Getting Old Really is a Pain

I have always been active, walk, hike, x-c ski, snow shoe, bike.  You wouldn't know it to look at me.  I'm a fat old woman.  No getting around it.  I've spent most of my life in the 145 to 155 lb. range.  At 5'6" that's a bit much, but as one trainer told me, that's clearly where my body wanted to be.

This winter I put 10 pounds on.  Sigh.  At 165 pounds, my knees are rebelling.  I have an arthritic right knee that really gives me trouble.  I didn't get the exercise that I usually do, it was just one of those winters, I didn't get out to x-c ski or snow shoe and it was every thing I could do to take care of the horses.  According to weight watchers and others, the 1200 to 1500 calories I eat should keep me where I'm at or lose weight.  Yeah, right.

I had a hysterectomy in 2002 and it's true, all I have to do is walk past food and I put weight on.  Combine that with the natural ramping down of the metabolic system as one gets older and one just doesn't stand a chance.  Instead of a 3 mile hike a day, have to do 6 miles just to stay even.  Eating around 900 calories makes a dent, slowly, but really, I just CAN'T do that for long.  Can't, won't, doesn't much matter.

I usually take the dogs with me when I hike.  They love it when I go some place they can be off leash.  Sarah Labrador and Bay Li Rat Terrier can run forever, but Jack R Terrier is showing his age just like me.  Jack is a rescue, so I don't know how old he is.  I was told he was about the same age as Bay Li, but I'm doubting that now.  Poor guy, he loves to go, runs hard checking out the wildlife for about a mile, then he just wilts.

Yesterday I had planned on a 6 mile walk along the river.  The dogs had a grand time for about a mile, then I noticed that Jack was walking and stopping behind me.  Sarah and Bay Li continued to run like a couple banshee's but poor Jack just couldn't.  I went another half mile and turned around.  The 3 miles did the poor boy in.

I guess I'll have to leave him home from now on.  That means one dog at a time goes with me.  Probably best any way.  All three can be a bit much when they get excited.  Jack will just have to be content with chasing the squirrels.

Geez, I wonder when I'll only be able to chase the squirrels.