Gaining weight and restoring reasonable muscle mass at 60+

Posted by xmohasci @xmohashi, Mar 22 4:20pm

I have turned 68 and my weight has been reducing despite maintaing balanced diet. Recently, I joined the gym to stay fit and restore reasonable muscle mass. I hope I am on the right path to strengthening my maturing body.

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@celia16

How often do you do each exercise?

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I am 75. I do 1500 on the Cubi. Two repetitions of 35 on bands and 40 on wall planking

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@celia16...

Hi!

Think those required quick direction changes in pickleball may not be great for your knees. But:

Suggestion: Watch a game or two on YouTube, then try and slowly mimic, on a hard surface (not on a rug), the movements player's make, and see how those knees feel.

Be safe!

/LarryG

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@celia16

I appreciate that tip. I have tried a couple of different bikes at the gym and at PT, but each time they caused knee pain. Not sure what I’m doing wrong. Perhaps, I’ll give it another shot since I’m strengthening my knees now. Oh, it’s my right knee that has torn meniscus. I misstated that upthread.

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Hi Celia, I have shredded meniscus and once hurt my knee on the bike. I think I injured it because I had my foot not straight but at an angle and I was in a hurry to finish up and ignored the slight pain I was feeling. Then to make matters worst I went into the city and did 2 museum tours because at that point it really didn't hurt that much. Well the next day I paid for it. I could barely walk and couldn't to the bike much less walk right for several months. Now when I'm on the bike I pay attention to my foot position and I never do the bike if I'm in a hurry. The good news is my legs have gotten much stronger. I can take a bath and not have to worry about getting in and out of the tub. Wish you all the best !

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@casey1329

Hi Celia, I have shredded meniscus and once hurt my knee on the bike. I think I injured it because I had my foot not straight but at an angle and I was in a hurry to finish up and ignored the slight pain I was feeling. Then to make matters worst I went into the city and did 2 museum tours because at that point it really didn't hurt that much. Well the next day I paid for it. I could barely walk and couldn't to the bike much less walk right for several months. Now when I'm on the bike I pay attention to my foot position and I never do the bike if I'm in a hurry. The good news is my legs have gotten much stronger. I can take a bath and not have to worry about getting in and out of the tub. Wish you all the best !

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Yaaas! People don’t realize how getting in and out of the tub is such a luxury, when you suffer with an injury.

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@larryg333

@celia16...

Hi!

Think those required quick direction changes in pickleball may not be great for your knees. But:

Suggestion: Watch a game or two on YouTube, then try and slowly mimic, on a hard surface (not on a rug), the movements player's make, and see how those knees feel.

Be safe!

/LarryG

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Larry, you have challenged me. Lol. I shall watch and I may try. Actually, there’s a game going on at the gym most days when I arrive. I’d go in and observe, but suspect they would coax me to try. I look more coordinated than I am. Lol

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@gravity3

I am 75. I do 1500 on the Cubi. Two repetitions of 35 on bands and 40 on wall planking

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That’s pretty impressive.

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I'm 74.5 years old, and my life expectancy could be another 20 years, according to a recent test.
I inherited good genes and maintain a healthy diet and (in many ways) a healthy lifestyle. But I am noticing a loss of muscle mass.

I've never enjoyed "exercise." I enjoy walking our dog, usually 2-3 miles on good weather days and I'm on my feet in the workshop several days a week. To me exercise uses up time that could be spent on more creative activities. There are so many things I love doing around home that I'm averse to "going out" for anything beyond necessities.

The possibility of living into my 90s surprised me...it is not something I'd imagined or planned for! The thought that it is something that may happen is causing me to try to face my lifelong aversion to routine exercise. I can look forward to many years of things that I love, if my body is strong enough to keep working and playing.

Here's where I am today, considering a positive spin of thoughts about exercise. Yesterday it caused me to walk faster and further on our daily walks. More is needed.

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@gravity3

I am 75. I do 1500 on the Cubi. Two repetitions of 35 on bands and 40 on wall planking

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I’m 71. I work out twice a week with a trainer with weights. I have a nordictrack bike and ride once a week - i do a run/walk two times a week (only 25 minutes and want to increase) and I walk my dog. I did water aerobics awhile back, great great workout, and want to talk myself into doing them again. Since I no longer run as I did, I don’t get as much aerobic work

What is a Cubi?

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@willow5

I’m 71. I work out twice a week with a trainer with weights. I have a nordictrack bike and ride once a week - i do a run/walk two times a week (only 25 minutes and want to increase) and I walk my dog. I did water aerobics awhile back, great great workout, and want to talk myself into doing them again. Since I no longer run as I did, I don’t get as much aerobic work

What is a Cubi?

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I do this routine 6 days a week
It is Cubii and it is an "under desk" elliptical.

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@edsutton

I'm 74.5 years old, and my life expectancy could be another 20 years, according to a recent test.
I inherited good genes and maintain a healthy diet and (in many ways) a healthy lifestyle. But I am noticing a loss of muscle mass.

I've never enjoyed "exercise." I enjoy walking our dog, usually 2-3 miles on good weather days and I'm on my feet in the workshop several days a week. To me exercise uses up time that could be spent on more creative activities. There are so many things I love doing around home that I'm averse to "going out" for anything beyond necessities.

The possibility of living into my 90s surprised me...it is not something I'd imagined or planned for! The thought that it is something that may happen is causing me to try to face my lifelong aversion to routine exercise. I can look forward to many years of things that I love, if my body is strong enough to keep working and playing.

Here's where I am today, considering a positive spin of thoughts about exercise. Yesterday it caused me to walk faster and further on our daily walks. More is needed.

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I’m so envious of your creativity!! That’s so fantastic. Sculpting one’s body with a weight routine could be considered creative 😊

I’m wondering if consulting with a PT or personal trainer to give you a simple and safe weight workout you can do at home. I don’t believe it has to take lots of time - but a basic upper and lower body workout to keep those muscles strong to support

Further and faster walking is super! Since I let my dogs stop and sniff, I don’t get a great workout with them, though I’m outside and moving and on my feet.

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