26 Comments
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Hayley Lorimer's avatar

I thought it was as just me! (Washing my hair less - what a time-saver)

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Anne Marie Bell's avatar

It's now a thing in my house... "Hair Washing Day."

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Patricia Cusack's avatar

Absolutely, Hayley!

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Annette Kristynik's avatar

Number 14 is not necessarily true. Mine became chronic at 58. Thankful for modern medicine. I have a cousin that her migraines finally stopped at age 83.

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Wendy's avatar

LOVE the exercise snacks and I love the 15 advantages of getting to the second half of life. At 70 I am ready for anything!

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Patricia Cusack's avatar

I'm so happy you enjoyed it, Wendy. You sound exactly how I would expect one of my tribe to sound! Enthusiastic for life!

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Dian Mahaffey's avatar

Thank you

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Dawn from DE's avatar

So much good stuff! I need to take notes from all your posts and tweak my plan.

After a year of misdiagnosed back pain, I met an Intervention Spine Specialist, in practice with my fav large ortho Drs. Xray, MRI. "Lots of stuff going on with your spine! " (Horse person here. We expect those comments) **Today** I had my first in office back injection for a herniated disk. So far a dramatic pain drop. Honestly 0. Tomorrow I will see what I got! 74 this year and once again Goin' Strong. (My boy is 26 and we have been besties for 21 yrs!)

PS joined local Indivisible and attended our first rally.

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Patricia Cusack's avatar

It's hard to find good things to appreciate in older age when you have painful conditions to contend with. I have an older 'horse person' in my family and he has similar issues. It is a passion! I'm sorry to hear of your back issues and hope you get some respite from your pain. Thank you for commenting.

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Lorna Pearl's avatar

It’s 2016 on steroids… how are we going to get through 4 years. I literally feel sick

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Sammi Nisbet's avatar

I was drawn in by the words ‘exercise snacks’. What a brilliant idea. I hit a good amount of steps every day but will definitely aim to fit in bursts of the physio exercises I should be doing and more regular yoga as it eases the creaky knees. These can be my exercise snacks 😁

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Chris Carrier's avatar

Hi, 65 and still employed - do weight training 3x per week- walk, hike and am a road biker. I have knee issues and an old injury in left hip. I attest that weight training makes a huge difference in mobility. Every day is different- sometimes feel normal- sometimes takes 10 steps to get the juices in my knees to work!

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Patricia Cusack's avatar

Hi Chris, what a great attitude you have to ageing. Your exercise regime is commendable, despite the dodgy knees. Keeping our muscles strong is so important as we go into our older years. Thanks for sharing your determined efforts to keep fit and strong.

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Pamela Cummins's avatar

We finally get our money back and can collect social security 🤑 to help cover some of our expenses.

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Debi Willis's avatar

New here, im 66 and I do strength training 3x a week and mobility and stretch 2-3 days a week. I walk most days I'd the weather permits, I also just do the 10 squats whenever it pops into my mind.

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Patricia Cusack's avatar

Hi Debi, Are you joining in the Challenge group on the Chat thread? You're welcome to if you're not already. (Go to the Chat thread for Life In The Second Half where you'll see the Steps & Squats Challenge thread). Perhaps you don't need support and encouragement to exercise every day, you're already doing it!

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Debi Willis's avatar

Thanks, I just recently retired, so I have time to commit. Just downloaded substack and im not familiar with its usage yet. I will try to figure out how to get to the Challenge group.

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Patricia Cusack's avatar

OK Debi, let me know if you need any help.

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The Dr's avatar

Very good

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Nancy Brazier Palmerine's avatar

As we age, we have more choices. I love this part, but I still can’t spell.

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Dawn from DE's avatar

Isn't the spell checker on all the devices Great!

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Jo Linney's avatar

Thank you Patricia for this list. I would also add time, time to sit without worrying I have to be somewhere else or doing something else xx

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Patricia Cusack's avatar

A good one, Jo. Thanks for number 16! :-)

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Graham Saxby's avatar

I will certainly be continuing with my steps and dog walks. What I haven’t mentioned is my other exercises. They are linked to one of the reasons I don’t do squats. I have had a back problem for about thirty years and was offered surgery. Instead I chose to manage it. I do so by doing certain exercises every morning and every evening. Yes I really do because if I don’t I can’t move and I have incredible back pain. Do these count as excuses snacks?

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Patricia Cusack's avatar

Absolutely, Graham! To be offered surgery indicates the seriousness of your back problem. Kudos for choosing to manage it with exercise. You are already doing exercise snacks and are ahead of the game. It’s so good to have you as part of the challenge group.

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Graham Saxby's avatar

The human body is amazing. I live with constant low-level back pain but my mind shuts it out. How do I know? Occasionally my back clicks when I am walking or in a moving vehicle, I get a wave of relief and suddenly I am aware that I can feel nothing in my back. It’s quite rare now but it used to happen fairly often when I rode a motorcycle. This slightly pitched forward position and the gentle undulations of a smooth road (what’s that?!) would cause the relief.

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