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🚠55 & UpSides #0021: Video from 1899 NYC | Cheapest vacay spots? | Blood pressure struggles?

Author

Ronnie Mac James
December 20th, 2024

First time reading? Get your free subscription here. This newsletter’s goal is the extinction of information overload for folks like me who are aged 55 & up. Easily unsubscribe below if you got here by some freak interwebs mishap.
 
Morning 55&UpSiders - I found this updated film footage from around 1899 in NYC…
Here’s what I’m covering for you today…
  • Today’s Poll
  • Curated topics affecting us & Good News stories
  • Top 3 Cheapest Vacation Spots For 2025
  • Feature Story: Managing Your Blood Pressure
  • Face The Facts (& do something about ’em)
  • 🍩Reply to this email with “donut” for a chance to win a Dunkin Donuts gift code!
  • Saying of the day is “Barking up the wrong tree” - see how this old saying got started
 
 

Poll: What decade did you start saving for retirement?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

 
 

Curated Countdown

 
🕘  10 Foods To Never Eat On A Cruise (& Why)

🕘  A Video History Of Late Night King Johnny Carson

🕗  Know Your Seinfeld Trivia? 90-Second Trivia

🕖  Video: Best Hacks For Finding Online Coupons

🕕  How Should Married Couples Handle Money?

🕔  7 Biggest Changes To Social Security For 2025

🕓  Mike Rowe’s Mama Talks About Her Husband’s Heart Attack & “Wedgie Kick”

🕒  Audio: Airbnb’s Role In America’s Housing Crisis

🕑  Name That Song Game On Youtube

🕐  Found: 10 Christmas Gifts Teenage Boys Won’t Roll Their Eyes At
 
 

Top 3 Cheapest Vacation Spots For 2025

 
Rank cheapest vacations for 2025
 
See the full list with 17 more cheap vacation locations (I recommend #16 but only during the slow season due to traffic & parking)
 
 

Feature Story

 

Managing Your Blood Pressure

 

The problem is...

  • High blood pressure affects millions of people, especially folks over 55
  • Uncontrolled hypertension can lead to serious health issues like heart disease & stroke
  • Men & women over 60 have similar rates of blood pressure problems
 

5 resources that can help you

 

Roadblocks

  • Confusion about medication regimens & side effects
  • Difficulty changing long-standing dietary habits
  • Lack of motivation to exercise (it can be boring)
  • Stress from daily life interfering with health goals
  • Cost of medications & healthy food
 

Upsides & ways to beat roadblocks

  • Small changes make a big difference in blood pressure control
  • Try meal prepping to make healthy eating easier & more affordable
  • Find an exercise buddy to stay motivated & accountable
  • Practice stress-reduction techniques like meditation or deep breathing
  • Use outdoor games as exercise (it’s more fun!)
 

Takeaways

  • Managing blood pressure is a lifelong deal, not a quick fix
  • Regular check-ups & good communication with your doctor are key
  • Embrace an all-around approach: diet, exercise, stress management, & medication
  • Don't stress about setbacks - every day’s a new chance to improve
  • You're not alone in this battle, so reach out for support when needed

Coming up below: Hiking is for 55+ folks too, & you’ll be surprised at the benefits.
 
 

Face The Facts (then punch ’em in the nose)

Know the facts so you can overcome or take advantage of them.

 
5) Regular hiking significantly reduces hypertension & improves glucose tolerance

4) Hiking reduces feelings of depression & dejection by 31.1%

3) Seventh-day Adventist men live 7.3 years longer than average American men / Adventist women live 4.4 years longer than average American women (taking a 1-day per week rest is likely one reason for this longevity)

2) Adventists show a 30% lower incidence of all cancers combined (Loma Linda University)

1) Ann Arbor ranked first as the most 'livable' city in the US for 2024 (Business Insider)

👊Let’s punch hiking myths for seniors in the nose.

Ways our 55 & up crowd can get the benefits of hiking trails:
  • Start with gentle trails to build endurance & confidence
  • Use trekking poles for extra stability, less joint stress, & better balance
  • Join senior hiking groups for increased safety by hiking with others with similar fitness levels as you
  • Invest in good hiking boots for good support & traction to prevent falls & improve comfort
  • Join guided hikes with experienced guides that put your health & safety first while showing you the best ways to enjoy trails
 
 
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🆓Contest: Reply to this email with “donut” for a chance to win a Dunkin Donuts gift code!🍩

The upside’s always worth looking for,
Ronnie Mac James
Ronnie Mac James

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