Gaining weight and restoring reasonable muscle mass at 60+

Celia -- Happy to hear you look "coordinated" to your gym buds. Tee-hee! That's better than the alternative.

If you end up getting into PB, I may see you down here in SW Florida. Naples is the PB Capital of the World!

Have fun.

/LarryG

Larry,
I checked out the pickle ball competition today at the gym. I see the issue with starting and stopping. Hmmm….looks fun though.

I’ve ventured to south FL (Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Palm Beach) many years ago. Then was in The Keys in 2020. Lovely time!

Willow- We also take important sniffing walks...very important, as you know!
We live 1/4 mile from Eno River State Park. I realized this afternoon that climbing hilly woodland trails is working the muscles used in "squat" style exercises. If I increase our walks along the river it will be much like doing squats, and a lot more fun. There are many trails I've not explored. This could be a goal for this year, to learn to walk all the trails that connect by foot to our house.
There's a bluff overlooking the river a short mile from home. We climb a wooded trail, then when we reach the top it overlooks the river below. While I stand there looking at the water and forest, Hazel stands there with her nose in the air, sniffing vigorously. I keep trying. Maybe some day I'll be able to smell what she smells.

I'm 76. I've been training and running and feeling good about it, but I didn't realize that you have to pace yourself. I managed to get tendonitis in my hips and elbows. Just about stopped me dead. Then I discovered walking. Really. I've always diss'd walking as useless. I was wrong. The woods here are great. The dog loves it. And like you I've found that changing pace and pattern along with hills really starts to work the muscles.

Rod-
Avoiding injury is so important. As we age recovery takes longer and simple strains and bumps compound to create chronic pain.
I was so happy to realize I could jog until the impact began to aggravate old lumbar spine injuries. I found that fast walking can be done without the impact.
Hazel is waiting....gotta go!

I guess I needed to discover the wisdom of your words by finding it out the hard way Ed, but I sure am on board now.

I am 70 and work out 5-6 days/wk. Two of the days are strength training days, where I use a combination of dumbbells, body weight and cable exercises that cover my core, arms, back and legs. I’ve had two back surgeries, so I use dumbbells between 30 and 50 lbs combined weight. I’m physically unable to run now (back again), so do fast walking on a treadmill. I’ve worked my way up to 50 minutes per session at a good clip, but my ultimate goal is 60 minutes. I started from a weakened state after my second back surgery in 2021. I worked my way up from very low levels of strength and treadmill walking, after consulting with my neurosurgeon and GP. One thing I’ve learned is that any exercise is better than no exercise. If you only have 10 minutes, just exercise for 10 minutes!

I never enjoyed exercise when I was younger and had a difficult time in gym classes, but I have always loved walking. I would on occasion walk across my small city, Flint from center, which is downtown to the north end where I lived. I walked in the Orlando area and Kissimmee many time. I am now 68 yrs and almost 4 mos old and in a wheelchair permanently so I can't walk at all. I sometimes do wheelchair exercise, but can only use my upper limbs and they wear out fast. I have Polymyositis, a muscle disease which is causin gmy muscles to deteriorate. I would love to live another 30 or more years and will do whatever I need to do to extend my quality of life.

Brenda-
Your spirit comes shining through your message!
Dan Gottlieb, the psychologist who hosted the radio program "Family Matters," has been in a wheelchair for 45 years, and has lived a life filled with meaning and purpose.
That matters more than anything.
You can, too.

I returned to my 3 days a week of strength training with equipment at the gym and I can see definition in my upper arms! I’m encouraged.