OK - lets see if you can do these three with total ease…
1. Walking up and down stairs without losing your breath.
Walking up a flight of stairs might seem trivial—until it’s not. One day, you’re bounding up two steps at a time; the next, you’re clinging to the handrail and wheezing. If you’re in your 70s and can still navigate stairs without turning beet-red, that’s something to be proud of. I often think back to my own grandmother who, well into her 80s, insisted on using the stairs instead of the elevator in her apartment building. She said it was her “free daily workout.” A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society also noted that older adults who regularly climb stairs tend to maintain better cardiovascular health. That makes sense: climbing stairs engages not just your legs but also your heart and lungs. So the next time you take those steps two at a time—or even at a calm, steady pace—remember that it’s a sign your ticker and your legs are still going strong.
2. Carrying groceries without straining.
Picture this scenario: you’ve just done your weekly food shop (maybe you even popped in some treats for the grandkids), and now you’re lugging your grocery bags to the car. If you can manage that weight without feeling like your arms are about to fall off, it’s a solid indicator of good upper-body strength. When my wife and I do our shopping, I’ll often see folks half my age struggling with their grocery bags. Meanwhile, some older shoppers breeze right past them, milk jugs in hand, chatting away without missing a beat. As Winston Churchill famously said, “Kites rise highest against the wind—not with it.” While he might not have been referring to carrying groceries, I can’t help but feel his words resonate here: a bit of challenge keeps you strong. Strength in your arms, shoulders, and core is crucial for a quality life. After all, we need these muscles to handle everyday activities—from opening jars to giving our grandkids that big, hearty hug.
3. Bending down to pick things up with ease.
Let’s be honest: one of the first signs of aging we tend to notice is how creaky our backs and knees can get. If you’re over 70 and can still bend down to tie your shoes or pick up a stray sock on the floor without wincing, that’s a triumph. I can’t count how many times I’ve been in the park with my grandchildren and my dog, Lottie, and I’ve had to crouch down to tie their shoelaces or fetch a toy. If it feels relatively simple—no pun intended—it’s because your joints and muscles are doing what they’re meant to do. Sometimes, I’ll offer a quick stretch routine to friends who complain about stiff knees. I remind them: if you can regularly bend, squat, and stand, you’re preserving flexibility and strength in your hips, glutes, and lower back. After all, the body is like a well-built machine; use it or lose it. When you frequently practice bending or crouching, you’re sending a signal to your muscles that they’re still needed and they better stay active.