This month’s focus of Happy Body, has me thinking about longevity. It is important to me that I do what I can to live a long life and that my long life is high quality. In order to be able to keep living to my fullest ability later in life, I know I will need to handle my body with care. Luckily, I have some amazing examples of how to do just that. My grandparents are more active than most people I know. My grandma, Bev, is 83 years old. She has pep in her step and an easy laugh. My grandpa, Karl, is 84 years old. He is tenacious and has the perseverance to see through any goal he may set. I am inspired by their dedication to and vision for a healthy life. As you can imagine, living a long life is filled with ups and downs. My grandpa suffered a serious brain injury in a bicycling accident, but many years later he still rides his bike. They also experienced a devastating loss of one of their daughters to cancer, but that has not stopped them from getting out of the house and getting their blood pumping.
I interviewed the two of them about what they do to care for their bodies. To me, their example is invaluable. It gives me a map for my future and allows me to envision myself enjoying an active life, for the rest of my life.
T: What do you do to maintain your health?
B: What, you mean just keeping house isn’t enough at this age? Just kidding, although it does seem like a bigger job than it used to.
I love to walk and try to get a 4 mile walk in every day. I especially like walking here in Forest Lake where I can walk on a country road. This summer I was able to see a doe and her fawn grazing several times. One morning there was a beautiful bald eagle perched at the top of a tree near the side of the road.
I try to eat healthy foods for the most part, but know I could do better.
K: I ride bike for 30 or 40 minutes every day. I ride a recumbent bike in Minnesota, and when we are in Arizona I ride outdoors. After I bike, I swim laps for 45 minutes. I also lift 15 pound free weights every third or fourth day and do ten push-ups.
I also try to eat a healthy diet, same as Bev. I typically eat a big meal at noon and my supper is almost always yogurt.
T: Has maintaining your health always been important to you? Has your approach changed through the years?
B: I never gave much thought to maintaining health when I was younger, but we started our family in the 1950s when women were expected not to work outside the home. At that time women were expected to keep their homes and children immaculate and prepare healthy and complete meals, so without really thinking about it, I was doing healthful things. As the emphasis on eating the right foods and getting more exercise grew, I did start to think about the importance of those things more.
K: My regimen hasn’t changed much in 48 years. I used to bike to work in downtown Minneapolis and we often did recreational rides after I got home or on the weekends. It was during one of those rides that I had a crash and suffered a brain injury.
T: Are there things you wish you would have done to take better care of your body when you were younger?
B: Two activities I’m sorry I didn’t pursue are dancing and learning to play golf. Both of these things can be done well into one’s nineties, are good exercise and fun, and are definitely a way to take better care of one’s body.
K: No. I didn’t start working out till I was 36, but I think that was soon enough.
T: What are you enjoying most about this stage of life?
B: Family is super important to me, so getting together with family and seeing our beautiful great-grand children and watching them grow and develop is a wonderful experience. However, since losing a child, it can be hard for me to enjoy life the way I used to.
K: I love spending winters in Arizona and summers in Minnesota. I dread the time when that will no longer be possible.
T: What else would you like to say about life in your 80s?
B: Now that I am in my 80s, I have become more aware of mortality, although I don’t think of it as a bad thing. There are more aches and pains to deal with, but that’s just part of the privilege of living this long. And, actually, 83 is not that old any longer. I like being able to read mystery novels and working crosswords and sudoku. I like to remember the “olden days” when the world seemed a better, safer place.
K: Just that I’m thankful for my overall good health. Unfortunately, I do have some struggles with my health. I read very very slowly due to my brain injury, I’m pretty hard of hearing, and I have dry eye disease. I’ve also had back pain for 50 years. That was one reason I began exercising.
T: What advice do you have for young people?
B: I guess I hope that young people would do all they could to keep their bodies, eyes, and ears healthy. And that they would pursue things that make them happy that they will be able to do all their lives, even into their 80s and beyond.
K: Just get moving and keep it up!
Well, Grandma and Grandpa, I’m looking forward to interviewing you about what life is like in your 90s. Keep up the good work and cheers to more years of health, family, laughter, and love!
