Age, experience and wisdom…I like that! And gratitude for what I have…an excellent reminder. For the first time in many years, I’m doing work that I enjoy and have found some volunteer opportunities that I find fulfilling. I think at times it’s easy to dwell on the negative but I’m finally at the point where I can focus on the positive. Thanks for the responses, I appreciate them!
6 Likes
I have done pushups and planks on an A380 upper deck a few times. I definitely washed my hands afterwards. Most planes don’t have the room.
I have a series of core exercises that I do three times a week when at home and at hotel gyms if I can. Squats have reasonable probability of creating a back problem for me, so no squats.
2 Likes
FWIW, I do squats in order to strengthen my back muscles so I won’t have back pain. Squats target the posterior chain, including the lower back, glutes, and hamstrings. Your quads and core are also engaged. The theory goes, if you strengthen your back and the surrounding muscles, you won’t get back pain.
However, when I do have back pain, I’ve always squatted (no weight or less weight) thru it, which has made my back actually feel better. For some reason, when everything is aligned, lumbar curve maintained, butt down, head up, knees over toes, my back will typically feel better than if I’m just standing or sitting around.
Of course, YMMV.
2 Likes
This article makes me think twice about touching anything on the airplane.
A lady sitting next to me on a recent flight took off her shoes and walked barefoot to the bathroom (!!) and up and down the aisles. I’m not a germaphobe but…just, no.
4 Likes
Also, following up on sushuritto’s squat-advocacy, I found this video for beginngers which is really helpful! (I was sure I was doing them wrong, and I was correct, LOL). 
2 Likes
I do the “Asian squat” but I put my hands out to get up, I try to stay a bit longer each time.
4 Likes
Loved this article. No wonder this stiff ankled, super long legged, zero length torso gal has a very hard time! But I’ve worked on them constantly for decades. Some days are better than others.
2 Likes
Having worked in skilled care and rehab as a ‘sunset career’ for 5 1/2 years and then retired at 65, I got very good insight into the importance of caring for one self, and also avoiding potential accidents by being aware - and doing simple things like always holding a hand rail going up and down steps for example.
This was a good summary from up thread - falls (falling down), diabetes, heart disease, dementia, arthritis, respiratory issues, osteoporosis, obesity, depression, etc.
I personally have found there is a difference and a transition that can take place from going from ‘depression’ into clinical depression. In my mid-20’s, I was in a car accident and had what was perhaps the start of chronic back pain. I was given a depression medication, but after a few pills and how it made me feel (I could tell something was ‘happening’ in my brain) - I just was determined not to go down that road, and just push forward with tolerating the pain and also taking things one day at a time (not ‘borrowing’ trouble which may not appear down the road). However I saw another specialist and responded to a higher level of Naproxen (which at that time was prescription only and they were using lower doses) - and that was the drug that helped me and my back pain cleared.
However there is anxiety and depressive disorder on one side of my family (which affected prior relatives and affected my sister and one of my daughters) and 3 generations of bi-polar on the other (grandmother, mother, another sister). Some of all the family dynamics and psych issues had me double major with undergrad degree in Psychology.
Certainly many older people slip into depression for a variety of reasons - and being proactive can improve quality of life.
My sister just shared with me that there were many times after her depression onset (in her teens and overcome in her 20’s) that she wanted to die - but due to her faith did not go down that path, and eventually with counseling and medication got better. During same age onset of clear anxiety and depression for my DD (where she got more immediate counseling and medications, did not have the longer struggle my sister had) - during one on one time DD shared with me that when she was in 2nd or 3rd grade and beyond, there was about one time a year where she had suicide ideation.
The advances in medications, knowledge about healthy living, advances in surgical procedures and more minimal procedures (stenting for example) - all the advances in our lifetime are helping people age better despite some genetic predispositions that are against them.
Keeping at a healthy weight, and keeping active are huge things one can do to live a quality life.
We just had some days with DH’s brother and sister-in-law. Prime examples of how severely obese becomes a revolving door to the doctor/procedures/medications. BIL has eaten himself to progressive diabetes starting in mid-30’s - from pills to insulin – and insulin probably in pretty large quantities because he has no restraint with eating and alcoholic drinks. His eye doctor first diagnosed the diabetes, and he has never changed his eating habits - IMHO he is a compulsive eater (based on my observations over multiple days throughout the years). He had cataracts early, and now has Macular Degeneration that has progressed in these past years. Due to family longevity, he might live longer than others with his clinical picture. SIL has been obese since her early 20’s - she convinced herself she could never be a healthy weight (she was a size 16 in her teens but ‘gave up’ on trying to keep at that weight/size) - so she was a size 2X on earlier years and now a 3X for most adult years. SIL started smoking at age 20 and continues. BIL, even though he had asthma, did start smoking at 17/18 but he has quit. BIL consumes large quantities of food. SIL just told me BIL only believed in whole life insurance, and their original policies were for 20 years, and then they extended for 10 additional years (I suspect their weight and smoking put them at a much higher premium even at those early years and he did not know about any decent term policies); now they didn’t extend any more and have no life insurance. So they have their house, what they have in the bank (and maybe 401k), and what they have on SS. They of course pay out with Medicare supplement and drug plans - I imagine the 2025 Medicare drug limitation will help them. SIL is good with budgeting – she has to be. SIL had one knee surgery (which she tolerated the pain for years because she knows what her weight is doing to her knees) and has a lot of pain from the other - which will get done when she is ready for the surgery hurdle and also the surgical risk. She has had one cardiac stent, and then needed another two. They have a split level home and BIL needs to take the laundry down to the washer/dryer, and then bring the clean clothes upstairs. He has to bring the groceries in and up the stairs.
The Asian squat is proper way to squat IMO. That’s full mobility, range of motion, from top (standing) to bottom (“a$$ to grass”). If not done like this, then in many weightlifting or powerlifting competitions, the competitior’s attempt would get 3 red lights or the attempt is disqualified.
And it’s not as easy as it looks. When I squat in the gym, I’ll often video myself to ensure that I break parallel, where your hip crease is lower than the top of your knee.
You strengthen more of your muscles the deeper you go. You always prefer “full range of motion,” which is that “Asian Squat.” Never heard it called that before though. Unfortunately, I see many, many people that don’t even get to parallel, let alone full squat depth (“Asian Squat”).
The woman in the BowFlex video is actually not consistent in her squat depth. I didn’t watch the whole video, but in one squat she doesn’t get to parallel and in another she gets to parallel.
I always like these videos, because they’re 1-minute long and give you the major bullet points of the movement:
4 Likes
I will just use my knee protecting sleeves - I use them with all my walking/jogging/workouts with knee bending. Protecting my knees. Sometimes I get a little discomfort in my left knee when using stairs in normal activity - partly due to being way overweight for 13 years (since fighting aggressive cancer and then other medical issues). Was never overweight before age 53. Lost pregnancy weight gains in 1 month for the first, and 2 months for the second (younger DD slept from 8 pm to 6 am within a few months, whereas older DD would only sleep at night for a block of 6 hours even when much older). DDs are 25 months apart in age, and DD1 ended up with same bedtime pattern as DD2 once we had DD2.
2 Likes
Interesting, I find the ‘full range of motion’ squat a lot easier than pausing w/thighs parallel. I guess we are all different! Thanks for the video, sushuritto. ucbalumnus - I believe the article said that the ability to achieve that posture went beyond the toilet style (somehow they assessed that!! lol)
2 Likes
Well, if you’re pausing at parallel, then yes, what is called “pause squats,” are very difficult.
Also, if you’ve loaded weights on a barbell, a few hundred lbs, either performing front or back squats, then going deeper is considered much tougher to do then just hitting parallel and bouncing back up.
Following up on this, I was not very happy with my life until we moved seven years ago. And now I’m content - settling into what for me is a enjoyable albeit lazy post retirement life. The Chicago suburb was the wrong place for us in retirement- took ten years to make the move to San Diego happen - but completely changed how life is being lived.
Sometimes I feel guilty that I’m not trying to expand on what I’m doing - but like I said, I’m content - and comfortable.
11 Likes
I guess there may be some health benefit from posting in the Cafe. 
“ How older adults spend their sedentary time — what they do while sitting — makes a difference in their chances of developing dementia, according to research published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
It found that those whose time sitting was primarily spent watching television had a 24 percent increased risk for dementia, whereas those who spent that time on a computer had a 15 percent reduced risk for dementia. The researchers explained that TV watching is cognitively passive, meaning little thinking is required, while computer use is cognitively active, meaning it (like reading) is more intellectually stimulating.”
10 Likes
BB, well that is a relief to know that online posting helps the brain! I have started doing wordle and Duolingo daily, as it mixes couch laziness with challenge.
Regarding Asian squat above, in cultures that are floor based, squatting is used for all sorts of activities. Though living with a western kitchen, my Korean stepmom would occasionally put a work surface on the floor for a partially hard task. It can be easier on the back than standing and using a counter.
Currently I am in PT for a knee problem. Of course, squats are part of the treatment, if only to 90 degrees, and I was aware in recent months that my ability to squat was atrophying.
2 Likes
Perhaps even better would be if you can keep your blood pressure down through healthy eating and exercise habits, in order to be able to use no or less blood pressure drugs.
2 Likes
Not always possible.
3 Likes