Thanksgiving Newsletter

I turned sixty the other day. I’m okay with it. I feel better than I did at fifty. I’m more flexible, fitter and more content. As to where it goes from here…Who knows! Now admittedly, the health bar was pretty low for me at fifty. I doubt I’ll be more fit ten years from now than I am today. But I sure will try. I’m realistic that my fitness compared to previous years will begin to wane. And, with less youthful resilience, more (perceived) physical effort will be needed in the gym, and more diligence in the kitchen to approximate the same level of fitness and health.  Sustaining now requires intentionality and discipline. I always say the warranty on the body runs out at fifty…I don’t think the owner’s manual covers much past sixty! That's where SecondFifty fits in – striving to provide reliable, age-appropriate resources for a healthy and happy second half of life. Fortunately, there's more and better research available every day. Okay, enough about birthdays and chronological age! Hips and Back ChallengeLots of positive feedback from readers about Lucas Rockwood’s Hip Opening Challenge. Lori and I just finished the 21 days, and we definitely feel the difference. You won’t find a better way to regain and maintain flexibility/mobility in fifteen minutes a day than this program. And remember, hip challenge alums, you need to keep going every day even though the guided program has ended! If you missed this challenge and are interested in improving your mobility, Lucas is teaching a healthy back series in January. Here's the link to the schedule. Reminder, I get zero remuneration for any recommendation or link on this website. If I recommend something, it's because I find it of value, not because I get paid. Ski preparationIf you're planning to ski this winter, here's an excellent 30-minute ski prep workout by the folks at FitnessBlender. It's free and easily accessed through this link. I came across this workout several years ago, and it has become a staple for me this time of year. The sequence of exercises prepares your legs, knees and core for the slopes. It builds endurance and balance in a no-nonsense format and doesn't require any equipment. It's challenging! New research on knees – use it or lose itSpeaking of knees…Most of us deal with knee pain at one time or another. Conventional wisdom suggests avoiding activities that stress the knee, especially as we age, but this leads to reduced movement, starving the cartilage in the joint of needed nourishment.According to the New York Times article, How to Save Your Knees Without Giving Up Your Workout, “a lot of people think that osteoarthritis is just a normal consequence of aging, right? It’s not inevitable. There’s a lot you can control.” It turns out we’re better off adjusting than abstaining.Of course, the best way to avoid injury in the first place is to prepare joints for a new movement or activity – back to the ski prep workout above!

My new go-to hand moisturizerDon't neglect your hands in the dry winter weather! COVID hand washing takes a toll on the skin. You need a quality cream to moisturize. I'm a big fan of O'keefe's Working Hands Cream. They make one formulation for nighttime and another for day use. Both are unscented and not at all oily.  O'keefe's is reasonably priced and really works! You only use a tiny amount for each application. Stocking stuffer?

Dry January, anyone?The next newsletter will feature non-alcoholic beers for those of you considering a New Year’s Resolution incorporating a period of abstinence from booze… I've been testing dozens of NA beers this past year, and I'll share the handful of craft brews that actually taste good enough to replace a regular beer.

Stay Strong. Age Well.

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Who sent this letter:

I'm George Harrop, founder of

SecondFifty.Blog

—an online resource for people who want to prioritize their health and wellbeing by taking a common-sense approach to nutrition and fitness. Many modern middle-aged people have spent the previous decades building careers and raising families. 

Now we're committed to getting and staying fit during the second half of our lives. We're on a mission to age with more agility and ease! Join us →