Active Boomers and Wicked Boomerpreneurs

Active Boomers or Baby Boomers are usually considered as those born in the post world war two period (1946-1964). The dates are somewhat elastic, so having been born in 1941 I consider myself an early baby boomer.

Having been there and done it, I am now focused on helping Boomers as they transition into "retirement", or even better into their Zoomer Years.

WickedBoomerPreneurs is dedicated to making your life full, fulfilling and rewarding.

One interesting take on that is Advanced Style, a fascinating film focused on women but with tons of lessons for men.

Advanced Style is Ari Seth Cohen’s blog-based ode to the confidence, beauty, and fashion that can only be achieved through the experience of a life lived glamorously. It is a collection of street fashion unlike any seen before—focused on the over-60 set in the world’s most stylish locales. The (mostly) ladies of Advanced Style are enjoying their later years with grace and panache, marching to the beat of their own drummer. These timeless images and words of wisdom provide fashion inspiration for all ages and prove that age is nothing but a state of mind.

Ari Seth Cohen started his blog, Advanced Style, inspired by his own grandmother’s unique personal style and his lifelong interest in the put-together fashion of vibrant seniors. Each of his subjects sparkles like a diamond after long years spent refining and perfecting their individual look and approach to life.

You can see a four minute preview in a new window here.

FREE Evidence-based Newsletter on Health and Wellness

I have followed current research in medical journals and other sources for 15 years and I bring this information to those interested in being aware of the newest evidence-based information on health and wellness. I cover much, much more than vitamins. You will see current research on nutrition, lifestyle, exercise, GMO foods and many other topics.

This e-zine, or FREE Newsletter is useful to all generations. It is particularly useful to Boomers as they get ready to transition to their Zoomer Years. It's never too late and it's never too soon to focus on your health and wellness.

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This is, as I mentioned, a FREE Newsletter and I know that you will get lots of useful information that will help you with your own health and wellness.

Residual Income as Zoomers - The BoomerPreneur

We have been described as the healthiest and wealthiest generation of all time. But not everyone has hit a financial home run. And that's one place where WickedBoomerPreneurs can help.

If you live in Canada and watch the Lang and O’Leary Exchange on CBC Newsworld, you will have seen the comment by Kevin O’Leary to “try a little life without cash Amanda", to which she replies “try cash without life dude".

If money is an issue for you, whether you simply want some, or you want a lot more – check out this page on residual income (opens new window).

But the main point of this page is to look at preserving the health and well-being that gives you the life to which Ms. Lang is referring.

Boomers are aging and this is one boomer who is determined to carry health and well-being for as long as humanly possible. I’m also determined to give other boomers the information that can help them do this for themselves. Becoming Active Boomers is critical.

Here I am as a 53 year old grandfather. Overweight, fatigued, suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder. While I ate well, rode a bike, walked, hiked and sailed it was clear that something was missing. A friend introduced me to very high quality vitamin and mineral supplements. Those combined with a more structured regime centered on weight bearing and aerobic exercise created a new world for me. Here I am, an Active Boomer enjoying boomer health at 57.

You can see a description of the exercises I use by clicking here (opens in new window).

Boomers Final Years at Risk of Pain and Suffering

Boomers in Canada:
In its 2013 Report on the Health of Canadians, the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation had similar findings to those in the USA (below)regarding the health behaviors of baby boomers. The vast majority (85%) don't consume enough fruits and vegetables (crucial components of a longevity diet), with about a fifth consuming far too much sodium, putting them at risk of high blood pressure. More than 40% report being active less than the recommended 30-60 minutes at least three times per week, and almost 30% said they are "often or always" stressed. In addition, 12% report being heavy drinkers, and 21% still smoke. The Heart and Stroke Foundation poll was conducted online by Leger Marketing among 800 Canadian baby boomers (born between 1947 and 1966) in November 2012. A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of +/- 3.5%, 19 times out of 20.

You can check your health level at www.CheckYourHealthLevel.com

In this new window click on True Health Assessment (just above the videos) for a 15 minute assessment of your health level and recommendations on how to improve it - to move it up a level or two.

Boomers in the United States: In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Internal Medicine), the health status of baby boomers was compared with that of the previous generation. Drawing on data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey ( NANES (opens in new window) ), the researchers analyzed statistics from 1988-1994 for the previous generation (average age 54.5 years), and from 2007-2010 for baby boomers (average age 54.1).

Overall health status was lower among boomers, with only 13% reporting to be in "excellent" health, vs. 32% in their parents' generation. Since the NHANES survey involves both interviews and physical examinations, the researchers were able to compare objective measures, as well. The baby boomers had higher levels of obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes than those of the previous generation. Health behaviors are suffering, too: more than half (52%) of boomers said they get no regular physical activity, compared with 17 per cent of the older generation at the same age. Moderate drinking — a risk factor for cancer and heart disease in both men and women — was higher in the boomer group of subjects. There was no significant difference in cancer incidence.

Everyone has heard of yo-yo dieting – the type of dieting where your weight goes up and down, up and down, up and down... When you diet and lose weight, you lose muscle and fat. When you go off the diet you regain the fat but the muscle is gone and without the proper exercise it will never come back. Muscle burns energy (fat). Now your body with less muscle is launched into the yo-yo process. It’s simple but potentially deadly and definitely life shortening. Here I am at 70. It works.

For more on weight loss and weight management click here (opens in new window).

One way to remain healthy is to engage in Active Travel. A lot of Active Boomers do this. Here's one example in the Rocky Mountains in Canada. At age 71 my wife and I climbed on Mount Edith Cavell to get a good look at Angel Glacier. Our elevation gain that day was over 1.5 kilometers. That's gain of 1.5 kilometers followed by a descent of 1.5 kilometers. To do this we covered over 25 kilometers along the trails. We continually passed males and females one-quarter to half our age.

We call this Active Travel because it includes physical activity greater than walking from your cabin on a cruise ship to the midnight buffet and back. Or between your car and your house; or from the elevator to your office ...well you get the picture.

You can discover our active travel by clicking here (opens in new window).

A less vigorous form of exercise is walking in a mall before it opens. It is dry, temperature controlled and safe. Many malls provide such a service. You can google your own local malls to see if they offer this service. Here is a listing of Hearts In Motion Clubs that use malls in British Columbia.

You can find other Active Sports for Active Boomers by clicking here (opens in new window).

Intellectual Activity is also very important for Baby Boomers.

Look for a Philosophers' Cafe in your area. These are usually informal gatherings with an animator who leads a discussion on a prearranged topic. Typically some suggested readings will have been circulated beforehand. This is a great way to spend a few hours on focused reading and then come together in a non-threatening environment to further stimulate your brain cells. Don't let the word philosopher frighten you - they're just humans like you.

Film Societies are another option. Some focus on social justice flims which typically lead to lots of discussion on the issue covered.

Book Clubs attract many people and they can be a very good alternative for those who like to read regularly. Different clubs will focus on different types of books: non-fiction and fiction being the two largest divisions. Within these two there are multiple sub-divisions. So look around a bit to find something that turns your crank.

Throw away your remote. Your TV remote is keeping you parked in your chair - sedentary - and your mind in neutral. Think of the 1976 film Network and its famous line "I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore". Create a new intellectual life for yourself. If you're too young to know that film, or too old to remember it ... click here for a 6 minute cut in a new window. Yes it is a bit dated, and the film is a satire. But if it gets you out of your chair, that's great.

And if you think about it for a minute - there are actually lots of boomers who don't have enough income to retire comfortably. And at the other end of the workforce there are lots of Millenials (also known as GenY) who have huge student debts and no jobs or McJobs. So this film and those famous words are going to be highly relevant to them. For all we boomers who want to break our unhealthy habits these words are also relevant. So let's not take it anymore.

So join Active Boomers and enjoy life.

Being informed is also very important. Subscribing to my FREE Newsletter will help you.