From “Retiring” To “Rewiring”

In an interview with The Real Story, Dan O’Brien, President of Shea Homes’ Trilogy communities in Northern California talks about how the Boomer generation is changing the way that “active adult” living is defined—and how the home is just part of the equation.

The Boomer moving out of the family home and into active adult living is turning the conception of “senior housing” on its ear. For one thing, says Dan, only 10 percent of the residents of his Trilogy at the Vineyards community in Brentwood are actually retired. About 50 percent of the residents are still working in their careers; another 40 percent are starting new businesses, pursuing different career or interest paths. “These Boomers are not retiring”, says Dan. “They’re rewiring.”

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Coming to Shea Trilogy from a career in homebuilding and active adult community development with Del Webb, Dan says that Shea has had to throw away old conceptions about product and lifestyle and create a series of new paths that involve exploration, including self-improvement, connection, and wellness and well-being. Sounds like a far cry from shuffleboard.

The sheer number of Boomers definitely has the number power to affect lifestyle exponentially. To follow Dan O’Brien’s dialogue about how Boomers are changing the way “active adult” living is defined, visit TrilogyLifeBlog.com.

Metabolic Syndrome in Active Adults

Active Adult Living

Over the past few decades there has been an increase in a condition called metabolic syndrome, which is considered to be a pre-cursor to non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

Nearly half of adults forty and over have a disturbance in blood sugar metabolism, putting them at increased risk for developing diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. What is even scarier is that beyond diet and exercise, the traditional medical world currently has very little to offer to help battle this manifestation.

According to the American Heart Association, you are considered to have metabolic syndrome if you exhibit three of the following: hypertension, elevated fasting glucose, a large waist circumference, low HDL, and/or elevated triglycerides. It is very possible that you have this condition and no one has ever mentioned it to you. It is usually first detected with an elevated fasting blood sugar result on your yearly lab-work. A fasting glucose above 100 but below 121 signifies that you probably have metabolic syndrome. Levels over 121 are diagnostic for having diabetes. See below for more details on the diagnostic criteria for Metabolic Syndrome.

Active Adult Lifestyle

Diagnostic Criteria for Metabolic Syndrome

Having three of the following is considered Metabolic Syndrome.

• Blood Pressure: Equal to or higher than 130/85 mmhg
• Fasting Blood Sugar: (Glucose) equal to or higher than 100 mg/dl
• Large Waist Circumference: (Distance around the waist) of 40 inches or more for men, and 35 inches or more for women
• Low HDL Cholesterol: Under 40 mg/dl for men, and under 50 mg/dl for women
• Triglycerides: Equal to or higher than 150 mg/dl

Metabolic syndrome, like diabetes (NIDDM, formerly type II or adult-onset), occurs as cells begin to become insulin resistant. This resistance can increase with age, due to lack of exercise, excess sugar consumption, and especially for those with a genetic predisposition.

Luckily, in addition to proper nutrition and exercise, nature can be helpful in effectively balancing blood sugar and lowering risks. Nature can help one decrease blood sugar levels, as well as lose weight.

Nutrients including chromium and vanadium can help make insulin receptors more sensitive.

Herbs including Gymnema, Fenugreek, and bitter melon have been shown to stabilize blood sugar levels as well. In addition, one of the most effective herbs is cinnamon.

Prior to taking nutrients and herbs, discuss with your primary care, integrative, or naturopathic physician.

For a more in-depth article on Metabolic Syndrome view Amy Whittington, NMD’s article in Trilogy Life Magazine.

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Maintain Your Active Adult Lifestyle With Good Vascular Health

Baby boomers who want to have an active adult lifestyle need to understand how to maintain a healthy vascular system as they become seniors. The number of vascular disease cases is expected to rise dramatically as 87 million people are expected to be 55 and older by 2015. Vascular disease typically affects those in their senior years.

The vascular system is made up of arteries and veins that carry oxygen-rich blood throughout the body to vital organs, the brain, and legs. As aging occurs, arteries tend to thicken with a build-up of plaque and cholesterol, get stiffer, and narrow. When blood flow is restricted, vascular diseases can lead to stroke; peripheral arterial disease can lead to problems walking and in the most advanced cases, foot ulcers, gangrene and possible amputation; and abdominal aortic aneurysm can result in death if not treated early.

Active Adult Living

Know what you can do to protect your vascular health!

The following five practices can have a very positive impact on your vascular health:

1. Stop smoking

2. Eat a healthy, low fat diet

3. Maintain good cholesterol levels

4. Take care of your blood pressure to keep it in a normal range

5. Exercise regularly -- even a moderate walking program can be effective

Active Adult Communities

People aged 55 and older should talk with their primary care physician about their vascular and overall health. The good news is that vascular disease can be controlled if diagnosed and treated early.

Golf Retirement Communities a Big Hit with Boomers

Retirement Golf Communities

According to baby-boomers-life.com, retirement community living is a popular option among baby boomers.

Many senior golf retirement communities offer a country club resort lifestyle at a very affordable price. Baby Boomers coming to age 55 are eligible to join one of these active retirement communities - one of the perks of this generation along with a few gray hairs and accumulated wisdom!

Retirement communities range from extremely luxurious to quite modest, so there are many choices. Of course there can be changes in latitudes and changes in attitudes as well. Depending on the location, a retirement living community offers a world of recreation activities including golf, tennis, swimming, boating, skiing, cycling, kayaking, spa treatments, educational opportunities, and a wonderful social life.

Active Adult Living

If the idea of driving your golf cart down the street to hit a few balls at the range sounds appealing, then a golf retirement community might be in your future!

To view, or even plan a “test drive” stay, at a retirement community that offers golf course style retirement living, visit www.TrilogyLife.com.

Trilogy retirement communities offer active adult lifestyles for baby boomers on the move!

Active Adults Can Reduce Risk of Injury From Exercising

Active Adult Living

If 40 is the new 30, and 50 is the new 40, and 60 is the new 50, that leaves even more opportunity for baby boomers to live their fit, active best!

After all, the baby-booming 42- to 60-age group is accustomed to leading active adult lifestyles, and they’re not going to let 10 years here or there stand in the way.

Unfortunately, the increases in activity and exercise are being accompanied by increases in injuries. Not good, and for the most part, avoidable.

It’s a fact that as we age, our reaction time increases, our joints become less lubricated, and our muscles and tendons become less elastic. But, baby boomers can reduce their risk of injury associated with such factors, by ...

Taking Care To Warm-up & Stretch

Cardio and resistance workouts should always begin with a 10 to 15 minute warm-up. You can warm-up with various activities — marching, walking, jogging, swimming — the key is to simply move at a low-level of intensity and with smaller range of motion movement. Once you feel your body temperature rising and your muscles becoming warmer, it’s safe to begin stretching. Perform static, non-bouncy stretches, for all your major muscles and you’ll have better prepare your body for whatever cardio or resistance training activity you choose.

Exercising Regularly, Moderately & Consistently

Weekend warrior exercising or on-again-off-again exercising can be really hard on the body. The greatest benefits come from consistent exercise. You will build your endurance and lessen your risk of injury by exercising regularly, at moderate levels of intensity that are mindful of the fact that Rome truly was not built in a day. If your goal is to experience greater weight loss, or an improved fitness level, you can always increase you’re the duration, intensity or frequency of your workouts. Just do so gradually, and never by more than 10 percent each week.

Active Adult Communities

Using The Right Equipment

Whether you’re walking, jogging, or riding a bike, make sure your shoes and equipment are those best suited for your activity and body type. Proactively selecting the best and safest equipment can save you the pain and aggravation of a sidelining injury.

Cross-training/ Balanced Approach To Exercise

Try a balanced variety of workouts. Cardio, resistance, and stretching routines each serve a unique purpose. You will achieve the greatest degree of balanced fitness when you get a bit of all three.

As a rule, stretching should be part of every workout. Cardio activities — 30 minutes, three to five days a week — and resistance training to hit all major muscles groups twice a week on non-consecutive days.

Start With A Visit To Your Doctor

Discuss your fitness plans and get a good once over from your physician before beginning your exercise program. Try to find a doctor who actually exercises and who — from experience — can guide and motivate you toward your desire to live a healthy, active adult lifestyle.

Post contributed by Eugenie Jones, M.B.A., ACE. Eugenia is a workplace performance and lifestyle training expert and can be contacted at eugeniek@comcast.net.

Active Adults Improve Overall Fitness Through Strength Training

Active Adult Living

As reported by RetirementHomes.com, people of all ages and fitness levels, particularly women between the ages of 65 and 75, may benefit from strength training, according to the New York Times.

A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine asked 155 women who were active adults to break into two groups. One team did strength training exercises on a weekly basis, and the other did toning exercises.

After a year, the researchers found that those who were in the weight-lifting group improved their overall fitness levels by between 10.9 and 12.6 percent, while individuals in the toning group actually experienced a 0.5 percent decline, according to the news source.

In light of these findings, active adults might consider incorporating strength training into their daily routines as part of a healthy active adult lifestyle.

The Mayo Clinic reports that strength training on a regular basis will help preserve muscle mass and bone density, help maintain a healthy body weight and could even reduce a person's risk of insomnia.

Many active adult communities today incorporate amenities that support active adult lifestyles such as gyms, yoga and other exercise classes, golf courses, pools, etc.

Visit www.TrilogyLife.com and learn more about Active Adult Communities.

Healthy, Super Foods to Cook in Your New Home

Active Adult Living

There are several foods that have such truly powerful effects on our health and longevity that perhaps they deserve to wear monogrammed capes. These multi-tasking foods provide multiple disease-fighting nutrients, satisfy our appetites without excess calories, and are easy to include in our daily menu. Incorporating a variety of these super foods into a balanced diet is a simple and delicious way to be proactive about your health.

• Eggs - a delicious and nutritious way to fill up on quality protein, as well as 12 vitamins and minerals, such as choline, which is good for brain development and memory.
• Nuts - an excellent source of protein, heart-healthy fats, high fiber, and antioxidants. With so much goodness in such a small package, they make a satisfying, super-food snack.
• Quinoa - one of the healthiest whole grains on the market. High in protein (8 grams in 1 cup cooked), fiber (5 grams per cup), and a naturally good source of iron, Quinoa is as delicious as it is nutritious.
• Edamame (or whole soy beans) - a satisfying source of insoluble fiber, which helps lower cholesterol, and soluble fiber, which fills you up and helps rid your body of waste. They're also a low-fat source of protein, carbohydrates, magnesium, potassium, and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
• Low fat or fat-free plain yogurt - higher in calcium than many other dairy products and contains healthy doses of protein and potassium. It can also be enriched with probiotics to aid with digestion.
• Salmon - a super food because of its omega-3 fatty acid content, which helps to protect heart health. Salmon is low in calories (200 for 3 ounces) has lots of protein, is a good source of iron, and is very low in saturated fat.
• Broccoli - a rich source of vitamin A, vitamin C, and bone-building vitamin K, and it has plenty of fiber to fill you up and help control your weight.
• Sweet potatoes - a member of the dark orange vegetable family are packed with vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and potassium.

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For delicious recipes that use the above Super Foods view Celine Todd's article in Trilogy Life Magazine.