Fifty Plus (50+) - Damn right it makes a difference

I'm just gonna be braggin' on myself again so if you want to skip it, go ahead, I'll understand

Let's recap, shall we?

20 year couch potato
Asthmatic
Hypertensive
Stress test/echocardiogram
"Shut it down. Now. Don't ever go over 165BPM"

That was last May. I thought it was January but it was May. I'm 55, leave me alone ;)
So, I scheduled another stress/echo for today.
I wanted to know if any of this mattered or should I just go back to being a couch potato?
Now, if you've followed my posts here at all, you know I've pushed myself pretty hard.

Today, the tale was told. First, my BP -which I measured at 137/85 at home before I left- measured 142/90 in the exam room. For intents and purposes, exactly the same. He wasn't too happy with my BP when I saw him 4 or 5 months ago. This time, no comment. Always good when the doctor doesn't comment.

We start the stress/echo and man it's hard to get a good spin going but I'm warming up.
Then we bump up the resistance. Now, it feels just like my trainer. I'm spinning, I'm happy.
He checks my BP and says, "I'm taking it up one more".
It's getting a little harder but no worse than pushing the big ring on flat ground. I'm humming.
He checks again, says "One more"
OK, now, I'm getting warm, I've broken a sweat... my breathing is getting deeper but I'm spinning a good 90RPM, I'd guess. He let's me run with it for a while. It's started to wear on me... I'd back off if I was on a bike but I have to keep going.
He checks my BP and I think we're done. No! He says, "I'm turning it up one more"
Oh gawd.... this is a pace I'd never keep in the real world. It's like climbing at 80-90RPM... I just don't do that. Oh man, I'm ready to stop, but no I have to keep going
He checks my BP and says, "OK, that's enough"

Hm.. "OK, that's enough"? Well, that's different from "Shut it down. Now"
He looks at the results again briefly and says, "You just went a full 2 minutes beyond what you did a year ago. That's fantastic. You are in wonderful condition"

Huh. Two minutes???
I asked, "So, it does make a difference?"
"Yes, it does, you're in good shape now"

So, I said "I know I shouldn't go beyond 165 but what's safe to sustain and how long can I hold 165 safely?"

He said, "Well, you can sustain 140, 150 no problem and.... look, just keep doing what you've been doing because you're doing great. I really like what I see. Now, get out of here, I have to see some sick people."

George Hincapie told me, "Keep riding"
Keep riding, indeed :D

SKT,

Definitely worth bragging about. Congrats on the good work.

Even 3 months/1500 miles made a difference for me. Dropped 13 lbs. Cholesterol dropped 30 points. Triglycerides dropped 100+ points. BP dropped about 10 points.

I turned 57 last December.

That's great to hear!

Now go ride yer bike!

That's great to hear!

Now go ride yer bike!

Actually, I did. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea
The stress/echo did tire my legs out a bit, it's 90 degrees here today and I decided to climb Sharp Park Road.
It was almost like I've never climbed it before... HR got up in a hurry and just would not come down as long as I was pedaling. I got a mile up, crossed over and headed back down. My heart just wasn't in it.

That is fun to read.

That is fun to read.

Coming from Iron Will, that means something.

Yeah, we know you're no 'tater, SKT Congrats!

Great story.

Most newspapers of all sizes are thrashing hard for local human interest/heath/outdoor recreation stories. If you are up for it, a call to the features section of your local would likely result in this being read by many people still on the couch.

Not bragging, INSPIRATIONAL!

:beer:

I love it! You must be feeling like a kid again. I'm happy for you, SKT -- thanks for the inspiring story! :thumb:

I tell ya... I'm so stoked. Yesterday's ride up Sharp Park Road was a little disheartening but I'm pretty sure the heat and the stress/echo had something to do with it. I mean, I already felt like I had climbed a hill for a couple of miles after that.

But, you know me... I am not easily dissuaded. If it cools down to more reasonable levels for this coastal boy, I'm thinking of riding over to Sausalito tomorrow and get that one off my list.

Good stuff. Keep it up.

FWIW, 142/90 could be a bit lower under current BP guidelines.

It used to be something like 100 plus your age being OK.

I am keeping mine at under 120/under 80.

Long ago I could have been 168 and it would have been ok.

You have every right to brag about such fantastic improvements:thumb:

George was right....get out there and ride.

Good stuff. Keep it up.

FWIW, 142/90 could be a bit lower under current BP guidelines.

It used to be something like 100 plus your age being OK.

I am keeping mine at under 120/under 80.

Long ago I could have been 168 and it would have been ok.

Oh, believe me, I well aware of the acceptable BP ranges.
I've been dealing with this for a loooong time.
Interesting that, apparently, the Europeans -and maybe the British- have a different take on things; 140/90 being perfectly acceptable.
Anyway, I suffer from White Coat Syndrome. My BP, taken at home regularly and frequently, falls within 130-140/75-90, usually at 135/85. My pulse which used to be in the 80's is now consistently 55-60.
Put me in front of a doctor (and a cardiologist at that), my BP can easily measure 170/100 or more... and that's with it having just minutes ago being 135/75 at home.
For me to be with 3 or 4 point of my home measurement? Major victory. He was not at all concerned.

Oh, believe me, I well aware of the acceptable BP ranges.
I've been dealing with this for a loooong time.
Interesting that, apparently, the Europeans -and maybe the British- have a different take on things; 140/90 being perfectly acceptable.Anyway, I suffer from White Coat Syndrome. My BP, taken at home regularly and frequently, falls within 130-140/75-90, usually at 135/85. My pulse which used to be in the 80's is now consistently 55-60.
Put me in front of a doctor (and a cardiologist at that), my BP can easily measure 170/100 or more... and that's with it having just minutes ago being 135/75 at home.
For me to be with 3 or 4 point of my home measurement? Major victory. He was not at all concerned.

Thats probably because we have so many overweight unfit people around. Seems to me that if anything cannot come down to an acceptable level over here- They raise the Bar. With all those unfit people around going to the doctor- they have probably taken an average on what they see and that is the acceptable level.

Unfortunately- I have no idea what my BP is as the quack has not bothered to test it for the last 5 years. Perhaps I should get it checked out.

Great news on the Medical front but what else did you expect? The amount you have put into getting fit in the last couple of years have not only paid off---It has payed dividends. Only one person to blame for that- so take the morning off work- and go for a ride to celebrate.

Go ahead and brag!! You've earned it, and it is at least partly for stories like this that I lurk the forums. It's 4:25p on a Friday afternoon. When I get home from work my wife will be there ahead of me and likely enjoying an adult beverage in the swiming pool. I can use all the motivation I can get to go for about an hour brisk ride before joining her, and these sort of reports help.

Grats on the great checkup, always good to be thrown out of the doctor's office!

Congratulations. Well done.

congrats--now shut up and go ride!!!

see if bp come down more:thumb:

Just another congratulations and thanks for the inspiration...

I think it is awesome to hear stories like this from the 50+ group. :thumb: Just gives me hope & motivation when I get there (I'm still the young kid on the block at 48 ;).

I get so frustrated hearing on the news about people getting fat, then they show a commercial for fast food right afterwards.

Keep up the good work, it will just keep getting better.

You've earned an 'Attaboy'. Congratulations.

Well Done. :)

That's wonderful. Really. All I can add to the replies above is that, damn right, you're making a difference by your example to others too.
As a Brit, I have to say
"Well I say. Gosh. Goodness me. I mean to say. Dash it all. Crikey. Huzzah"
I think that sums it up

I tell ya... I'm so stoked. Yesterday's ride up Sharp Park Road was a little disheartening but I'm pretty sure the heat and the stress/echo had something to do with it. I mean, I already felt like I had climbed a hill for a couple of miles after that.

But, you know me... I am not easily dissuaded. If it cools down to more reasonable levels for this coastal boy, I'm thinking of riding over to Sausalito tomorrow and get that one off my list.

You should need recovery, you had one heck of a hard workout, even though it was short!

I did a lactate threshold test maybe 6 mo back, and the coach took me up to 180 bpm and around 260 watts for 2 minutes (probably a rather wimpy level for the Road Forum). I didn't feel like riding for about 3 days after!

SKT, you are a great example!

I've been telling my friends they can train up, not just tread water, at our age (mid-50s), but they don't seem to believe me. I agree with TruF, stories like yours should be in the newspaper!

That is the kind of feedback that will help you commit long term. Congrats. I have been amazed how much better I feel now that I regularly do 20-25 mile rides. Lost 12 pounds to boot even though that wasn't a planned goal.