CREATING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE - A Personal Case Study - Learning from Experience
Ray Williams MA MPhil MBA DIPM
To Appreciate Your Present, you need to understand Your Past
For the 50 Plus Generations a few reflections from one 79 year old Male.
Mens Sana in Corpore Sano. Romans Philosophy. A Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body.
My Intergenerational Perspective comes from the age 79 years, soon to be 80 in November.
A recent Research Study from Bucks County Council Wellbeing Board concluded that the average lifespan of a Man in Buckinghamshire was 80 years 5 months. I am hoping to buck the trend !
To understand where I am coming from......I have identified 3 life phases......so that I can present to you factual evidence from one person.....me. I think that I am typical of the Businessman fraternity up to the age of 51 but I am untypical of people in the 50 Plus Generations. Perhaps after hearing my views, you might agree that more people should follow my example ? You will decide later.
3 Phases of My Life cycle
Personal Research Study
Characteristics - psychographics - lifestyle study. 4500 Campers and Caravanners. Invented the word ZOISTICS - statistical study of Lifestyle characteristics. Greek Zoi...Life..Statistics.
Campers were much more physically active than Caravanners. ( Reference University of Lancaster
R J Williams 1984 ). I wonder if campers live Longer than Caravanners ? Maybe a future research study ?
FOUNDATION YEARS
9 - 21 Phase - Active sports. Rugby, Rowing LSE, Cycling, Swimming, Walking , Educational mental exercise. Vegetables. Steaks. Beer.
12 stone. Friends. Girlfriends. Social life. Sense of achievement.
Goals. Self esteem. Overcoming grief. Father kia RAF Bomber Command
VERDICT - Healthy Lifestyle.
MID LIFE YEARS
22 - 50 Phase - Married, 5 children. MD. Entertaining. Parties. No sport. Lots of food and drinking. Self esteem.. Health concerns. 14.5 stone. Type 2 Diabetes. TIA mini stroke. Death of wife and son -high stress levels. Resilience. Inner strength related to 9-21 experiences. Learnt how to cope with Stress driven by need to perform well in Chief Executive Role and to look after young children. I had to survive.
VERDICT -Unhealthy Lifestyle.
LATTER YEARS
51- 79 Phase. Joined Wycombe 50 Plus Club. Past Chairman. Executive Committee, Chairman User Panel - Wycombe Leisure Centre. Volunteering. Music Composition. Keyboard player.Writer of 103 Articles on Political, Social and Cultural Affairs in Britain Today.
Mental exercise. www.eurekys.blogspot.com Google EUREKYS..
Weight 11.7lbs. Regular active exercise.
VERDICT - Healthy Lifestyle.
EXERCISE REGIME
Profile weekly schedule is -
Monday - 50 Plus 3-4 hours table tennis, short tennis, social interaction.
Tuesday - volunteering at Wycombe Swan
Wednesday - Tennis, social 2 hours
Thursday - Tennis and social 3 hours
Friday - 50 Plus 3-4 hours table tennis, short tennis, social
Saturday - Allotment 2 hours, Volunteering at Wycombe Swan
Sunday - Tennis and Social 3 hours.
PROFILE OF WYCOMBE 50 PLUS CLUB
An excellent example of how to remain Active in later Life.
Current Chair - Maureen Dover. First Lady Chair in 34 years. Excellent Leader.
Wycombe 50 Plus Club
400 Members. 80 on waiting list.
Operate at Wycombe Leisure Centre Handy Cross. New £30 Million Wycombe Leisure Centre opened March 2016 by HRH The Duke of Kent. State of the Art facilities.
Winner 2015 - Pride of Buckinghamshire Award for Healthy Lifestyles. The Club was described as .....A Beacon of Inspiration in the Community.
www.wycombe50plus.org.uk Google for full details. Website created and maintained by Member - Managing Director Penn Computing Services - John Finnemore.
Activities........yoga, tai chi, swimming, muscle strengthening, keep fit classes, Zumba, spinning. Table tennis, badminton,short tennis, short mat bowls, racket ball.
Demand from Over 50 Generations is very strong in Wycombe District,
React games winners -South of England Champions 2015 - all sporting activities against 50 Plus Clubs in South of England - Reading, Woking, Wellimgton, Winchester, Alton amongst others.
Key Activities at 50 Plus - Exercise Classes - Social Events - oversubsctibed most of the time.
Monthly Walks 3-4 miles local. Organised bt 50 Plus Members.
Structure of Management Wycombe 50 Plus 10 Committee Members Volunteers for Duties.
Self funding.No external funding. Places for People sponsorship for sporting polo shirts.
Executive Committee - Strategy and Operations
Social Committee - organising monthly trips.
Gazette bi monthly 8 pages magazine. Free to Members. Created, Maintained. Published and Managed free by Member Sue Fowler.
User Panel - WDC Places for People Plc Users Activities - Ray Williams Chairman. Regular input from Maureen Dover and other 50 Plus Members.
Places for People cooperation. PfP is one of the leading and most successful Leisure Management Companies in the UK. Stuart Lee General Manager Wycombe Leisure Centre and his staff have excellent relations with 50 Plus Club and regular communications and feedback - a key requisite for maintaining a high level of Member satisfaction.
Recent Features -new website, new logo, new motto ( Creating a Healthy Lifestyle ) new poloshirts, PfP sponsorship, Awards. REACT games Champions.
Blueprint for Government Suggested to Minister of Health.
50 Plus Schedule at Wycombe Leisure Centre - list activities.Refer to website for full information.
WEEKLY PROGRAMME
Monday pm
Wednesday am
Friday am
Social programme - list of activities - trips, dinners, quiz, dances, carols at Christmas. Offshoots - dinner parties, holidays, races Ascot and Windsor. Manor House Ashbury hotel complex - sports and artistic activities. 34 people 2016. All enhancing a feeling of Belonging and Wellbeing.
Members Volunteering for -
National Trust
Theatre Ushers
Cancer Research
Red Cross
Hospital support
MY CURRENT LIFESTYLE
Personal Activities
Holidays 6 weeks Spain, plus Devon, Bournemouth, others Australia
Sun. Vitamin D important
Skin Cancer dangers to be avoided
The Indiana University recent research study found that Omega 3 fatty acids in oily fish, vitamin D from sunshine and resveratrol from red wine plays a key role in affecting longevity.
My wife and I spend some 3 months of the year in Spain or Australia and we get plenty of vitamin D
We also eat the Mediterranean Diet when in the sunshine and also regularly at home in the UK.
The Westmead Institute for Medical Research Australia after researching 1,600 adults aged 50 and over found that Eating the right amount of fibre in Bread, cereals and fruits can help us avoid disease and disability in old age.
Food typical Regime - Ray Williams
Breakfast - shredded wheat, porridge, banana, coffee
Lunch - Small salad ham sandwich on brown seeded bread, coffee. Olive oil dressing.
Dinner - various meats plus range of vegetables, yogurt, fruit
1/3 glasses per week red wine these days. No beer.
No smoking. Sopped smoking some 10 years ago.
Regular Sleep pattern - 8/9 hrs per night.
Retire no later than 11.30pm each night.
No coffee after 7pm.
KEY PRESENT HEALTH INDICATORS
Weight 11.7 lbs
Blood Sugar 6.7
Chloresterol 3.2
Average Blood Pressure 125 / 75
Biological Age - 62
Medication has helped in addition to a Healthy Lifestyle regime.
OTHER LEISURE ACTIVITIES OF 50 PLUS MEMBERS
Adventurism - camping, caravanning, mobile homes
Home Life is core - family connections, happy marriage, loss of a partner
Hill walking. Allotments.
KEY FACTORS
Balanced Lifestyle
Social Activity
Self Worth
Believe in yourself
Collective support activities
SUPPORT ACTIVITIES
Do Breathe: Calm your mind. Find focus. Get stuff done. Author Michael Townsend Williams book - Do Breathe - available from Amazon, Foyles, Waterstones and other bookshops.
Do breathe App Called Breathe Sync
50 Plus Club Website
Leisure Centre facilities
Writing articles, Books
Music Composition
Painting Clubs
Uni of the 3rd Age
Bridge Clubs
Tennis Club
Swimming aerobics.
Walking Programmes
National Trust - Social interaction
Manor House Sports Hotel
Ashbury Hotel Golf Sports Hotel
Travel
Hobbies - music. Model Making, Painting, Fishing
Mindfulness - Michael Thownsend Williams - game.
Reading - passive
Food and Drink programmes - Guides to Healthy Living.
Weight Loss Clubs
You cannot get bored in Retirement - it is up to you ! The 50 Plus Generations in an Ageing British Population can play a key role in the Community. There are so many options to play a positive role and to remain healthy.
Preventative Healthcare rather than Remedial Healthcare.
Reduce the demands and costs of NHS.
DEALING WITH ILLNESS
Typical illnesses for 50 Plus
Hip replacement
Knee replacement
Diabetes
High Blood Pressure
Anaemia
Athritis
Tia / Strokes
Skin cancer
High Cholesterol
Smoking problems
Dementia
Depression
Stress
Cancer
As indicated earkier, The Bucks Health and Wellbeing Board in one of their Health Reports stated that Women in Buckinghamshire had a Life Expectancy of 84.0 years and Men had a Life Expectancy of 80.5 years. It should be remembered hat in any statistical sampling there may be errors ranging from +/-3%.....+/-5%.....even +/-10%. depending on the size of the research sample.
Since I am 80 in November, I better enjoy my few months left of my Life on Earth !
However, the good news is that Life Expectancy rates are rising all the time. Wonderful !
In the Wycombe 50 Plus Club, we have many Members who are still active late in their 80s and some in their early 90s, They are a joy to behold and they are very inspirational and alert people.They may suffer from various aches and pains but they have a very positive attitude to life.
We should remember the Romans - The Mind and body functions are interconnected.
I recommend the WOW. Leaflet from Wycombe District Council highlighting Health and Fitness Clubs in High Wycombe - Quite a wide range of activities. Movers and Shakers are one of these Clubs who offer exercise regimes for the 50 Plus Generations.
PROPOSAL TO GOVERNMENT
RJW has written to -
- Minister of Health
- Chief Executive NHS England
- Chief Executive Chilterns NHS
- Chilterns Commissioning via Sue Hyward Agent to Wycombe MP
- Rt.Hon .Steve Baker MP Wycombe
- Chief Executive Public Health England.
RJW Proposal to the Government - Promote 50 Plus Clubs. Use Wycombe 50 Plus as Blueprint. Good example with new £30 Millions Leisure Centre at High Wycombe.
This would be a low cost high impact Promotion including a Video, Literature, Case Study from Wycombe 50 Plus Club, Testimonials emailed and posted to Local Authorities throughout the UK.
Objective - Establish 50 Plus Club like Wycombe. Improve Healthy Lifestyles.
Collective Inertia is a barrier to decisions.
Each one passed the buck.
Public Health England - Chief Executive wants proof statistics There are already a Myriad of statistics in the Public Domain - Exercise is good for you, smoking is bad for you, too much alcohol is bad for you, loneliness can affect your health,
.
REGULAR EXERCISE HELPS CONTAIN THESE ILLNESSES
Health Challenges - 50-90 Generations
Diabetes type 2 Control
Hip replacements Recovery
Knee replacements Recovery
Importance of exercise is Key
High blood pressure ....BNU work ,,,is there a correlation between exercise and lowering high blood pressure.
Loneliness ....50 Plus essential for people contact.
Muscle and joint pain.....exercise does help..... arthritis is better with exercise.
Little and Prevention of Dementia.
Cancer
Stress
CONCLUSIONS
My Conclusions - 11 Key Positive Outcomes of 50 Plus Membership
1- There is a direct health correlation between people who join the 50 Plus Clubs with all the benefits - exercise and social and those who remain static lifestyles. Creating Healthy Lifestyles motto.
2- Table tennis is a proven way of stimulating the brain...recent BBC study programme. Maybe helps prevent dementia or delays dementia.
3- Wycombe 50 Plus has many members still active in their 80s and 90s. Many still play and go on walks.Evidence ?
4- 50 Plus involvement is helpful in bereavement.Welfare Officer Collective support in illness and bereavement.
5- Helps prevent loneliness.Coffee mornings. Social events. Singles catered for not left out.
6- Helps recovery from operations hips knees examples.
7- Improves healthy mind
and attitude. Doers not takers. Volunteering.
8- Lowers weight.
9- Lowers blood pressure BNU study yet to confirm. I believe that it does help to control high blood pressure.
10- Improves energy levels after exercising.
11- Special classes improves circulation and muscle strength.
Theses are my views.
Maybe one day more people will realise the benefits of an active lifestyle. My views may be unscientific but a good pointer.
However, still difficult to escape Ageing Process and hereditary illnesses.. One day perhaps.
Challenge for the Future to everyone interested in Creating Healthy Lifestyles...........
HOW DO YOU MOTIVATE THE 50 PLUS GENERATIONS
TO CREATE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE RATHER THAN AN UNHEALTHY
SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE -
To reduce health problems such as Obesity, Diabetes, Heart Attacks, Strokes, TIAs, Joint Failure, Depression, Loneliness.
ANSWER......Exercise on a regular and enjoyable basis. Socialise on a regular basis. Participate in Volunteering.
HOW ?
Here are some current methods that need to be expanded.
1- Recommendations from friends and family who have achieved health benefits from joining a Club such as Shakers and Movers or Wycombe 50 Plus Club.
2- Offer of Free Trial Sessions from Health Clubs of all kinds
3- Open Day invitations from Active Health Clubs
4- Recovery from operations needing exercise to achieve full recovery and normal physical movement of knees, hips, muscles.
5- Doctor's Recommendation
6- Local Authority Advertising benefits.
7- Government Advertising, a Promotion and Funding.
8- Recommendation from NHS and Private institutions such as BUPA.
9- Direct Promotion from Health Clubs
10- Champions of Healthy Lifestyles - Seminars, Conferences. BNU work and promotion via Press Articles.
11- Government to promote Nationwide network of 50 Plus Clubs
12- Continuation of Research by Universities and NHS into Healthy Lifestyles. Publication via Media. Case Studies.
RECENT RESEARCH
Professor Chenki Wu of Oregon State University recently concluded a Study into Longevity as follows -
It shows Working Longer brings older people a lot of economic and social benefits that could have an impact on the length of their lives.
This Conclusion needs a lot of reservations. It all depends on the type of work involved.
For example -
It is a known fact that Teachers suffer from considerable stress and many leave the Teaching Profession or retire early.
NHS staff suffer from stress if they are asked to work too many hours which gets worse after the age 60.
Workers who have sedentary jobs such as in Banks, Civil Service, Insurance Industries who sit for long hours in front of a Computer Screen, suffer from a variety of illnesses as well as stress.
Business people who suffer the stress of meeting Monthly Sales and Profit targets also suffer from many illnesses and need to retire early.
Workers in Heavy Industries suffer back pains, lung problems and other illnesses. They cannot work beyond 65.
Long Haul Airline Pilots also suffer dangerous stress is they work long hours and work longer.
So, we must take these Research Conclusions carefully.
High durations of Work mean less Leisure Time. I believe that it is the Active Exercise Regimes and Sensible Healthy Food Regimes as indicated earlier in this Article that is the cause of a longer life.
MY PROPOSITION IS AS FOLLOWS -:
1 -People in the 50 Plus Generations need more Leisure Time to take up more Active activities in Sport, Social Affairs and Personal Challenges to lead a Balanced Healthy Lifestyle.
2 - Future Government Monetary Policies should increase Pensions considerably because the
65 Plus Pensioners will spend most of the extra Pension Monies. This is good for the Economy and not a drain.
3 - Using some past Economic Theories as a guide - The Multiplier Effect on the GNP will be maybe 5 or more times the extra rate investment of pension monies provided. This will increase Consumer Demand and Increase the Level of Employment.
4 - Active enjoyable Leisure Time for the older generations is more important than Work to improve Longevity.
5- Any future study of the benefits of Working longer to increase longevity Must take into consideration the negative factors of time taken to travel to and from the Workplace.
Otherwise, I believe that the results of the research can be biased and to be frank, totally misleading.
For example
In all the major Cities in the World - London, New York, Paris, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Sydney - it takes workers on average 3 hours to travel to and from work. each day. This causes lots of stress.
As the pressure mounts for better Sales and Profit results, Managements expect Workers to work overtime - another cause of stress and lack of Family involvement - sometimes leading to friction within a marriage with disastrous emotional and financial consequences.
On Public Transport, such as Underground Transportation, there are large risks of germs and illnesses like colds and influenza.
Working well into latter years is not a good thing for longevity. On the other hand Volunteering locally can be good for Morale, Personal satisfaction and Personal Esteem - all factors that contribute to Healthy Lifestyles - in my view.
The Oregon State University latest research says that there are economic benefits from Working Longer. Yes, for the Government maybe by prolonging Pension Payments to 67, 70 or more.
For the individual, it also means higher travelling costs - on the Train, Underground, Cost of Petrol consumption, Car Insurance Costs, Maintenance expenditure and Stress !
Less Leisure time is bad for Health and Family Life.
MY PERSONAL ADVICE
Love yourself and Know yourself as the Ancient Greeks said - not in a vain, self centred, self flattering way but to appreciate your amazing human body. Look after and cherish your gift of life.
This will make you strong in mind and spirt so that your will overcome stress and achieve a happy Lifestyle.
The Romans did get it right after all.
MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO should be your goal in Life - it does Create a Healthy Lifestyle.
NOTE
For Circulation for academic purposes please Google EURKEYS.
Copyright Raymond Williams
Permission is granted for reprinting in Full or part.
Eurekys in the Registered Trade Mark of the Writings and Music Compositions of
Ray Williams
2016
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