dmanthree

Riding, that is. I had a physical exam for a new life insurance policy (my old one expires when I turn 66 in September) and the results were, well, pretty good. BP 125/75. Pulse 52. body fat 16%. The low pulse caught the examiner's eye most of all. She asked how? I replied a "2017 Roubaix." After her blank stare I explained the 4,000 miles a year on the bike may help. Really? Well, yes.

Keep riding!

Vefer

Truth!

DiabloScott

I rode my bike to a pulmonology appointment once (waiting room was full of people with horrible problems)... on my way out, the doc said something about cycling and my great lung function. One of the poor buggers stopped me and said "there's nobody quite so annoying as a good example "

OldTryGuy

Wishing you an early for September, same month as wife only she'll be same as me just 3 weeks ago today >> 70. for a GREAT exam result with a KUDOS for your riding the 2017 Roubaix, mine is a 2018 Roubaix Expert that I rode for my birthday ride of 141 miles.


Please ignore the following if you feel invaded but --- Not meaning to sound like a nagging older brother, just wondering was a PSA test done if you had a blood workup? March 2015 a week before my IM70.3FL I had a prostate biopsy due to high PSA and an abnormal DRE. Not one indication that anything was wrong yet the biopsy started me on my PCa (Prostate Cancer) detour in life. Unlike the other 95 out of 100 men with positive cancer results mine was the GRAND-DADDY GLEASON 5+5 (GL10) entering me in the 5% Club that has the greatest incidence of metastasizing and causing death. BTW, at my pre-OP for first surgery when hooked up for the required ECG my heart rate was 32bpm. I had to move around to get it raised for an adequate pulse.

Keep on riding, it does a body good

John E

Pre-COVID I had been walking (12-to-15-minute miles) about 5 to 8 miles per day as part of my daily commute, plus lifting weights 3 or 4 days/week at the Y. Bicycling was relegated primarily to weekend mornings. Now that I have been working from home, I have been cycling 10 to 15 miles per day, usually including two or three pretty decent climbs. My resting pulse rate has been in the mid-40s for decades, but my BP creeps up to pre-hypertension levels, then back down below 115/70 when I put in the miles. When I was in peak shape in my early 30s, I was able to get my BP down to just over 100/60 (a big accomplishment for me), and my pulse rate around 43.

I grew up as an overweight, nerdy, physically inept kid with lousy coordination and muscle strength. Taking up bicycling, the one sport I have truly loved, has changed and saved my life from an early death from diabetes or heart disease. Keep riding!

dmanthree

They did take samples, but I haven't received the results yet. However, due to a family history, I get the PSA annually, and my results have varied from 0.7 to 1.1 over the past five years. No worries there.

berner

I also helps to eat your veggies and back off on the burgers.

dmanthree

Excellent. Keep riding, and the weights are also a great idea. Keep muscle tone and some mass and it helps as we age.

Ride on!

dmanthree

Diet is key, and it's my weak point. Don't get me wrong, I eat very healthy meals. But I never saw a cookie I didn't like.

;-)

berner

For me it's ice cream. No matter the size of the container, pint, quart, gallon - that's a single serving.

John E

Those two phrases are mutually inconsistent for those of us who eat veggie burgers. My favorites are Engine 2 brand, from Whole Foods, but there are several other good options. I put them on Ezekiel 4:9 multigrain English muffins.

My favorite local restaurant burger is the falafel burger from Roxy's, in downtown Encinitas.

John E

We really need to spread the word to the Gen X, Y, Z, and alphas, so that their future selves will thank them. My younger son is a natural athlete (obviously thanks to my wife, not me), and he gets the message, and, as a doctor of physical therapy, freely shares it with his patients in his calm, non-didactic, lead-by-example demeanor. The Fountain of Youth does exist, and the only cost of admission is a bit of self-discipline. Bicycling makes the cardio exercise part of the equation easy for me. My wife's passion for healthful eating makes the diet part of the equation much easier, through mutual reinforcement.

OldTryGuy

Since there is a "history" I would imagine that you are already aware that, it is the PSA doubling time that is more critical than simply the number. Continued good fortune.

dmanthree

Agreed. My urologist keeps a close eye on the magnitude of the changes and since the last two were down, well, neither of us were worried.

dmanthree

Kind of reminds me ot the famous Mickey Mantle quote: "if I had known I'd live so long, I would have taken better care of myself."

I work with some people my age, and honestly, some of them just give up. "Oh, I'm too old for that..." BS. Keep going! Ride. Walk. Jog. Hike. Anything but that damned easy chair.

berner

Several years ago I read a book by a microbiologist, who having contracted a tropical bugs during her research, went through quite a few rounds of antibiotics and still felt as if she were going to die. The remedy, when overdone, kills the micro-flora and fauna in the stomach. These inhabitants are a part of out immune system by providing a barrier so that bad bacteria can't cross into the blood stream as well as assisting in digestion. When they are killed off, we get sick. It turns out our helpful inhabitants love and thrive in a largely fiber diet. For best health, eat your veggies.

BobbyG

I'm 58 and bike 9 miles to work most days. My primary care physician is just a mile from my office, so I ride there. They make a big deal out of it when there's snow. He says I'm in good shape but have a little too much body mass for a daily rider. I just ask him to imagine what I'd look like without the riding.

dmanthree

Killer for me, too. I live within two miles of a couple of excellent home-made ice cream stands. I tell my friends that any time you see me without ice cream in my hands, that's will power.

sovende

In my mind, diet and exercise are THE key components of a long and healthy life! Certainly, genetic disposition is a factor but (currently) there's not much that will change that factor. I think it's important to note though, that many genetic dispositions ("good" or "bad") can be overridden! Many of us have seen how individuals with high levels of athleticism, health and/or beauty, can spiral down to become a "hot mess"! I'm sure that this is mostly related to neglecting the key components of diet and exercise. I believe the opposite is also true only it's less news worthy so it's brought to our attention less.
Cycling (as many here have pointed out) is a great way to provide the exercise component! RE: Diet, I've found (but this varies to each individual) that reducing carbohydrates (especially those with a higher glycemic index), increasing protein and moderating fats, works well for me. High fiber foods are important as well as hydration.
The internet is awash with "the best way to..." but it all boils down to eat right and exercise!

NewATBikeComute

There's a mental aspect to it all as well, and I confess that it's my weakness. For example, I had to drive to work today (one day every four, due to rotation), and I hit a little traffic. In no time at all, I was back to my usual (bad) reactions (not responses) to it all.

At work, I synced my fitness/watch to my phone and looked at what my heart rate did during that period. Peaked well over half way between resting and full exercising. To me, this is evidence (if not outright proof) that simply removing myself from what used to be my most major source of stress has been good, but I have failed to take advantage of it to change my attitude towards the inevitable.

There is no point to reacting to things like traffic that are beyond my control, and yet I do. I am so grateful for the experience I had today, and it will take more than tomorrow's bike ride, and good diet to fix that. It will take (ugh) looking at my weaknesses, and not my strengths. I'd rather brag about my accomplishments.

Gratitude is said to be a good practice, so I'll just say I am grateful for this forum. It has been a significant part of my improvement over the past 5 years.

Hondo Gravel

The working out is easy for me to stay committed and disciplined. Everything else I am a mess Local mexican restaurant has that pico de gallo burrito big enough to make three meals. I crash and burn and eat that delicious 40,000 calorie work of art.

Wanderer

Bicycling is more good exercise, than I ever imagined. Doing 20-40 miles a day, at age 74, keeps me in good stead, with my GP, Urologist, and Cardiac Docs..... Even my Dentist makes note, as he is also an ardent bicyclist!

Besides that, it's as much fun, as it was when I was 12!

Now, if it could just do something for my ears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bargeon

My doc said I have an athlete's heart.
She was kind enough not to remind me I have the knees and hips of an arthritic 70 year old.

saddlesniffer

Awesome. Congrats!!

Kabuki12

I will be 66 in October and get regular check ups with full blood panel. I have always been on the thin side and been cycling since my teens. The only health issue I have is hypothyroidism (stress related)so I take one pill a day and with regular check ups, I am good to go. A lot of it is genetics, we are what we are. We can tilt the scale by exercise and diet and with most of us it works. I have been a vegetarian for well over thirty years and five years ago became vegan. It works for me but I have heard it is not for everyone. My Dr. says my blood work up is like a twelve year old’s so I guess it is right for me , but I did a bit of research to get the right nutrients in my diet. For some , it isn’t worth the hassle but to me being able to jump on my bike and ride 45 miles it is totally worth it. Oh, and get rid of that nasty stress!