

 

[Fireballsocal]

Old age sucks but it's still better than the alternative. The science of weight loss is easy. Burn more than you take in. Eat pizza, cheesecake, ravioli, and wash it down with a beer and you will lose weight if you burn more than you take in. Eat less, burn more, or a combination of the two. Burning fat and keeping muscle? That's where diet comes in and I still think you will lose lots of muscle in the process of losing weight but that tradeoff is fine with me. We are generally less active as we age so target a 1200 calorie a day diet and see how that works out. If you aren't losing, drop to 1000 calories, or ride the hell out of that cardio machine (elliptical, stationary bike, sex). I've been picking a 30 minute youtube video to watch while on my stationary bike and it helps. The math works every time so if you aren't losing, your math is off. Your brain will tell you you are starving but 1000 calories is plenty. I started at 900 calories a day w/ 2 days of cardio a week @ 20 minutes each. 6 weeks later, I dropped 24 pounds and am down to 700 calories w/ cardio 3 nights a week @ 30 minutes. It sucks, but the results come fast this way. 

 

[ChEFF]

Burn more than you take in is True. The lazy part is the hard one. Take your Dog for a walk everyday. I don't have a dog anymore but still act like I do. My battles are with the drinking thing. Knowing I drink too much and still do it. When I stopped drinking for 5 years I lost 30 lbs hired a personal trainer and felt strong. Body was always sore but strong. You're not alone @Mac Peace

 

[Bansh88]

Ugh.  I'll be 48 in Agugust.  Don't have any advice but I'm afraid what I have in store.  I'm doing my part of drinking the world's production.  Not happy about it....usually.

My saving grace, I think, is a fairly active job and I'm early to bed, early to rise.  I zonk out at 7pm pretty every night of the week unless I stay up an extra hour for video games.  Haven't got fat yet and sleep good if I drink water through the day.

My days off are usually boozing but also yardwork and moving around.

Next time I see a doctor (which is every 7 years or so) I may ask about the testosterone stuff.  Hank Hill became a badass on it!

 

[South Bay]

55 here and I got serious with my diet just over 9 years ago (I'm 6' 2" and went from 240 lbs down to 180 in just over a year and today walk around at 190-95).  I'd already started cycling 6 years before and recommend it to everyone.

What ^^ they said about calories in vs calories burned is true.  I learned I don't need much food to exist and not be hungry.

So eat well, drop the meds, meditate, learn yoga and get outside on a bicycle (or inside when it gets hot).  Yore welcome.

P.S  Get in a pool and swim laps if you can and I'm only half joking about the meditation and  yoga . . .

 

[Richard h]

What ^^ they said about calories in vs calories burned is true

True, but eat when you're hungry. If you do have a high activity level, you will consume more calories, so don't be scared of that. 

 

[ANGRYBUTTCRACK]

I’m on Ozempic and TRT/HRT

 

[LegitDuner]

Old age sucks but it's still better than the alternative. The science of weight loss is easy. Burn more than you take in. Eat pizza, cheesecake, ravioli, and wash it down with a beer and you will lose weight if you burn more than you take in. Eat less, burn more, or a combination of the two. Burning fat and keeping muscle? That's where diet comes in and I still think you will lose lots of muscle in the process of losing weight but that tradeoff is fine with me. We are generally less active as we age so target a 1200 calorie a day diet and see how that works out. If you aren't losing, drop to 1000 calories, or ride the hell out of that cardio machine (elliptical, stationary bike, sex). I've been picking a 30 minute youtube video to watch while on my stationary bike and it helps. The math works every time so if you aren't losing, your math is off. Your brain will tell you you are starving but 1000 calories is plenty. I started at 900 calories a day w/ 2 days of cardio a week @ 20 minutes each. 6 weeks later, I dropped 24 pounds and am down to 700 calories w/ cardio 3 nights a week @ 30 minutes. It sucks, but the results come fast this way. 

It's not that easy anymore. It seems like my body is holding on to whatever I eat. I can't count how many weeks/months last year during the summer I was absolutely busting ass, sweating to the point of my clothes being drenched, and still not losing weight. Only eating lean meats and vegetables, no sugars no carbs. Nothing works.. 

Forgot to mention that my doctor told me that my body might be in crisis mode, holding on to calories and fat due to all the stress and age related changes. Been making changes to my lifestyle ever since including changing careers.

 

[ChasingSand]

TRT and Diet. Once you start weighing your meals and counting calories you realize how much less you really need to eat for each meal. Also, try to limit fast food to one meal a week. For my family, we have an IN N Out night for our cheat meal.

For the joint pain, look into glucosamine and fish oil. They made a huge difference for me.

TRT has worked wonders for me. Granted I do buy it online and do my own shots but you can go to clinics that will do it for you. 

Daily walks are huge thing as well. Get out and get the sun on your back. even it its for only 30 mins, it will help a ton.

 

[ChEFF]

Back in the day say 2002 I took the family on a 3 week vacation for the First Time. I made a rule............NO BAD ATTITUDES. When you have 6 people in a motorhome for a long period of time, one can ruin the atmosphere quickly. Anyway Back to the TOPic.........................I pulled off the road in the middle of nowhere TX for the night. It was an RV park that had a sign on the window of the office door saying "Please pay $35.00 per night to stay. Leave the money in the mailbox." There was one other Rig at the park. I parked right next to it. Woke up in the morning to an old couple probably 85 yrs old with a sign on their door saying "GETTING OLD AIN'T FOR PU**IES". They told me it was their LAST trip. Great folks. I told them, you can pass the baton to me. It was our first! @Mac you're exactly correct with the TOPic. Peace

 

[77charger]

51 here and I know I need to work out more. At times get lazy I been riding my dirtbike more as a form of exercise and summer I switch to the stand on ski. But I can say after a couple laps at most on a bouy course I am winded. 
 

I should also be riding my mtn bike more too. I’m dec I got to walking more and did a couple bikes with daughter I started feeling more motivated but of Course slacked on it. 

 

[zilla68]

look into https://gocleanse.com/lexandterry/the-program/  i learned about it on the lex and terry radio show. I heard about it for years always thinking one of these days i'll try it. 

about 2 years ago i tried it and man did it work. quite expensive but equals the cost of eating out lunch every day. As I travel alot for work, i was worried about 

getting the chits, but no issues, and man did i feel 25 again. all my aches and pains went away, lost about 25 lbs on the 30 day cleanse. It's a cellular cleanse, with weight loss as a by product. all my numbers dropped into check, dr was amazed. man I was doing great after I was off it, eating salads and healthy until I decided to try a chicken fry steak, and I had 3 that week lol. I'm about to go back on it. but I tell ya as a guy who has ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, drank like a fish, after a couple days man did I feel good. 

might check it out. 

I waited years to try it, and they did all these contests about losing weight and the one that sold me was the trucker challenge. I knew if truckers could do it being in a big rig for hours on end and not having to pull over every hour, it has to be ok. I was sceptical as hell. My thought was to just stay on this forever as some people do, and travel and make the shakes etc on the go. I hear they have revamped it some and have added some meals into the program, I was just doing the shakes and you could eat all the veggies you wanted, but I just like brocolli and green beans so I'd eat them like crazy, and boiled eggs, but I was never really hungry. 

My first taste of the bad stuff I used to eat didn't taste so good, but after a while that damn chicken fry got me lol.

rita was my coach and she would text me to see how I was doing, and after a few days I told her I got this, no need to check on me. I was bound and determined to stay on it come hell or high water for 30 days. and I did

 

[Realbadlarry]

Have they looked at your thyroid? Mine had a tumor, so out it came. F'd me up when it came out....Alot of the same stuff as you and yes I am lazy... I'm pretty sure exercise makes a big difference in overall feeling. 

I feel better when I do stuff, my work just keeps me planted at a desk most of the day. I would try all the natural stuff before Going on the T. 

 

[GBR]

Boy, I can't wait for those so-called golden years that we were told as young men were awaiting us

So at 70 years old I will tell you the person that came up with that idea was a deranged idiot IMHO. I tired retirement at 68 and it drove me crazy went back to work in the woods and love it for me that means no more work stress. Part of the arrangement with my new employer is I do not manage people just go do a job that needs done that day. I am an active individual do not do regular exercise but I walk a lot still ride a dirt bike and climb in and out of tall equipment a lot. I am probably about 30 lbs overweight but eat mostly what I want have to be careful with tomato based foods because of acid reflux I have it bad I have taken blood pressure pills since 06 and a cholesterol pill would really like to get off all the meds but not likely, I have pain every day but have learned to manage it mentally the only pain med is Tylenol and only if I have to anymore maybe a couple of times a week now. Unfortunately @Mac getting older is not for the weak or faint hearted I know you said you went back to work but if it causes stress you might want to look into something less stressful that has helped me tremendously I would try to keep medication at the bare minimum at watch what you eat and figure out some way to walk as much as possible it really is great for the body mind and soul.My problem is my mind still thinks I am 40 and my body calls bs lol but really just not ready to stop living life to the fullest.

ps I stopped drinking about 35 years ago the best thing I could have done believe me I tried to drink the distilleries dry in my day.

 

[Fireballsocal]

It's not that easy anymore. It seems like my body is holding on to whatever I eat. I can't count how many weeks/months last year during the summer I was absolutely busting ass, sweating to the point of my clothes being drenched, and still not losing weight. Only eating lean meats and vegetables, no sugars no carbs. Nothing works.. 

You are eating too many calories or you aren't burning enough. Don't try to complicate things (I'm not being a pee pee, I know how hard you are trying). I eat what I crave because it makes such a drastic diet easier and I feel the cravings are for a reason. I rarely crave refined sugar but often crave simple carbs. Lean meats and veggies are a standard for the healthy eating crowd but aren't complete nutrient sources. As long as the math works, we will lose weight. Think of the math: If you burn 1200 calories a day but eat 800, that 400 calorie deficit has to come from somewhere and it can only come from fat stores. You won't breath it in. You and everyone else can lose weight. Just gotta find what works for you. Have pizza tomorrow. 800 calories worth. The ache in your belly from feeling like you are starving means its working. 

 

[Turn and Burn]

68 retired at 65 started riding my bike to get back in shape. I put 4500 miles on my bike in 3 years and lost almost no weight. Definitely good for you but don’t expect to loose weight. Definitely quit drinking, also eliminate all seed oils, margarine, crisco, only use real cold pressed extra virgin olive oil or cold pressed avocado oil and real butter. 

The biggest positive difference I have made recently is to fast. Some people have success with 8/16 fasting. Basically two meals a day, but for a geezer like me when I started doing longer fasts like 36 to 48 hours I was shocked at how much better I felt. It was so dramatic I didn’t believe that was why I felt better. So I started eating normally again for a few weeks and then repeated the same fast, you just eat dinner, then you go the entire next day with just water and part of the following day up to dinner. Sort of dinner every other day. 

I can’t tell you how much better I felt. I later found out that in 2015 a Japanese scientist won the noble peace prize for medicine. He discovered something he called autophagy (self eating) that back in our hunter days we frequently did not catch anything and our bodies quickly switched from burning calories to burning ketones (our fat stores) Not only that, the body thinks you need help finding food, so it sends it’s little soldiers to the brain to make us sharper, it improves your vision, reduces inflammation, eats cancerous cells, tries to heal old injuries, literally does everything it can do to improve your chances of finding or catching food. I did not know how f’d up my system was until I did my first 36 hrs fast. I told my wife, everything from my stomach and everything downstream was suddenly feeling absolutely great. The improvement is so dramatic that now I feel the absolute need to fast every two weeks or so. I have even lost a few pounds. My vision improved so much I passed my dmv test renewal and removed the glasses restriction on my license.

Don’t listen to the American Heart Association as they clearly want you sick. They just jumped on a study that is not peer reviewed, is based on people’s recollection of what they ate years ago (the worst kind of study scientifically), it was not controlled for smoking, drinking or anything else like exercise and based on the crap data, they concluded that fasting on 8/16 would result in a 91 % higher risk of heart attack. Give me a break, so if I reduce how much eat, I’m going to die, sounds like a study paid for by big pharma to me. Believe what you want, I believe my body. We eat far too much food and we never stop storing excess calories, more importantly we never give our bodies a rest.