elderly parents need increased weight and strength

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Our parents are in 80's and need to remain strong and increase their weight and muscle mass. Anyone have any suggestions. What would be good are some suggentions for web sights where there is helpful information they might use. They have access to Webtv in their home. Dad just had a lobectomy for a tiny lung malignancy that they told us had not spread at all. The surgery was overwhelming at his age. Done in July, he is just now getting back to near normal health again. But he has lost some weight and does not feel as strong.

I was looking for some specific sights that might address the issure of staying strong in our 80 th decade of life. Both parents are active now, but they get tired easily.

May you live long and prosper,
larry

 

[FitFossil]

If you find out, let me know!

My parents switched to a raw vegetarian diet a year ago and have become holier than thou. They have lost so much weight (they were normal weight to begin with) they look really scary. They're losing muscle mass (looking bony, soft, and squishy ), but won't listen to reason, they say they feel "wonderful".

It's probably because those raw veggies are giving them so many bowel movements and are on a starvation high (I remember that "high" well because I used to be anorexic). They think it's OK because all their "numbers" (blood pressure, cholest, etc.) look good, but they sure aren't getting any stronger.

They weight train but it's only light weights (again same holier than thou attitute - some little girl "trainer" who probably can't even do a single pushup gave them a "routine", so they take it as gospel). What's worse is they read these wild ass things like "your body really needs very little protein".

The odd thing is they praise and admire me for my strength and muscle, and even ask for training suggestions (but won't try them). Whenever my husband and I visit, we have to bring extra food so we won't starve. They say they feel great now, but I'm worried what'll happen a few years down the road when they've lost so much muscle they can't even get out of a chair (or off that toilet)...

 

[Providian]

Actually, I just had the same problem with a parent, and I was able to help my Mom gain weight back by adding a mid-to-high caloric/high protein drink suplement to her regular diet. The secret is to find one that tastes good to the user, so that drinking one won't be a hassle.Sometimes the thick chunky ones are too much for me to handle-so its a combo of good tasting milkshake type drinks(blended with vogurt/ice cream/fruit)combined with some of the new clear/kool-aid type drinks (like Isopure) -the trick is getting them to ingest the nutrients without fighting with lots of different foods to accomplish it.

 

[FitFossil]

found a good book...

I think I found a good book for your elderly parents. It's BIOMARKERS: The 10 Keys to Prolonging Vitality
by William Evans, Irwin H. Rosenberg, Jacqueline Thompson. It was recommended on the Clarence Bass "Ripped" site:
http://www.cbass.com/index.htm

I checked it out from the public library. You also might want to check our Clarence Bass' site as well - many good articles and books. One he wrote is Challenge Yourself at Any Age . I haven't read it, but that might be good for your parents as well.

 

[[email protected]]

fitness training for the elderly

Aloha,

Just wanted to thank you for pointing us to the site on fitness training possibilities for the elderly. Gosh, I am getting on there myself. I am 57 now. Time flies!

Problem for me here in Hawaii is that I retired early to enjoy gardening, etc. and that's about all I have. Have nice gardens but no shelter to speak of yet. Ran out of money with just land improvements. Living in a "hybrid tent" structure now for over 4 years comfortably, but really never got a spot fixed up for work outs with weights, etc. Sometimes get the wrong kind of exercise out breaking up lava rock to do planting, etc. Get tendonitis and all from using the 30 lb. iron crow bar. Injured foot in a crack in lava surveying land way back, etc. But this is a great place and really a perfect climate. I'm ten miles outside of Hilo where there still exists cheap real estate (and parents are in northeastern Florida unfortunately).

Well, enough rammbling now.

Live long and prosper,
Larry

 

[solidspine]

I'm 51 not 80 but I support the idea of a constant level of added test and gh to my system.

Nice gains in lean muscle.

 

[USMC_Devildog]

Elderly and Weight Lifting

That's a great idea. I do not know any sites that provides info on the subject. But I can recommend things. Obviously have them follow well balanced diets, but some may have exceptions (diabetes). Supplement them only on vitamins/minerals. Don't have them eat 6 meals a day. Might be a little much for them at first. Start them off on 3 meals a day and work in an extra meal every week until they are eating 4-6 meals a day. As for lifting, I recommend starting a low intensity training routine. Twice a week should be enough for starting. Full body routine. Like this:

Leg Press Machine 2 x 10-15
Lying Leg Curls 2 x 10-15
Machine Bench Press 2 x 10-15
Machine Shoulder Press 2 x 10-15
Lat Pulldowns 2 x 10-15
Machine Rows 2 x 10-15
Machine Preacher Curls 2 x 10-15
Machine Extensions 2 x 10-15
Standing Calf Raises 2 x 10-15
Crunches 2 x 10-20

Yes I know, a lot of machines. But if the elderly has no experience in lifting weights, then machines are the perfect start. Don't start them with free weights, because they probably don't have any coorditionation. Too much to risk if they're starting. Eventually over time change one exercise into a safe free weight exercise. Don't make them do heavy loads. Start them out light and just have them practice technique. Ease into everything slowly. Just my thoughts about the subject.