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Anyone else have a muscle wasting disease?

I'm 5'7 and my BMI is very good. I'm 67 and have lung disease. I do cardio 5 or more times a week. This maintains my weight with clean eating. I try to lift weights but I get fatigued. My legs are very strong but upper body namely my arms have lost their tone. I feel it's a combination of post menapause, getting older and told my lung disease will cause problems with upper body strength and wasting of muscle. I do the exercise as it helps me to breathe better & the more I do the better I feel. I would like to improve my arms as so far it is my area of distress. I would like to still go sleeveless. I drink lots of water and do moisturizer skin. I know that helps but looking for ways to gain strength & look better at the same time. Maybe I'm a dreamer. I was always physically very strong and I loved that and appreciate that time and do the best I can each day to try to maintain strength but looking for new ways to make gains without being exhausted if that's possible.
One thing that has really helped is as you get older your eyes usually get weaker. I've learned to back up from the mirror some and appreciate the better parts of me! All kidding aside I've tried bands and I get breathless and fatigued easily doing that kind of work. Then I've heard some say to use light weights and more reps but that doesn't seem to do it for me? Any suggestions welcomed. I know I've been blessed & not wanting to complain but to improve. I have found that if I do the best I can each day I feel great mentally, physically better and spiritually uplifted and then sleep like a baby. I know how very lucky I am.
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Avatar universal
I feel you! I'm in the same boat. I lost so much muscle mass in a short period of time after being thrown into surgical menopause. Hate the saggy thighs and flabby arms / wings despite nicely defined biceps. I think I'd have to get too serious and disciplined with weight lifting to make much difference. Not sure it's worth that much work lol! I could probably stand to eat more protein which may help.

I hear ya on the eyesight! I refuse to get a 10x magnification mirror... too scary!

Oh well, it's all better than the alternative.
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Now why is this not made known to us in a more pronounced way? Anything we can do to prevent it?
973741 tn?1342342773
I am in the throes of perimenopause and boy, they are not lying.   This is NOT fun.   Muscle wasting disease though?  Oh boy.  Can't wait.  I have been told by my doctor to keep exercising a I get older and to be sure to add some weight lifting to it.  My husband is kind of mid life crisis like right now and started lifting weights for the first time our whole long marriage and bike riding.  He's lost like 20 pounds and gotten all buff with muscles.  WHY can't women do this? Grrrr.  So not fair.

Anyway, sarcopenia is the technical term for losing muscle as we age.  https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/guide/sarcopenia-with-aging  The normal treatment to combat that IS exercise which you are doing a lot of (GO YOU!!!  I'm impressed!).  I have noticed, frankly, myself and my friends are having flabbier arms.  I no longer like myself sleeveless.  I need to lift more but have always exercised in some capacity.  Need to lose about 10 to 15 pounds but always exercise (my issue is eating too much).  I LOVE the eye sight perspective.  You are right . . .  my eyes are a lot worse than they used to be and some things on my body are better left blurry!  I also am a fan of dim lights.  :>)))  But it's sad as we take care of ourselves to then have simply aging get the best of us.

Have you had your hormones checked?  Perhaps you are deficient in something?  I think I'd get your sugar checked too.  Insulin problems can be related to muscle wasting.  

I just read that yes, loss of estrogen during menopause leads to muscle loss.  Dang.  I really didn't think about that and what is coming.  I am not sure how you feel about supplementation.  I worry about breast cancer.  

You sound like you are doing really well though.  This getting older stuff is for the birds!
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