I'm officially an old man

[FitBeforeFifty]

I turned 50 a couple of weeks ago. Truthfully, it wasn't really that big of a deal for me. No mid-life crisis, no desire to really change things up etc...

So, here I am on vacation in Panama City, FL. As I usually do on a vacation, I run without a shirt to try to slowly get some sun. Today I was running and passed 2 kids on bikes heading in the opposite direction. After I passed by, I heard the older kid say "I've never seen an old man that buff."

This really sums up my current life situation. I'm doing my best to have a body of a 20 year old but it still can't hide that I'm an "old man."

[FitBeforeFifty]

This time of year, the low is 80 and the high is 100 where I live. So, even if I run at 5:00am it's going to be 80 degrees with 80% humidity. If I run later in the day it will be lower humidity but 100 degrees. There is no escaping it.

To deal with the heat you have to have different "gears." To have different gears, however, you have to have fitness capacity to spare. If your exercise of choice is near your capacity there is no buffer to slow down. If you want to deal with the heat you have to get more fit so there is room to slow down.

[DanielleinDC]

I just turned 48 and really regret not starting an exercise program earlier, but I'm going to try to get somewhat fit.

Hey, I recently read of an 80-year-old bodybuilder who got her start in her 50s.

[shipo]

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@DanielleinDC wrote:

I just turned 48 and really regret not starting an exercise program earlier, but I'm going to try to get somewhat fit.

Hey, I recently read of an 80-year-old bodybuilder who got her start in her 50s.

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I'm guessing you're talking about Ernestine Shepherd!  She's awesome.  🙂

[USAF-Larry]

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@DanielleinDC wrote:

I just turned 48 and really regret not starting an exercise program earlier, but I'm going to try to get somewhat fit.

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Keep going, an never look back!

[JohnRi]

I started getting in shape at 48. I won't get there until I hit 50. I hope! Will see in 8 months!!!

So you can do it!!!

[emili]

@FitBeforeFifty Happy belated birthday! I hope you celebrated in style. I am approaching that magic number and I too wish I knew then what I know now. On the bright side, I look better now than I did in my 30s. I take great pleasure seeing the shock when folks find out how old I am... although in true female form the 5-0 is a bit scary.

[mommo77]

So today I reset my Fitbit alarm to an added 1000 steps.  It didn't add much time and my pace stayed on track (not as fast as I want, but ok for now). Baby steps, but from where I started, hey, it's progress.

[Mukluk4]

It's even better when you are two weeks from 40 and put that ankle-breaker move on a 20 year old on the outdoor court in front of their friends.