Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

Monday, May 9, 2016

The Body

Interesting words by Paul Krugman, "Despite the political turmoil, Americans - or at least New York Times readers - are feeling pretty OK about the state of the world. How can I tell? These days, our various digital metrics suggest that the articles readers care about most focus mainly on health and food, which is, let's face it, the way things should be in normal times."

He goes on to talk about his personal experience losing weight. It just seems to me that as we grow old we should not have to deal with weight loss. What kind of creator would do that? One that doesn't like women? Women can really add the pounds as the years add up. Women also have a harder time losing weight than men. Not fair.

At this stage in my life the body has a significant amount of droop. There are wrinkles hanging around also. I've spent almost 75 years playing yo-yo on the bathroom scales, and now the doctor wants me to lose weight. Bummer.

I no longer dream of a body that would attract Donald Trump. I'm more concerned about having a body that works. I'm fortunate that my body has no major problems. A little weight loss and exercise would put me in a very good place.

There's a problem though, I could care less about losing weight. It's hard to lose weight when you're motivated and almost impossible when you're not. By this age in life you have to be careful how much weight you lose or you will very quickly begin to look like your own grandmother. Not the look I was hoping for.

Looking at this picture I believe I can make the argument I am not genetically inclined to have a firm body. I see a lot of droop there on grandma. She has a fallen look, gravity has taken its toll.

While I have no desire to look like my grandmother I must face the truth that losing weight is not actually going to improve my looks a lot, my health, maybe, but looks, no.

How are you dealing with the weight issue as you age?

18 comments:

  1. You just made me go on the scale. Yikes! I had too many desserts last night.

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    1. Sweets are my weakness. Lack of exercise is a bad one for me.

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  2. Don't even get me started about losing weight. I'm sick going up and down the scales and having 2-3 sizes in my closet.

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    1. It's just a burden we shouldn't have to bear as we age. I suppose that's not a good response. We should be thankful we live in this wonderful land of plenty and we thankful for this problem, not.

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  3. I am paying dearly for every single one of the sins of my youth.

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    1. Oh my, that sounds like a drastic statement. Intriguing statement.

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  4. Oh, mercy. Donald Trump would not find me appealing. But then, i have no nude photo shoots scheduled, either. I did the Weight Watchers thing at 40, 45, 50....Finally made peace with my extra pounds and, yes, droopage. And since I'm 70 and not interested in becoming The Donald's #4, I'm at peace with my weight.

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    1. You are a person after my own heart. I like your attitude.

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  5. I'm struggling. Losing weight is hard work. I have regained about 12 to 15 pounds, depending on the day, after my weight loss of 55 pounds. I would like to get at least ten pounds back off. I would feel better and it would be better for my knees. I have been trying without much success for a long time now. But I would rather eat chocolate.

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    1. I hear you. I struggle every day and have for quite some time. I know what to do, what to eat etc, but the motivation just isn't there. I do hope some day the medical world will recognize that weight is a serious health issue and come up with solutions. Will power isn't working.

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  6. Hilarious look on health and aging. I feel better after this post.

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    1. Thanks, enjoying having you as a reader.

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  7. Gravity takes its toll on everything! Even my big toe joint replacements have gravitated down into the bones! I remember when my younger sister told me her knees had 'dropped,' I wondered how does that happen?? Then 2 years later MY knees dropped! Things have been dropping ever since on a regular basis! Little Logan looked at my neck the other day and said, "MeeMaw! Your neck is swollen!" No, my dear, it has just dropped!

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    1. I hadn't thought about knees dropping but if everything else drops why shouldn't knees. I've heard of several small children asking their grandmas about their necks. If I lost a lot of weight mine would be like a waddle.

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  8. The aging body; another one of life's little surprises! Don't know if this will help, but studies show that for the older person a little extra weight is OK. Kind of like a reserve in the event that you become ill. Patients who are hospitalized with serious conditions often lose weight. Those with a little extra weight tend to do better. Likely related to enough protein stores to promote healing.

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    1. I have also read a few extra pounds can be a good thing. Unfortunately I have more than a few.

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  9. Terror helped me. When my heart went kaplooee, it scared me enough to make me drop 40 pounds by going on a heart healthy diet. HOWEVER--the added health benefits barely make up for the massive onset of wrinkles. I may live longer but I look like I have aged 10 years. Luckily, I lost slowly and kept a little surplus so my body isn't too bad and actually looks much better. It's just the face which is hard to cover up without without being Muslim.

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    1. Patti, I'm impressed. I had no idea you'd lost 40 pounds. Good for you. Unfortunately weight loss as we age usually does not improve our looks, perhaps our health, but not looks.

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