Old age no fun

I am with you 30coupe, will be 68 on Nov2 and its opening day of deer gun season here in Texas. Where i hunt is steep hills and gullies and hardwood creek bottoms. When i was 50 i covered every inch of this 1300 acre ranch. Not anymore, but i still try.
Our camp was like yours WKD. All the old guys are gone now except for 4 of us late 60 early 70 type guys. The rest are our kids and grandkids taking over. Take it to the end brother and enjoy it a
nd pass it on.
DL

I've dropped about 25 pounds since last year, on purpose, lol. That makes climbing my hills easier. I need to drop another 25. While losing weight makes getting around easier, I still find times when I try to lift or move heavy stuff that my muscles now just say, "Nope!" I used to just put a little more into it and stuff would move. Now the stuff seems determined to stay right there! My mind still thinks I can do stuff I did 30 years ago, but my body no longer agrees.

Not whining, just making an observation. I'm too damn stubborn to quit trying.

30coupe
I hear you brother. The older i get the more stuff dont work. I cant walk thru a metal detector without setting it off. Pins in my shoulder, my spine, and 2 new titanium knees, i dropped from 280+ to 240 and feel better, much better. However the eyes, hands, feet need a little work. Watch what i eat, keep blood sugar below 150 and not too much fatty foods. We can do it brother, just takes more work now.
DL

bud in pa said:

Me and my back say thanks for any help we get.

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Get a good Chiropractor. Several years ago I missed deer season due to back pain. Being hit from behind while driving a car six times in my lifetime had taken a toll, not to mention an equipment belt with lots of weight on it for my job. I thought Chiropractors were "snake oil salesmen". Well I was stupid, and the one I have now got me back into the field and back into being active.

Now the weight has to come off.

You also want to do some "physical therapy" when you get your spine straightened out. It doesn't need to be with a Physical Therapist, but if you can get some pointers from a PT, do so! AND don't be shy if you have disc problems, the Chiroprators work with folks with bad discs all the time, and so do PT's. Don't go to one and not the other, either.

I noticed that my full sized Bess from India was oddly damn heavy...more so than I'd remembered. Well I've started working with hand weights doing chest, arm, and shoulder exercises in small amounts but spaced out through the day, and the Bess isn't that bad any more. Though I admit that I need to continue as it's still a bit "heavy" to lug around all day as I used to do. My dad is 89 an he's doing Chiro and physical therapy and it is making a difference.

LD

LD
Good your dad is still active.
DL

Loyalist Dave said:

Get a good Chiropractor. Several years ago I missed deer season due to back pain. Being hit from behind while driving a car six times in my lifetime had taken a toll, not to mention an equipment belt with lots of weight on it for my job. I thought Chiropractors were "snake oil salesmen". Well I was stupid, and the one I have now got me back into the field and back into being active.

Now the weight has to come off.

You also want to do some "physical therapy" when you get your spine straightened out. It doesn't need to be with a Physical Therapist, but if you can get some pointers from a PT, do so! AND don't be shy if you have disc problems, the Chiroprators work with folks with bad discs all the time, and so do PT's. Don't go to one and not the other, either.

I noticed that my full sized Bess from India was oddly damn heavy...more so than I'd remembered. Well I've started working with hand weights doing chest, arm, and shoulder exercises in small amounts but spaced out through the day, and the Bess isn't that bad any more. Though I admit that I need to continue as it's still a bit "heavy" to lug around all day as I used to do. My dad is 89 an he's doing Chiro and physical therapy and it is making a difference.

LD

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I'll be darned! My dad is 89 as well. He has also done PT and chiro, but his hip is shot, so he has to have that replaced. He had a stent put in about 5 months ago, so he can't have the hip done until he's off plavix. So he said, "Screw it, we're going to Texas to fish this winter! I'll get the hip done when we get back in April." He sits in the front of the boat and runs the trolling motor and says it doesn't hurt much when he's sitting. I suppose that might explain where my stubborn attitude comes from, lol! Mom is 85 and she'll be in the boat with him every day. She gets hard to live with if he catches more fish though.

wait till you misplace your mind and start looking for it!! good luck. I'm 70+++++ and ain't found mine yet, just ask my wife of 44+ yrs!

Near end of this year, I'll be reaching three score + 12. Twelve sounds pretty good, doesn't it? That means next year I'll reach my teens again.

Anyway, I'm grateful that more of the bod works than doesn't work. Although it's not at the teens' energetic level, it's good enough. This year I started my muzzleloading phase of my retirement hobby, and greatly enjoy the outdoors...especially walking through the wooded areas surrounding the BP range!

Along with the usual take-good-care-of-oneself focus, over the last two years or so I've acquired another very positive health focus. I don't know why it has taken so long, but I have picked up a much larger now. I see this "healthiness" reflected in a close friend, whose always cheerful countenance reflects a contented and merry heart. I see it and hear it whenever we have a lunch together. And the big smile is a great opposing force to lots of the challenges that are brought my way by the march of time. Feel healthier each day I smile...good stuff!

wiksmo

three score +12, isn't that 72 yrs? reaching teens or senility? i have that and they are both the same! just ask my wife!

I'm 75 and have a left knee replacement. Got the replacement two years ago next month. Three years ago I got osteo arthritis in the left knee, before that I could chase anything. After about a three year hiatus on hunting I went quail hunting two weeks ago. It was not the best experience I've ever had quail hunting. I'm not physically able to chase the little devils down. Awkward leg and tiring. I did get drawn for a deer tag this year and think it will be a better experience as I'll be able to walk, stalk, at my own pace pretty much.
Also found that my reflexes have slowed down some. I don't ride my motorcycles any longer either. Left leg doesn't bend right and the arthritis in my hands get to aching when squeezing the brake and clutch on the bikes. I'm just trying not to be stupid on the bikes.
Most everything else I can do. I don't feel old but I am learning my abilities to do many things have changed. I try and be happy with what I can do now. Doing most things quickly has gone by the wayside. The only time I'll run is if someone yells fire. I can do probably 95% of what I used to be able to do, I just do it slower. Frustrating sometimes but life goes on. I'm not willing to quit yet. Us old guys learn quite a bit by getting older. Life is good.

If you want to have fun in your old age, try "Pickleball". Its a racquet sport played on a smaller court than tennis and at a slower pace. This will keep you moving, improve your reflexes and improve your muscle tone. The most you would need to run is 15 feet and that's an option.

The physical improvement you get from any aerobic activity will improve traditional muzzle loading skills and upping the fun quotient in your life is always a good practice. Speaking as I am while nursing a torn meniscus from playing kick the soccer ball with my grandson.

I was hospitalized for a week last month. When I was being discharged the doctor told me to go into hospice. I didn't and am still here. Turned 81 recently. Went to breakfast with friends this morning. I figure, what's the point of being alive if I can't live.

I'm closing this thread because, 1. It doesn't really have anything to do with building muzzleloaders. and 2. It is becoming downright depressing, reading about everyone's ailments.

IMO, the forum is supposed to be a place people can go to learn about and to share their knowledge of muzzleloading and reenacting.
Hopefully along the way, they will get enjoyment out of being here.
Reading about other peoples physical and mental troubles doesn't give me any enjoyment at all.