A question about body flexibility

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Tishabet

I suppose I could, but I always sit to put on my socks and shoes.... not sure why, I definitely stand to put on pants. I am also absurdly flexible, both by natural physiology and through intentional stretches e.g. I can stand with my knees locked and put my entire palm of both hands flat on the ground and keep them there, no sweat.

The older I get (about to turn 39) the more often I ponder the differences (attitude, habits etc) of the 60 and 70 year olds I know who are "old" vs those who are still out there killing it. My dad is 78, he skis 60-70 or so days each season and kept up with me on a challenging 8 day backpacking trip last year. I'm pretty sure he could take me in a fight if it came down to it. We had a house guest recently who just turned 67, no notable health problems and a healthy BMI... he could not muster the strength to walk half a mile down to our beach on a mildly graded footpath through the woods.

Turned 52 a few months ago. I just got off my chair without doing anything else with knees locked but only mamaged to have four fingers flat on the ground but not my hand. big difference to add that two inched, but I am sure if I try a few times and loosen up, it can be done.

I have't been backpacking since my mid 20s. Around 35-40, my three close friends were bored and decided to take the single foot trail up to Mt Wilson to see what kind of shape we were in only because we used to go up training for those long back packing trip all the time. I wasn't riding my bike, but worked day in and day out. They had sit down, fat guy jobs. This is a 5000+ climb from about 700'. HAlf way up, we were breathing heavy and was dying for water. These old men, in their mid 60 and 70 passed us like if were going backwards. They stopped and chatted with us at the small lookout. We discovered they did this climb 2-3 times a week. Damn those older guys were in great shape. Not fat but fit. if one kept up with the exercise, we can stay fit a long time. I know some guys that are in their early 60s who will embarrass 30 year olds on the bike. These guys were in the Olympic back up team, and stuck to riding many miles weekly. They used to drag me out like a dead dog and gave me hell yet they still do. I think the key is to keep on keeping on.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

My completely free unsolicited, no guarantee, 2 cent internet opinion would be two parts-
1. With the hip replaced leg, use the good leg as a basepoint for flexibility.

Yep. My goal is to be equally limber both sides. I have years of neglect and arthritis pain to work thru but I've been getting results, and I expect to stretch each day for the rest of my life, godwillin'.

Originally Posted by look 171

Ia m still pretty flexible but how does this hip replacement affect your riding?

All to the good, now that I can put power down with my left leg without pain. Did a sixty miler on my sixtieth birthday a few days ago. I was also working on sixty days of riding in sixty days, but the ice- covered roads in Portland mean I have to start that goal over when the weather breaks. Bummer.

Originally Posted by stuartj

Apparently a good simple test of fitness, flex and balance is to sit on the floor on your butt. Now stand, do not use your hands.

How old is the young child this flex test was designed for? 7?

I can get my butt about two or three inches off the ground and stand up with no hands. Realistically I never see myself doing what you wrote!! Maybe I need to adjust my goals!!

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

I always put my socks on while sitting since they're right there. I do dry my feet and legs off standing on one foot when I get out of the shower. Does that count?

It does count. Exactly what I was looking for since I've been arthritic for so long that I couldn't remember what normal flexibility used to look like. I couldn't even put on pants without sitting before the knife, now I can put on socks, and that seems like a win to me.

[wdfifteen]

I blame Mike for this. As a result of reading this thread I tried to put my boxers on standing up (I sleep in boxers and a tee shirt). I got my left leg in a leg hole ok, but got my other foot caught in the peckerhole, couldn’t get it out, and fell on my ass. Your fault Mike. Your fault.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I blame Mike for this. As a result of reading this thread I tried to put my boxers on standing up (I sleep in boxers and a tee shirt). I got my left leg in a leg hole ok, but got my other foot caught in the peckerhole, couldn’t get it out, and fell on my ass. Your fault Mike. Your fault.

Hope you didn't get hurt!

[Tidybuoy]

Wait. Are we talking about the butler standing or me personally?

[A930Rocket]

I mentioned this in the getting older thread. A lack of balance and coordination.

I can get my left foot/leg in my drawers but always get the right foot caught in them. It’s especially bad after taking a shower with wet feet.

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I blame Mike for this. As a result of reading this thread I tried to put my boxers on standing up (I sleep in boxers and a tee shirt). I got my left leg in a leg hole ok, but got my other foot caught in the peckerhole, couldn’t get it out, and fell on my ass. Your fault Mike. Your fault.

[Sooner or later]

Body flexability? Is this about a targa?

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Hope you didn't get hurt!

Oh oh oh, you have no idea:
"Your honor, my client was a fully function male until he took this defendant's challenge to attempt this reckless and bizarre dressing challenge. As a result of the serious and well documented emotional trauma of falling to his ass, feet in the air, thereby displaying a full blown and unforced peckerhole violation for all the world to see, my client may never be able to engage in gainful employment again. Even now he hears behind his back whispers of " right in the peckerhole!"
My client's life has clearly bee ruined forever. He may have to eschew boxer shorts altogether. Woh gonna pay for This?
Where's his unemployment?

[fintstone]

Yes, I put my socks and shorts n standing up...but I am only in early 60s. I had started sitting and noted that I was a little shaky doing so standing (balance) at 59...so I made sure I did so every day until my balance got better.

[Tishabet]

Originally Posted by look 171

I know some guys that are in their early 60s who will embarrass 30 year olds on the bike.

First time I met herr_oberst was to ride the 206 mile Seattle to Portland. Now that I know he just turned 60 I can do the math and for this particular ride he would have been 54, I was 33... he was (and I am sure still is) quite capable of embarrassing me on the bike. He was very nice about it though

Originally Posted by look 171

I think the key is to keep on keeping on.

I don't have the wisdom of years quite yet, but from where I stand this really seems to be it. And on the other side of the coin, I swear I know some people who just decided that they have hit some magic number, are now old and would act likewise... they decided to stop keeping on. I'm not sure if those folks are any happier or sadder than the rest, I just know that I am not wired like they are.

[Evans, Marv]

Originally Posted by fintstone

Yes, I put my socks and shorts n standing up...but I am only in early 60s. I had started sitting and noted that I was a little shaky doing so standing (balance) at 59...so I made sure I did so every day until my balance got better.

This. It helps a lot to practice something on a regular basis to improve over time.

[Rawknees'Turbo]

Originally Posted by timchar

I can barely put them on sitting on a low stool. 59 yrs old, in the last six months had lumbar spinal fusion and rotator cuff surgery. Started basic yoga and stretching routine. Making slow but steady improvements. When I flex forward my fingertips are 12” from floor. I used to be be 4-5 inches from floor. Hope to get back on the tennis court soon. Tim

Have you started wearing yoga pants, too, Tim?!?!

[stuartj]

Originally Posted by look 171

I think the key is to keep on keeping on.

I think this too. You have to just keep going, because if you stop....I think it gets harder to get it back, the older you get.

Ive been off my bike for the last 2 weeks with an Achilles tendon injury. (Which was brought about by either a bad pair of flat sneakers or a new bike shoes worn too tight) Have to say, this has been the most debilitating thing Ive ever done to myself, and also the most painful. But it occurred to me...this is all you need do to immobilise yourself. And ten days off the bike (or actually anything at all, couldnt walk), the loss of bike fitness was immediately noticeable, so quickly.

I tips me lid to you fellas with new hips and knees.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by timchar

Started basic yoga and stretching routine.

Some basic Yoga and Fitness I found on the google. You should probably examine the moves carefully to make sure that you are doing your routine correctly. I have, and I think I'm doing it wrong, so I keep watching to see where I can improve...

[look 171]

beside watching that rectal floss, there's no fooking way I can do any of those moves besides the push ups in the first minute.

I was in OK shape, like haul ass full on for 30 miles staying up in top ten in our group. This was some time ago. A friend invited me to a spinning class. After about 4 -5 minutes of keeping up with what the instructor wanted us to do, I knew it was a waste of time in terms of any benefit making me go faster on the bike. So I decide to spin like mad for an hour staying about 95 RPM. the last 10 min she had us off the bike doing push ups and seat up. I was able to squeeze out about 10 push ups, but when it came to the seat up, I did about 15 and could no longer move. I couldn't, with all my inner and outer strength, muster out half a sit up. That kicked my ass. I realized then how important core strength is. Still don't have it. Those yoga moves are absolutely ass kickers. Not for ugly old dudes like me.

[timchar]

Originally Posted by Rawknees'Turbo

Have you started wearing yoga pants, too, Tim?!?!

Yes and of course I do it shirtless. I’m also growing my hair so I can sport the (man bun) Tim

[GH85Carrera]

I never thought about it much. I do put on my boxers every morning while standing up. And I put on my jeans in the winter or shorts in the summer while standing up only because it is fast and easy. I did notice that I always seem to use my left leg first. I never noticed that until a recent while back. I tried to use my right leg first, and it just feels awkward. I usually sit down to put on my socks the shoes since it requires more time with a foot in the air, and more tugging and pulling.

I have no joint pain after getting my hip replaced. One side was simply worn out, and was rubbing bone on bone with nothing but blood as a lubricant. With the new titanium hip, all is well. I do feel lucky that as a 60+ year old grey hair geezer I do not live with any constant pain at all.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I blame Mike for this. As a result of reading this thread I tried to put my boxers on standing up (I sleep in boxers and a tee shirt). I got my left leg in a leg hole ok, but got my other foot caught in the peckerhole, couldn’t get it out, and fell on my ass. Your fault Mike. Your fault.

BTDT now I go commando.

[livi]

Nope. I have the little wifey do it for me.

[craigster59]