<p>Photoshop, and a really bad one, indeed! I mean Madonna’s photo. Even bodybuildres’ arms do not look this bad.</p>
<p>One does not have to do iron-pumping, gut-ripping exercises to strenghthen the bones. Best weight-bearing exercises utilize your own body’s weight, like push ups.</p>
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<p>I COULD do two sessions, as I do tend to watch TV in the evening. I could watch from the treadmill instead of the sofa. I just don’t want to. One is all I can get myself to do on a daily basis.</p>
<p>OMG, I’m watching the Olympics, specifically the cross country ski races. Whoever wrote this article should take a look at these women. They look spectacular. I think it’s the exercise, not following a low calorie diet that has produced these amazing bodies (both male and female).</p>
<p>Course, we are talking about elite atheles who do far more than the daily treadmill or weight training session.</p>
<p>^I see ppl like this every day in gym, just regular ppl who pay attention to their health. If you follow regimen of combo of consuming certain number of calories / exercise, anybody can achieve it. I have read about 72 years old who decided to become a bodybuilder at 72. She ended up being a champ. in her age group. She looked absolutely phenomenal at 80+ on her picture in magazine. Originally she started working out to make sure that she remains independent at her age. The fact is if you remove layer of fat over muscles and build them thru diet/exercise, then you will look like that. Ordinarily, ppl do not care so much as to spend that many hours exercising. But some who do, can achieve it.</p>
<p>^^In my opinion, older people who are very muscular need some fat so every muscle won’t show through their age-diminished skin. Since our skin loses elastin and collagen as we age, a protective layer of fat becomes ever more important.</p>
<p>Recent studies have also shown that older people who are slightly overweight live longer than their thin counterparts.</p>
<p>I do think a lot has to do with body type. I have lifted weights for over 25 years and my arms are toned, but not muscular looking. Even when I was much younger, I never got that “pumped” up look. And I just wish I would lose a little fat in my face, preferably under the chin! </p>
<p>One of my closest friends never lifted weights, but always had the most beautiful definition in her arms. I am just aiming for nothing flapping when mine move!</p>
<p>^^same here WIP. Nothing flapping yet either but it worries me down the road. I DO lose facial fat when I lose weight but don’t want to lose too much.
My weight is driving me crazy. Lost 10 lbs between Aug and Dec…gained 5 back in Jan (huh?) - now have lost those 5 and back to where I started. This is hard. I’m hoping new habits will make the difference.
I’m picky about salmon since I read about the conditions on the farms and the red food coloring. I have some wild in my freezer and buy wild fresh in season. I used to buy loads of farmed stuff from Costco but I don’t trust it now. I need to stop reading stuff…it’s getting expensive and limiting my choices!</p>
<p>mapesy,
I was talking about some awesome champ., not regular 80 years old. I was pointing out that it was not late for her to achieve that incredible shape even in her 70s. Her weight is not that low at all, she did not look skinny on a picture, she looked in unbelievably superior shape which I cannot even dream to ever achieve, but I would not spend that much time and pushing myself that hard exercising.</p>
<p>wnp, It’s definitely body type. All I have to do is look at my mom to see exactly what I’ll look like in 25 years. She’s very thin and has severe osteoporosis in her spine. She’s in extreme pain all the time. :(</p>
<p>I rarely post in the exercise forums because I have the opposite problem of most people: It’s very difficult for me to gain weight. I was sick last year and lost 10 pounds that I could ill afford to lose. I’ve spent the past 11 months trying to gain it back, but I’ve only succeeded in gaining 5 pounds–of which most, if not all, is muscle and not fat.</p>
<p>My muscles are well-defined when I don’t do any exercise at all, which is the way I like them. But I need to do weight bearing exercises to avoid osteoporosis, and I can’t seem to find any that don’t make me look ‘pumped up’. I guess it’s all about staying healthy, so ‘pumped up’ it is. Just recognize that some of us would rather not look that way, but we have no choice.</p>
<p>“She’s very thin and has severe osteoporosis in her spine” -
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<p>I read recently (don’t remember where, sorry) that THE most important factor in both lifespan and quality of life is not weight, it is the level of fitness. If you are slightly overweight and fit or thin but fit, you have an advantage over everyone else.</p>
<p>In my nursing career, I have seen very old people who are so frail, sickly, etc., that I’ve realized living long is really not the point; I value quality of life as the most important thing. I of course would like a long life, but not if it means just existing.</p>
<p>Here’s the research I referenced:</p>
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<p>And from the same study:</p>
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<p>So it’s actually good to carry a few extra pounds as we get older as long as we exercise.</p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that overweight ppl are much more prone to have diabetese and high BP and heart desease and some forms of cancers and their quality of life is notwhere near ppl with normal weight. I know all of these first hand. Most ppl on both sides of my family dies of Diabetese, high BP and I myself have been struggling while being overweight after my children. Nope, this is not for me. I am not sick and would like to keep it this way. However, having devices at home, I measure my blood sugar, BP and my height on a very regular basis, and while last measurement is the same as far as I remember myself, first 2 go significantly up with very few pounds of increase in weight ans so does cholesterol level. I could not believe my own eyes when I made this discovery, since I am talking about very small fluctuations. However, my MD cousin confirmed it based on her own observations of her own measurements (she is much older and has Type II Diabetese).</p>
<p>Miami, I can relate to your post. My mother has severe type 2 diabetes, high BP, was overweight for many years. She has had multiple strokes and is wheelchair bound, paralized on 1/2 of her body, and has been for years. She had her first stroke at 48, and has a horrible quality of life. She is only 67.</p>
<p>If I gain just a small amount of weight, (nowhere near clinically overweight), my bp goes up. I begin showing signs of metabolic syndrome and pre-diabetes. I cannot tolerate excess pounds. I must keep my weight below 135 lbs (at 5’ 6" tall) or my health declines. The study quoted above extolling the virtues of being slightly overweight might well be true for the general population, but I’m going to listen to my own body, and it’s telling me that I won’t be able to extrapolate the study’s results to my own life. </p>
<p>My best bet is to keep my weight down and exercise daily (I exercise 6 times per week, 3 times doing strength training) if I don’t want to repeat my mother’s history. Watching my diet and doing daily exercise has kept me thin, regardless of what the Time article states.</p>
<p>Nrdsb4,
I am so like you, very coincidental. I am 5’4", need to have my weight around 131 lbs based on my observations of Sugar level, BP and cholesterol. I exercise every day, doing weights in gym / walking outside every day (except for summer when I swim) and rollerblading in spring and fall (which is pure fun anyway). I am outside in any weather for about an hour. My mother died of Diabetese at 63 and I am very close to her age, but do not have it.</p>
<p>Another person here whose BP goes up with a few extra pounds or a little caffeine. </p>
<p>A couple of years ago, my BP had gone up to the point where the Dr. wanted me on BP medication. I am very small boned, so I am sure she didn’t think weight was an issue. I am 5’6" and at the time I weighed 130. I, however, knew that was too much for me. I dropped ten pounds and tried to cut out all caffeine and sure enough, my BP was back down to normal range. I do think, looking at my records, she might have noted the correlation between my weight and my BP and at least suggested that I think about losing a few pounds. </p>
<p>Anyway, for me 120 is the magic number. It is not easy keeping it there, but I would rather do that than be on medication this early (well I am creeping closer to 60) in life. I figure, even if I do go on medication eventually, if I keep weight down, it will be a smaller dosage.</p>
<p>It seems to me that the key is “a few extra pounds.” So if you’re maybe 5% over your ideal weight and still fit, perhaps it’s not a big deal for most people (granted some folks are vulnerable to HBP and other diseases even with small weight gain). I know some older ladies who are REALLY thin and look just terrible. One of my MILs skinny friends fell, broke her hip and went down hill from there. My MIL who is overweight (but not by a huge amount) is going strong at 94.</p>
<p>toneranger, I think you’re right about the key being “a few extra pounds.”</p>
<p>I don’t like the study, either. Because I’m slightly underweight, it says I have the same risk of dying early as someone who is morbidly obese. In my case, however, it’s probably right. I eat a healthy diet and exercise for at least an hour daily, but I’ve struggled my whole adult life with high cholesterol and high blood pressure. I would love to be able to gain a few pounds, but I accept that it’s just not in the cards for me.</p>
<p>^ I would love to be 120, I remember how it feels, but it is not easy for me, I love foods, chocolate, and my job is sedentary. So I am OK in 127-131 range, my weight goes down in a summer, but as long as it is not above 131 in winter, I am OK.</p>
<p>Mapesy - I know it is a little discouraging. I am sure people tease you and say, "Oh, I wish I had your problem, but my mom is also just a little thing who doesn’t gain weight and has osteoporosis and high blood pressure. </p>
<p>Anyway - I think it is VERY important HOW you lose weight. If I lost weight by living on diet coke and popcorn, I don’t think I would be healthy. I am very conscious of keeping a balanced diet with lots and lots of veggies, beans, tofu, tempeh, whole grains, monosaturated fat. It takes a lot of time and planning. </p>
<p>So, not all skinny is equal. And I would suspect most people who are pretty thin have accomplished it by cutting out healthy food and filling up on so called diet foods.</p>