When I'm 64

One tennis player was complaining about playing tennis while fat. Another was trying to up the ante and complain about playing tennis and getting older.

I looked at both of them and said, “Well, having experience in both camps….” I was broken off by laughter.

Twenty years ago, I decided at age 44, it was time to lose weight. I was already a vegetarian. I decided to follow the South Beach Diet. I had a sabbatical and hired a personal trainer and did extra time at the gym. I played tennis most every day. I had no sugar. I started at about 210 pounds. Through absolute diligence, which I continued even after the sabbatical was over, the weight came off. At my best, I hit 158 pounds.

I remember my tennis pro at the time took a video of my serve so I could analyze it. I remembered two things from the video. One—did I really stick my tongue into my cheek and create a bulge on every serve? Two, did I really lose that much weight? I was determined to never go back.

I noticed several things during the weight loss. I was definitely faster. With the workouts in addition to the cardio, I was also a bit stronger. I would do calf lifts on the machine at the gym and the bodybuilders would do a double take. But I also noticed I hurt more, and that I didn’t hit the tennis ball with as much force as before. Still, I was enjoying the movement.

Before when I’d played tennis, even at over 200 pounds, I could still run down balls. I was in a special drill class with tennis star and Grand Slam champion, Chris Evert once, and her one comment in the two minutes I was cycled on to her court (after I tracked down a drop shot) to me was, “You’re fast.”

I had every suspicion that she wanted to add, “for someone your size” given the tone of astonishment that she infused her one sentence to me.

To be fair, she wasn’t the only one who said that. I actually had gotten it a lot. The weight actually affected my stamina, at least in my mind, more than my speed.

Later, after I had lost the weight, I became aware of what not having certain foods affected me.

Actually, it was some six months or so after I’d lost the weight, that I injured my groin and had to stop everything. Probably from overexerting on the machines too. So, I healed, but the weight came back. And I became even more aware of the effect of foods, because when I stopped the exercise I ate more. I had more time on my hands. And more food. The weight came back. Not all the way, but a lot.

Later, in talking with my tennis club’s Fitness Director, she asked me to think of food as fuel. I’m sure I’d heard that before, or something like it, but it hit home in a new way. Not that I lost weight, but I did begin to think about it differently.

I was diagnosed as diabetic a month or so shy of turning 50. I tried to return to my extreme South Beach type diet. My blood sugar went down, but the weight didn’t. Someone called me a jackrabbit on the court which felt nice.

As I got older the diabetes worsened, this despite having given up ice cream and most sweets. A couple of years ago, when I couldn’t manage the side effects of Trulicity (My 4^th diabetes drug), the endocrinologist decided to try Mounjaro instead.

Far less nausea, and, interestingly, far less appetite. I went down from 190 to 160 pounds in surprisingly short order. I discovered Mounjaro actually liked ice cream. It seemed to abate any side effects by giving the drug something to do.

I ate worse, yet lost weight.

Even when I injured my hamstring two years ago, and had lessen the tennis, I still lost weight. Eventually, I ended up in physical therapy twice (thanks to reinjuring it). The physical therapy exercises did wonders. And at least five guys commented on my calves again. (“Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’ve got great calves.” By the time the third guy said, I responded with “moo” which took two guys a moment to figure out)

Even though I “graduated” from physical therapy, I kept the exercises up. I was now in my 60’s but no longer fat. Now, I am just old by tennis standards.

I remember being in my 30s and 40s and playing guys in their 60’s and thinking, “They’re old. Make them move.” Now I’m that guy. And I’m faster than many of the guys in their 40’s, especially if they were fat like me when I was that age.

Now, I just ache more, though Aleve and CBD cream are my friends. And a Theragun. So is stretching before playing. A hot tub would help but isn’t possible. (One tennis club had one and closed it.)

Where the aching is now varies. It’s usually noticeable but seems to last just a couple of days. My 40-something year old doubles partner doesn’t want me playing every day, but I generally feel better when I do than when I don’t. And a tennis game is usually a 30-point difference in my daily sugar levels (even my non tennis days I get to 20,000 steps. Tennis days are often 22,000-29,000 steps). Generally, I feel pretty good physically.

So as I said to my friends, “Well, having experienced both camps,” and then adding after the chuckles died down, “I have a slight preference for now as opposed to when I was fat. Sure, I’m not getting any younger, and I’ll be 64 on Friday, but in general I feel better despite the aches. I may be faster now.”

One said, “You are quick.”

The other (now number five) said, “You’ve got great calves.” A beat. “Though don’t take that the wrong way.”

I grinned. “I feel grateful to be able to be 64. Not everyone makes it that far. And not every diabetic can play tennis five times a week. I’m really grateful for the Mounjaro which was kind of amazing. I eat worse now and still lost a lot of weight thanks to it.”

Sure, there are times I wish I was still in my 40s. I often say to someone something like “Forty was a great year.” I had a sense of immortality there.

I don’t have that now. I’m just grateful that at 64, people still comment on my calves and complain that I’m fast.

And at 64, there is no wrong way to take most anything. Especially with a little CBD cream and a little help and a little hard work. Plus ice cream.