[M_Six]

You young punks can stand down and go hit the Cool Pic Thread. This is for the Old Farts among us. Say 50+. (Hope I'm not insulting anyone.)

Let's face it, getting old sucks. I hate that I used to have perfect vision without glasses and now I need friggin' trifocals. I started cycling about 2-1/2 years ago and that has made a world of difference, but I'm still envious of the local club bikers who can run 20MPH average speed. For the record, I just turned 61. I'm in better shape now than I have been in 20 years or so, but I can still hobble myself for a week with the slightest wrong move. I've lost 70+ lbs since I started riding and I ride 100 miles per week to keep it off, but I can gain back 5 or 6 lbs in a single week if I don't ride. Then it takes me almost two months to lose it again. That is my biggest peeve about getting old. If I ever screw up my back so bad that I can't ride, I'll balloon back up to Jabba the Hut range in no time.

Don't even get me started on losing hair where I want it and growing hair where I don't. A friend sent me pics of me back in '84 when I was a SSGT in the Army and was a fit 190lbs. What I wouldn't give to be in that shape again. Ain't gonna happen now.

Anyway, for you other Old Farts (and I know there are several here), what are the worst and best things about where you are now?

[kscarrol]

Don’t let the old man in!!

Edit: best thing, appreciating what how fortunate I’ve been to live the life I have... the worst is what you’ve already touched on, how while the spirit might be willing the body is not always able.

[M_Six]

Don't gimme that crap, you old bastard. You're one of us.

[kscarrol]

Guilty as charged! But as I sit on my porch with a whisky and a cigar I’m still living like I’m 25.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

Guilty as charged! But as I sit on my porch with a whisky and a cigar I’m still living like I’m 25.

Not sitting on the porch as it's cold and rainy here, but I'm swilling my P12 and enjoying life. No cigar here, though. Wifey would totally freak.

[HFW003]

Just made it in.

I have plenty in my life to be happy and very thankful for but for me the absolute best thing in my life is watching my Son grow up to be a fine young man who both my wife and I are extremely proud of.

He’s 19 years old, did well at school, goes to Uni, works part time, plays in a band, has a great girlfriend and is just a nice young man.

The worst thing for me are my knees. Over 40 years of playing sport, a lot of it contact, have left them very ordinary. I’ve had partial replacement to both and when I get old I’ve got to get a full one on my left one.

And high blood pressure, where’d that come from!

[kscarrol]

I’m fortunate that my weight is easy to maintain, been within 5 kbs or so for years. Just watch the food intake and some regular exercise...

[M_Six]

My BP has become much more manageable since I started riding. Same with all the other normal aging issues, aside from weight control. I suspect that will always be a battle for me. As long as I can ride, I'll be fine.

It's this time of year I wish I lived elsewhere. Riding inside on the training bike gets old really fast. Nothing beats riding outside on a nice day.

[paliknight]

HUA! I'm a 30 year old in a 60 year olds body. Does that count?

Thank you army!

[Salty Dog]

I'm in. My knees, lower back, neck and shoulders. I sit on the edge of the bed in the morning wondering which one is going to give me grief today. I've been hard on myself, lots of work related injuries. I've tried to stay in shape my whole life and I'm pretty sure that has helped, although some mornings I'm not so sure.

In my mind I'm still 30 years old, although my wife would say 15. I can't complain too much, I've had a pretty good run so far, my wife is planning on retiring at the end of this year so looking forward to spending more time with her and doing some travelling. The kids are all grown and out on their own and doing pretty well for the most part.

The cigar and whiskey on the front porch sounds good, it's been a bit cold her so I haven't done that for a while, soon I hope.

Don't let the old man in!

[Dang3r]

Squawking in also, mid 50ths.
Lower back problems but since youth, hadnt changed significantly since that, except when weather periods turn immediately from hot to cold. Thats also valid for some scars from my shoulder OP 2016 and a nearly cutted off left ring finger by a grinder at 1986.
Im wide sighted by age and wear small glasses only for read or doing tricky little things. Im well situated, have my dream woman and cant really complain about my life. Not really envy about the younger dudes which are carrying the older dudes btw., but sometimes I wish, my generation were as open-minded as they are...

[vreihen16]

I'm 29...plus a lot of shipping/handling fees. Do I qualify for this thread?

Hey, kid! Get off my lawn...and turn that noise that you call music DOWN!!!!!

[cmyx6go]

The struggle is real. I remember making fun of my father listening to him speaking with friends. They would talk about their new friends - Arthur-itis, Bruce-itis. And laughing while asking him “what’s wrong dad, your arms aren’t long enough for you to read”? Fast forward. I’m 56. Need readers on top of my contacts more often. Driving in the dark is becoming a problem. If it’s raining too it’s really bad. I have a head of long, curly hair but I’m starting to notice my part getting a little wider and a little recession along the hair line. I’m a shallow bitch, so I just ordered one of those Capillus laser hats. Let’s not even talk about metabolism changes. All in all, life is good. I’m healthy. But it really sucks how fast time flies.

[lsturbointeg]

so 50 is considered old? i dunno? i have quite a few friends who are in the 20's and 30's who act like they're 60!

[cmyx6go]

I don’t think 50 is old. 50 today is definitely different than 50 was 20 or 30 years ago. My grandmother seemed like an old lady when she was 50. But it sucks when you start to see and feel the changes going on.

[OLI77]

Mid 50's. Stopped all carbs, lost 30lbs, no more back aches, body aches, and I feel good.

Got rid of prostate cancer 2years ago.

Happy to drive beautiful cars....

[wdb]

I'm in with an age floor of 50 but I'd raise it to 60 for a proper old farts thread.

I'd still be in.

Fitness wise, I'm a skinny person generally speaking. Which means I suffered a lot of slings and arrows in my younger days. As the years pile up it has started becoming an asset. I was fit in school, squandered about 20 years by not keeping fit, then got super fit in my middle years and did ultramarathon cycling events. Now I'm back to couch potato, and mentally beating myself about it. You folks who are keeping fit inspire me to get back into it.

I'm still working but have cut back on the hours. I'm extremely fortunate to have an employer who not only allows that to happen, but is actually happy to still have me on board even in a reduced capacity. It's a nice place to be. But my wife has been fully retired for a few years, and I keep inching closer to it myself. This may be the year.

[RickFLM4]

I’ll be 52 in 10 days. Just finished my big bowl of Fiber One mixed with Smart Start along with fresh blueberries...

For now, biggest challenge is weight and staying active. Lifetime of poor / picky eating. Started eating better and walking 2+ miles / day last year even through the heat of summer. But then fell off the wagon in December. Working to get back on it. Good thing it’s our nice time of year weather-wise.

[FCBuff]

52yo here! I feel like turning 50+ is when you start to glimpse the "other side". Have had several friends/aquantences pass away from cancer, parents too! Oh well!.
Got to stay young at heart. Kind of why I kept my E46 M3 even though I am daily driving my m235.

[m630]

Damn, im not in (though wifey would argue otherwise) See ya’ll in 2 years...

[MKSixer]

In like Flynn.

I bet the #whippersnappers don't even know where that originates! I can still pass for 42-44 which makes dating easy. No real regrets in anything except the fact that I was stupid enough to play sports pretty hard until my late 20's which led to my hip problems.

Had I know that I would have kept playing soccer and/or football through college and tried to go pro playing soccer.

[N54Yankee]

I’m in