Old timers- Healthy and fit and living within their means...

@kiran8 (15348)
Mangalore, India
February 29, 2012 10:41am CST
When we look at old timers , we realise that they are much healthier and also contented than we are .It is because of their lifestyle which was simple and healthy and their needs were few! My own mother who is nearly 80 years old still insists on hand washing her clothes every day after bath and is on her feet the whole day , supervising the maids work , watering plants just to keep herself active and fit. Similarly, we can see that most of the old timers are healthy,disciplined and fit -their life style too was simple, they walked most of the time , which gave them the needed exercise, ate home cooked food with less oil and fat.Their expenses were less as compared to the present day household and were careful with their money as a result of which they managed to have a healthy bank balance. I sometimes wish that we could turn the clock back and go back to those good old days which seem idyllic ..
2 people like this
9 responses
@marguicha (214294)
• Chile
21 Mar 12
If you like that kind of life it is perfectly possible now. I gave my dryer to my eldest daughter as I live alone and only have overnight guests from time to time. I hang my clothes in the sun in Summer and inside the bathroom in Winter. We can cook from scratch and save batches of food in the freezer. I do that and I never worry when someone comes to visit: I can invite my friend for diner with no problem.
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@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
21 Mar 12
Hi marguicha, I agree that if we consciously try and change our life style it is possible to live life in a much healthier way...It is good to read about the changes you have made. I too hand wash my clothes and hang them out to dry in the sun. My maid comes once a week to sweep and swab, other days I do it myself...It is easy once you get used to it and these changes become part of your life style - thanks a lot for sharing your views
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@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
23 Mar 12
Hi marguicha, It is commendable that you are managing so well inspite of having so much of discomfort and suffering...I know of people grumbling even at the slightest of inconvenience and one wonders how they would cope when things really go bad - All the best and hope you are able to get back the required energy and lead a full life
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@marguicha (214294)
• Chile
21 Mar 12
I did not have a maid at all for years, after I became a widow. Now I have a maid and companion because I did not know what to expect from the chemotheraphy for my lymphoma. And the house had to be extra clean during all those months I had my defenses very low. I still don´t have the energy I´d like to have, but it is expected. Still, I do all the cooking and part of the gardening.
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@dpk262006 (58673)
• Delhi, India
1 Mar 12
Hi Kiran! It is true that old timers who used to live a disciplined life are even fit today and could manage their own affairs. And those who are from later generation sometimes fail to remain fit after they cross their sixties. The life-style has changed and so are pressures and tensions in life, which take a heavy toll on one's life span.
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@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
9 Mar 12
That's very true deepak , I have an uncle who is nearly 80 years old and he is fit and does shopping for the house, even now goes to the fish market which is a kilometer away from home to buy fish and vegetables - goes and comes back walking! I have seen people who are in their fifties, who are unable to sit down or walk fast or do anything strenuous..Just goes to show that disciplined ways definitely makes a lot of difference to our health and life style..
@dpk262006 (58673)
• Delhi, India
13 Mar 12
Nice to know about your uncle. It is true that some people even in their fifties are not able to do even their own tasks.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
21 Mar 12
Yes deepak, it is sad to see some relatively younger people in their forties carrying pot bellies and finding it difficult to move about.Also, the cases of diabetes and High cholestrol is very high among that age group...This may be because of their work which is sedentary and does not give them much time for physical activity or exercise...
@sweety_81 (2124)
• India
28 Mar 12
Well, I do agree that some of the things that old timers did and still do lead to a better lifestyle. They are healthier and more contended that us in many ways. However, the circumstances were different in many respects. They had to travel at max may be 10 to 15 kilometers to and from work (exceptions were there, but not too many). Their working hours were lesser. For our generations, we can have erratic work hours, long commutes, especially in and around cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai. Erratic working hours lead at times to erratic lunch/dinner hours(sometimes even breakfast).We get so tired by the time we reach home, that we are not able to exercise properly. And if we have children, it is even worse. Then, we have more pollution than what they had in their days. All these factors do make our lifestyle worse in some respects. Yet, we are better off in some terms. We have Air-conditioners at our homes. Many of us have cars as compared to them.What do you say?
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
10 Apr 12
Hi sweety, Thanks a lot for sharing your views , I agree with what you say, life is much more stressful these days and it is not possible to live like them.But, one can try to make it better by compromising on certain things so that the quality of our life does not suffer...all the best and have a great day
@anil02 (24688)
• India
1 Mar 12
Hello Kiran ji. I am agree with you old timers are much healthy. My mother is also near by 80 years but she is quit healthy and can do all his personal work without any help. Indeed in older time every thing is healthy. Healthy food pure water and pure air. At present we have not all these. Though we have too much in these for us but all are not good like older time.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
9 Mar 12
Hi anil,that is great to hear that your mother is fit ...I guess most people from that generation were very disciplined and also hard working and that's how they lead such healthy lives...We have to make the best of what we have and I am sure it is possible to lead a healthy life style with careful planning..
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@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
11 Mar 12
Very true ! I hardly see children playing nowadays, they are either going for tution or in front of the TV or Computer playing games ! It is the parents who should take care to see that their children remain healthy and fit !
@anil02 (24688)
• India
11 Mar 12
Hello Kiran ji, you are right that we have to used in best way what we have. We can live healthy with some disciplined in life. I am worried about next generation who don't like any physical work and are spending most of their time with computer TV. Present generation is not sincer for their health.
@Metatronik (6199)
• Pasay, Philippines
1 Mar 12
I think there is still something to do with the technology nowadays and the new trends that influences us. Aside from that it has something to do with the population as well that we are all different that we are having conflicts with each other. In terms of technology we tend to pressure ourselves that we want something that others have. It was all in the mind. In terms of healthy living then by means it is only on the food that we are eating but of course it can be mentally and emotionally as well. Others are not really particular into healthy lifestyle but more on what is delicious to their tongue no matter if they will be having diseases because of that.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
11 Mar 12
Hi Metatronik,Thanks a lot for sharing your views No doubt that modern technology does make our lives easier and much more comfortable , however, it also makes us lazy ! Unless we are careful about what we consume and keep ourselves fit, chances are that we will never remain as healthy as our ancestors ...Their life style itself made them healthy since there was a lot of physical labor included in their daily lives ...
@CTHanum (8234)
• Malaysia
29 Feb 12
Before they used more physical energy as many things require us to use the energy in order to finish and settle something. But now we get to the era where we need to use more of the brain, fingers going it while sitting that make us less move and active. I agree that walking is beneficial to the body and looking at the my mom's way of life I believe that all yo mentioned above is true. She like to eat homemade foods, always walk and move here and there. It is simple and I am getting used to it too so I am sure other people can do the same too to themselves.(^^)
1 person likes this
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
2 Mar 12
Hi Hanum,The more we use our body and mind the healthier we remain, and this is a proven fact.I give an example of someone I know who had become obese and overweight, unable to stretch or bend and full of aches.Once she began being active and going for regular walks she slowly began to use her limbs to their fullest capacity and is now able to sit on the floor etc;It is the same with our mind - we have to utilise it to its maximum capacity...thanks a lot for your response
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
1 Mar 12
me too. people that grew up during the great depression and the war years are so much better with money than today's generation. when they wanted something, they saved up for it.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
9 Mar 12
Hi cher, rightly said ! when we work hard for something , it becomes invaluable.Since those days needs were few and people were satisfied with very little, they were also much happier ..
@webearn99 (1742)
• India
1 Mar 12
That is indeed true. Last summer I was traveling by train, and it was pure torture with all the heat, sweat, dust and the irritability of fellow passengers. But then, there was this old gentleman, pushing 90's who did not seem bothered! I asked him how he was managing to keep his cool (Literally and Figuratively). He said "Son, we did not have electricity in our village till I was 60, and so I never owned a fan. So I learned how to cope with mother nature with what it gave me." Yes he was one with mother nature, and was coping very well! So much for the "cool drink" guzzling generations now! I would not be able to say anything about his bank balance, but I can certainly vouch for his health, his health balance was way above mine and for that matter, most of the people on that train.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
11 Mar 12
Hi webearn, thanks a lot for your response That happens all the time, here too during the height of summer I see many old timers fanning themselves with a palm thatched home made fan and quite comfortable...My aunt still grinds masala on a grinding stone since she feels it is never the same when you use a mixer and she is 77 years old..Health is wealth in every way and bank balance comes only after that ..all the best
• Canada
29 Feb 12
I somewhat agree with you that the old timers were definitely somewhat healthier and in better shape than us. I think it is because they were very active during their time and during those times, one needed to use a lot of physical energy to get all the daily tasks done and for work too. Whereas now, we have a lot more facilities and with technological advances we don't have to exert so much energy to get our work done. Also, things were much more natural and there wasn't so much pollution, etc so they are in bette rhealth compared to us...
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
9 Mar 12
Hi mariab, that's exactly what I am saying and in that there is a lesson for all of us.To remain healthy we need to be active and what better way to do it ? one can do at least part of the housework and a bit of gardening and lots of walking, also eat healthy home cooked meals like our ancestors did ..