Retired and Losing My Ability to Walk

there are people like me who are almost 70 and in full shape because I live in paradise with a hug sport and social club next to my apartment. Montevideo, Uruguay, is the best place in the world after having seen it all. American expats are flocking in here, too. Nobody wants to leave again, in spite of the new communist government and the maybe difficulties this may cause in the future. We all wait and see! Until then, we stay in good shape and have a lot of fun.

Andy,
Look up online and read about Edward Payson Weston. Of course he is exceoptional but he was a world class walker into old age, until a car hit him. Ironic. But he was an interesting guy. I believe Wikipedia has an antry on him.
Alan

TheButterflyTribeKhalifa from has written 22 comments

Good Morning Andy! I sent a video message to your facebook page. Did you get it? If not, check your inbox there.
Anyway....what motivates me to exercise?? It's simple. Vanity! The older I get, the hotter I want to be. I want people to look at me and think, "Wow! She's beautiful!".

Therefore, I maintain a regular exercise routine. I make it one of my mantras. I say, "Do not step foot onto the college campus, without swimming". UNLV has a wonderful Wellness Center on its campus. It is only 2 years old. Most students don't take advantage of, what they are paying for anyway, by way of their tuition. I do. I know the benefit(s) of self preservation. I am a considerable number of years older than many of the students there. They can not tell.

The days that I am not on campus, I walk. My children are the motivation for my walks. I say, "I need to get them out into the fresh air". We go out, and walk. It's very refreshing.

My motivation: stay healthy and fit for the pleasure to be healthy and fit, spending almost nothing and avoiding the gym. I exercise doing things I love, for example riding a bicycle, swimming in the ocean, going to the hills. Gym is boring. I'm lucky to live in a city where you can do a lot of activities outdoor, why would I shut myself up in a overpriced fitness center just to show off my status (local chinese) or meet other expats in order to hit the bottle right after work out? It doesn't make any sense. Being out of this spiral of nonsense makes me more motivated. People are slave of their images and status, I'm not and nonetheless I'm fit. This boost my motivation.

Page Turner from has written 99 comments

Mom- For Pete's sake Andy, I am 76 and your dad is 77 and we walk everywhere. You probably need to swim when you get the chance, get a fresh suntan, rent a bicycle, take lots of short walks throughout the day and who knows perhaps you might be able to run in a marathon if you traveled to the right place. Your Grandpa Graham was 92 when he died. He was still a walker even in the nursing home where everyone chuckled when he took his lady friend to the entertainment room to dance and bowl. Your body is made of a strong constitution and you come from ancestors who lived to be really old and healthy. Stop fussing.

COULD DEGENERATIVE DISK DISEASE{SPINAL STENOSIS} BE THE PROBLEM..I AM 59 AND IT IS REALLY STARTING TO AFFECT ME.

Gadget from has written 916 comments

I am trying to find the fountain of you, I think:

1. Making friends with people under 30.
2. Finding some sports I like.
3. Change countries less, so I can work into my travels exercises..
4. Go the beach areas more.

I am doing some very specific muscle exercises that help. People I am not worried, I just backpacked through Haiti for two months. The 20-30 group seem incapable of doing this, I should slow down and allow them to catch up.

I am aware though, my body is working against me, and walking long distances is required to be a traveler.

has written 205 comments

Get a 20-25 year old girlfriend. Problem solved.

john from has written 84 comments

If you are interested you can always come here to Crestline and practice on the snow:
http://pedrozaplace.com/blog1/?p=500

The best idea is the 25-year-old girlfriend. Although watch out for older western women giving you "that pervert" type looks. LOL

That said, beach areas are great for fitness. Running on wet sand (surf area) is easier on the knees, walking in the soft sand (above the surf) is tough and really makes you huff and puff. And then there's swimming which is a great exercise for older bodies (less impact).

You need to get your heart rate up to your 85-of-max a few minutes a day. That means about 20-30 min total of exercise as you build up to your 85-of-max (stay at that level for 5 min)and cool down from it.

Go get a executive health check at Bumrungrad Hospital in BKK (Soi NaNa) (Cebu, Philippines has Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital which is also good) to get a baseline status (and they'll do a stress test to determine your 85-of-max heart rate) and then go out and find that 25-year-old! :-)

Good Idea, Jon
But Thailand is not work for Andy, Philippines or other is better.18-25 year-old Girl is good, you can get more in developing country, Try with Pharmacycist, Nurse or University girl they are easy going and fun, no need seriously relationship when you bored then leave them. My UK friends visits Thailand 1-2 times to meet university Thai girls then he date with different girl for 1-2 months and call them "girlfriend", not have to pay extra for girl (American chare), many time girl pay him for food, be guild to travel and extra thing because he is guest. It's really good idea.

what different between girlfriends and girl that you hang out for some thing? or you use the same word for every girl with "girlfriend"

http://www.hobotraveler.com/travel-journal/my-thai-girlfriend-comes-to-baguio-philippines.html

adel from has written 2 comments

P.S. read Comment and Deleted comment are fun.

ken from wrote 1 comment

Been there, done that
When I was 50 (so long ago) I was 6 inches too short for my weight. Started a jogging program, and at 51 completed my first marathon (under 4 hours). At 55 I had done 9 marathons when my back gave me troubles. I believe that pushed out the aging curve, so I didn't start to fall apart until after 70. Now, at 76 I can still get around and do most things (not marathons), but it's catching up to me.
Hope this helps
Ken

has written 47 comments

giggle @ what Mom said............ Just like a Mom, stop whining and go outside and play.

I'm a few years older than you and I ride a bike daily. The ankles can't take the long walks needed to do any good. I believe the boomers will be the last generation to look good in old age. Remember when we played outside all day? I read that 1 in 4 children now are already obese!

hotspringfreak from has written 53 comments

I took this online test and I've reversed some chronological years. I'm 61 years now and I'm aging more slowly and looking better than last we met. I'm often mistaken for a mid-40's to early 50's guy

I took this test which set me up on a nutritional and fitness program tailored to me. Retaking the test periodically gives you your new biological age which can consistently be dropped!

http://www.realage.com/

btw, I found a really great hot well spa (natural unchlorinated thermal spa right near my place in your Hideout in Panajachel, Guatemala) and I can spot you at the gym. Cheap for this pensioner.

Thanks for setting me out on my future.

- Chris Smith

Andy what about some light or moderate hiking? It's more fun than just walking, and then you can get out and see the surrounding areas of the cities and towns you visit and climb some of the mountains near where you travel. Take a day pack, some water, and a few power bars. In 2-4 hours you can summit a small mountain, log 5 or 10 miles, and in addition you'll get your heart rate going. Since there won't likely be girls in short shorts on the trails, I guess the only incentive here is the natural scenery. Who knows, just a thought...

Asiabill from has written 258 comments

Your Mom said it best and lucky you for having longevity in your family.

I have gained all the 60 lbs of weight back which it took me 2 years to lose in 2005 and 2006. I look GROSS and KNOW I really need to take off traveling again. Whenever I travel alone I keep moving and lose weight without trying much. Finding activities or projects which excite and motivate me help keep my energy level up with a friendlier frame of mind. The terms, "grouchy old man" or "stinky old man" or "dirty old man" exist because they seem to apply to many people and as you mentioned when I cross paths with people within 10 years younger or older than my age, 56, most of the time I find them a bit boring and "OLD" and have difficulty being with them for more than very short periods of time. Even being this much grossly overweight my wife and I climbed Diamond Head and Koko Head in Hawaii and doesn't prevent us from walking 4 or more miles daily.

Finding the right travel companion could help solve some of your problems like mentioned above but I don't think age is such a factor. Many people in the early 20s are too LAZY to be active, avoid pain and sweating and rarely are financially independent. Someone in their 30s or 40s might make a better activity buddy.