An aging pilot

On 10/27/04 9:36 AM, in article svNfd.16504$R05.7492@attbi_s53, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:


But no drinking? At all? Not even a cold beer at the hangar after a long
cross country on a hot summer's night? Not even a glass of rose with a
plate of lasagna?

That ain't right.

And, I believe, health statistics show that alcohol, when consumed in
moderation, is a life-prolonging prescription.

Obviously a study funded by the evil, greedy capitalists in the liquor
industry.
--
Jeff 'The Wizard of Draws' Bucchino
Cartoons with a Touch of Magic�
http://www.wizardofdraws.com
http://www.cartoonclipart.com

Jay Honeck wrote:

And, I believe, health statistics show that alcohol, when consumed in
moderation, is a life-prolonging prescription.

Sorry, Jay. Not just any alcohol but red wine is what figures in the studies.

George Patterson
If a man gets into a fight 3,000 miles away from home, he *had* to have
been looking for it.

Sheesh, Jay. You're just a young puppy. I didn't even start my flight
training until I was 46. Got my certificate at age 47 1/2. Don't worry
about your eyesite. Mi eh-em-ee fine-alley toled mee thet eye needled two
ware meye glass-es whin eye flie. Eye dun unnerstant. Eye kin c fyne
whin i dreyeve, reed, an tipe. Fleyeinc ees know prop-lem.

la noslig
2791 anssec


In article 5D_ed.243219$wV.57086@attbi_s54, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:

So I've reached my 46th year fairly unscathed. I've still never missed a
day of work, ever, and I'm rarely under the weather. In fact, I feel great.

Still, now that I'm solidly in middle age, I find that my cholesterol is too
high, I could stand to lose 15 pounds, and, at my most recent check-up, my
blood pressure was a touch high, for the first time.

In short, the inevitable effect of aging is starting to show itself.

To combat this I've been doing daily weight training with my 14-year old son
for over 9 months. I've built muscle mass and stamina, and (for the first
time in 20 years) my back isn't on the verge of "going out" all the time.
I've passed the CAP cadet requirement for running a mile (even though, as a
senior member, it wasn't required), just to show my kid that "the old man"
could still do it. (I darn-near died... ;-)

So, all things considered, I guess I'm doing okay for an old, balding white
guy.

My biggest concession to age has been my vision, which has always been a
weak point. (It kept me from joining the Air Force.) Although I'm still
corrected to 20/20, I'm going to need bifocals at my next check up for sure
(boy, that danged sectional is just about impossible to read), and I am
plagued with more and more floaters every year. Low-contrast backgrounds
(like an overcast) make it very difficult for me to spot traffic.

Since life is a terminal condition, it's only natural that whatever is
deteriorating will continue to do so -- although I assume there are various
things pilots can do to compensate. At some point, however, the lines on
the graph intersect, and you've got to quit flying. Question is, when?

For those of you farther down life's trail than I, what have you done to
maintain your edge? Any tips on staving off old man winter as long as
possible?

And for those of you who have hung it up, what made you do it? When did you
know it was time?

--
Al Gilson
Spokane, WA USA
1970 VW Convertible
1964 Cessna Skyhawk

On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 13:36:24 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:

enteric-coated aspirin each morning

The wisdom now is that you should take it in the evening.

The Wall Street Journal had an article on the things you can do to
extend your life, and beside each was the number of months it ought to
add. The one I liked best was to drink a four-ounce glass of wine with
dinner: four months!

I boasted to my daughter that I was now a wine drinker, and that it
would extend my life by four months. She said: "Yeah, but it will be
in the winter."

(I'm serious about taking the aspirin in the evening. It was on the
list, though I think it was only good for a month or two of longevity.
In any event, I switched. I'm not superstitious--knock on wood!--but
why take chances?)

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
the blog www.danford.net

On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 13:36:24 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:

Not even a glass of rose with a
plate of lasagna?

That ain't right.

No, it's not right. See my earlier post. The glass of wine is one of
the easy things you can do to add to your life.

(Of course, there's not proof of cause and effect here. The Toyota
Avalon is the safest passenger vehicle on the road, but that doesn't
mean you'll be safer if you swap your SUV for an Avalon. You will take
your driving habits with you into the new vehicle.)


all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
the blog www.danford.net

Cub Driver wrote:

(Of course, there's not proof of cause and effect here. The Toyota
Avalon is the safest passenger vehicle on the road, but that doesn't
mean you'll be safer if you swap your SUV for an Avalon. You will take
your driving habits with you into the new vehicle.)

From what I've seen of the driving habits of many of the SUV owners around here, if
the swapped for an Avalon, they wouldn't live long.

George Patterson
If a man gets into a fight 3,000 miles away from home, he *had* to have
been looking for it.

enteric-coated aspirin each morning

The wisdom now is that you should take it in the evening.

Why?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:n8cgd.331333$D%.181798@attbi_s51...
enteric-coated aspirin each morning

The wisdom now is that you should take it in the evening.

Why?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"



That is when your blood is the thickest, and you are most likely to have a
clot clog up your brain or heart, which is what the aspirin helps prevent.
--
Jim in NC


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.782 / Virus Database: 528 - Release Date: 10/22/2004

On Mon, 25 Oct 2004 03:42:57 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:

So I've reached my 46th year fairly unscathed. I've still never missed a
day of work, ever, and I'm rarely under the weather. In fact, I feel great.

Still, now that I'm solidly in middle age, I find that my cholesterol is too
high, I could stand to lose 15 pounds, and, at my most recent check-up, my
blood pressure was a touch high, for the first time.

bloody hell, I'm not alone in the world. :-)

In short, the inevitable effect of aging is starting to show itself.

bull****. the effects listed above are due to poor lifestyle choices,
lack of effective exercise and poor diet. unless you have some wierd
genes those characteristics are not age related.

To combat this I've been doing daily weight training with my 14-year old son
for over 9 months. I've built muscle mass and stamina, and (for the first
time in 20 years) my back isn't on the verge of "going out" all the time.

weight training is actually a poor choice. the muscles being exercised
are too small and really all you are doing is exacerbating
hypertension.
a better form of exercise is swiming because it uses more muscle
groups. the best dry land exercise is walking. this gives the long
muscles of your body a chance to burn off fat. you should aim to just
raise a sweat by the end of the walk and gradually build up the
distance walked. if you walk hard enough to experience pain then you
are in lactic acid production and your system has tripped over into
anaerobic metabolism. this is ineffective for weight loss. try to
maintain a pace which just raises a sweat but doesnt hurt. this will
see you maintaining aerobic metabolism which is best for weight
reduction. you will find that the after effects of a good walk are a
slowed heart rate and lower blood pressure for a good many hours
afterward.

btw dont try to lose weight too fast or your health may suffer. stage
it out over a year or so.

I've passed the CAP cadet requirement for running a mile (even though, as a
senior member, it wasn't required), just to show my kid that "the old man"
could still do it.

moderation my boy or the comment you made may come true.
(I darn-near died... ;-)


So, all things considered, I guess I'm doing okay for an old, balding white
guy.

your greatest asset is realising that you need to change your
lifestyle to improve your health.

My biggest concession to age has been my vision, which has always been a
weak point. (It kept me from joining the Air Force.) Although I'm still
corrected to 20/20, I'm going to need bifocals at my next check up for sure
(boy, that danged sectional is just about impossible to read), and I am
plagued with more and more floaters every year. Low-contrast backgrounds
(like an overcast) make it very difficult for me to spot traffic.

some of that is age related (the change in focal length) make sure
that you are getting adequate nutrition and a balanced diet. vitamin A
deficiency can cause night blindness and general eyesight impairment.
it would be an easy thing to get on top of. make sure you see a doctor
to ensure that you dont have a correctable problem starting there.

Since life is a terminal condition, it's only natural that whatever is
deteriorating will continue to do so -- although I assume there are various
things pilots can do to compensate. At some point, however, the lines on
the graph intersect, and you've got to quit flying. Question is, when?

the oldest man to requalify for a class 1 instrument rating was 99
years old. the oldest man to fly as pilot in command of a private
aircraft was 103. my mate tom flies his Thorp T18 as though it was on
rails. Tom turns 80 in 2 weeks time. you are selling yourself short.

For those of you farther down life's trail than I, what have you done to
maintain your edge? Any tips on staving off old man winter as long as
possible?

well I'm 6 years older than you and like you faced the need to do
something to regain my fittness after 7 years in a job with 1 week per
month restraunt meals and sitting at a computer desk the rest of the
time.
the inevitable 50th birthday sacking from the technology job has given
me the opportunity to study for a degree in nursing, what I'm actually
doing is studying to retain my medicals.:-)
you can change your health around if the damage isnt permanent. your
body is a wonderfully adaptive mechanism if you stick at it.
good balanced diet, adequate aerobic exercise, passionate interest in
what you are doing. those are the secrets to a long healthy life.

And for those of you who have hung it up, what made you do it? When did you
know it was time?
dont be such a sorry arsed pessimist. there is actually evidence out
there that associates pessimism with poor health outcomes.
you know its time when you are no longer breathing, until then never
give up.
I wouldnt give advice I'm not doing myself.
Stealth Pilot
Australia.

And for those of you who have hung it up, what made you do it? When did
you
know it was time?

dont be such a sorry arsed pessimist. there is actually evidence out
there that associates pessimism with poor health outcomes.
you know its time when you are no longer breathing, until then never
give up.

You're about the tenth person to interpret my question as meaning that I am
pessimistically evaluating myself as being ready to "hang it up."

Nothing could be farther from the truth. I'm in great physical condition,
feel terrific, and am looking forward to decades more in the saddle. (Knock
on wood!)

But I WOULD like to know the signs that were noted prior to relinquishing
the left seat, by those who have done so.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"