Weather-Wise
July 16, 2023
I was in a state of denial. For too long, I believed that the warnings about weather extremes being harmful for elders didn’t apply to me. Then a couple of weeks ago, I had to find a bench toward the end of my regular 4-mile 9:00 a.m. Monday walk, even though I was drinking water all along. My face was purple. My younger walking partner had no problem.
A week later, the same walk was fine. It’s all about the air quality. But when I had to turn around just moments into a very hot noon-time walk later that week, I could no longer ignore the weather wisdom I had been denying.
There is some good news. I turned to Google and read about the necessity of replacing electrolytes when exercising in the heat. There are lots of choices besides Gatorade—including coconut water, peppermint tea and more. So when a quick Saturday morning walk to the post office was a bit of a challenge, I was prepared with a bottle of peppermint herbal tea.
The cure was instantaneous.
Thank you Judy! I was having the same problems while doing my 3 mile walk. It was kind of scary thinking that “Oh Lord my age finally kicked in” now I will walk with my spearmint tea and hopefully the spearmint will do the same thing because my garden in overridden with spearmint
Carol
Posted by: Carol | July 16, 2023 at 06:39 AM
Judy - I read your article in today's Boston Globe entitled "The ageist in the mirror." I am the host of the podcast Specifically for Seniors (www.specificallyforseniors.com) and would like to invite you to be a guest on the podcast to discuss your article and exchange thoughts on ageism. We have interviewed Ashton Applewhite and Kyrié Carpeter and Ryan Backer of the Old School, and Carl Honoré about ageism on previous shows. Thanks for your consideration - Larry
Posted by: Larry Barsh | July 16, 2023 at 10:40 AM
Dear Judy, I have long admired your stamina and ability to travel anywhere in the world, since I'm about the same age and finding it increasingly uncomfortable. Once again you are sticking to your routines and finding good ways to do them safely...today there will be peppermint tea in my water bottle as I do a brief walk in the hottest place in the US today: Phoenix.
Posted by: jackie Rifkin | July 17, 2023 at 11:14 AM