At what age do we start to slow down in life?

[sixdogs]

At what age do we start to slow down in life and not because we want to but because physical condition demands it? At age 63 it's still so far, so good. Maybe a nap some afternoons would be nice and if really exhausted one day take it a little easy the next day. But heck, that seems the same as 50 years ago.

Maybe we do start to slow down but just don't realize it? Maybe the demands of rural living make it harder to slow down because there is more to be done and we tend to stay more active because of it? Any thoughts on ths? When do we slow down or is it too individual to predict? When does our body tell our mind to take a break?

[scoutcub]

Goood question. I prefer to think it is an individual thing. I've seen folks in their 40's that look sixty.....and vice versa. I definitely believe the things we do to our bodies in our youth catch up to us the older we get. I remember my Dad always yelling at me when I was a kid for trying to lift too big of a log, or lifting 2 bales of hay at the same time, etc. etc.
Seems he's the smart one....still cuts/splits/stacks firewood....cuts hay....puts in a good sized garden....does all his own maintenance on 4 tractors and numerous implements.....at 85 yoa!

I've seen some amazing stories about folks that are o l d and still active, many as a result of working out. That's my plan....keep up with weight training and cardio, watch what you eat.....and you'll have a better chance. Many times I can feel my body saying nooooo....just have to know when to ignore or listen!

[Egon]

At 55 Ski Mountaineering with 34 pound pack was still enjoyable. At 60 100 Kilometer bike rides were possible.


At 63 my walls were just starting to crumble. Didn't take long after that it went into exponential mode. :

At 66 walking for any distance just wasn't enjoyable due to pain.

( But that is life so onwards and upwards.Much more time for reading.

Chances are each individual will have his/her own time line depending on the inherited Genes.

[Oaktree]

Genes and general physical health play a big role that you have only some control over.

As far as things you can control, I'd say stay active and involved. I've seen so many people go downhill once they retire and spend more time just sitting around.

I'm 62, and other than a little more "middle aged spread" and occasionally creaky knees I'm still in pretty good shape. I plan to work at least part-time as long as I'm able (still doin' the 40 hour thing now).

[saracenas]

My uncle is 84. He lives in a farm. Keeps 1 horse (means has to mow 6 ha of hay for forage), feeds pigs, operates tractor, grows potatoes, vegetables, starts a day eating one spoonful of honey and does lots of other farm works.
He thinks if he'd stop doing anything, he would die right now.

I'm guessing it's individual but linked to the mode of life.

On the other hand my wife is a CT specialist, she meets the patients and says lots of young people are less healthy than the older ones. That's a bad trend according to her. They don't move enough. Constant sitting at the computer desk kills their backbones and eyes. They lose their adequate reaction to the environment. Being closed in their virtual world they claim you don't understand them. But they do not hear what you are saying ...

So, nobody knows what age slows us down. But everybody knows, active life and tons of interests make us alive.
That's around us. Maybe N. America differs.

[vabiker23518]

Good question and look forward to the "answer"!
At 58, I still do everything I did younger, except can no longer run due to bad ankle. But can bike 60 miles in a day.
When I have a weekend at the cabin and do manual work, I usually feel it for a couple days.
Overall, so far so good!

[MossRoad]

My father-in-law is 84. He rides an excersize bike every day. One evening last winter we were watching a football bowl game. He started riding before kickoff. He rode until half time, stopped, drank two 24oz beers, got back on and started riding again. About half way through the 4th quarter he says "Whew, i'm starting to sweat".... He finished riding until the end of the game.... 200 minutes/40 miles. 84 years old!

Now, being one to see just how tough it was, I hopped on that bike and gave it a try. He had the tension pretty high and I was sweating within 15-20 minutes. The old dude is tough!!!

Last year his kids gave him a bicycle for street riding. Just a simple one speed w/ coaster brake. He rode it 15-20 miles every day around the neighborhoods, country roads, etc... One day we go over there and he has bruises on his face and arm.

What happened grandpa? "Well, that curb at the end of the driveway is high, so when I come home I pull a wheelie to jump the bike over the curb... today I missed." 84 year old guy pulling wheelies on his bicycle every day!

I get tired just watching the guy!

[uglyboywith11fingers]

I'm 64 and still able to run around playing with the grandsons and putting in a good days work around the place... often feel the pain the next day tho.
I tend to use my brain a bit more (think twice, do it once, instead of the other way around) now, but God only knows what will happen when the brain starts to go as well.

Pete

[enterprisebbc]

Im 68 and just ordering my new tractor. My chain saws are sharp and im ready to go. I get angry if some how I dose once in a while. Might have missed something

[tallyho8]

I was in great shape at 60 when Katrina hit and able to put on a bunch of new roofs and repair miles of fence and get rid of hundreds of downed trees all by myself. That took me 2 years. At 63 I thought I would live to 100 as good as I felt. At 64 things started going downhill.

Now, at 66, I still ride my horses some and I maintain all my properties but I can't work too hard or too long at a time without losing my breath. When I unload a trailer load of 120 bales of hay and stack it in my barn instead of doing it all at once I have to do 10 bales and stop and rest a little then do 10 more. It may take me 2 days. I would not want to put a new roof on a house by myself now.