What should my reward be if I get in shape?

[cronewitch]

I am dieting to control weight and diabetes and blood pressure and have a long way to go and need exercise. I think if I get in good shape I deserve a reward. I was looking at Safari on line, you can see lions and meercats and things and a waterfall named Victoria Falls but it would be lots of walking and kayaking and I am too old and fat for that. You don't need guns the guides have guns and the wildlife is not really going to attack tourist and if they did the guides would probably shoot them. I could bring a camera but I don't have anyone to go with. So I looked up travel clubs and we have one that does 12 trips a year different places so I could go see camels or something. I need to lose a lot of weight first and buy a passport and new clothes.

So where in the world should a old woman go alone that would be pretty safe but interesting. Should I go alone or with a group of people? Do I need guides to make sure lions don't eat me? Should i invite family to go with even if I have to pay for everyone?

How do I know when I have earned a trip? I am thinking age 70 deadline and losing 100lbs gives me three years, is that too old to go alone?

[busymom]

First of all, congratulations on working to make yourself even better!

I'd be happy just getting a new wardrobe.  As far as traveling alone, if you're going overseas I'd definitely be with a tour group.  If you prefer to do things alone, & plan your own days, I like Hawaii!    Your body will tell you when you're "too old" to travel (at least, that's what my parents told me).    If you feel good, go ahead & see the world!

[milee]

You are not too old to go on Safari and you should definitely go.

Depending on what/where you go, it's actually not that physical because you're inside a vehicle for safety's sake.  Most of the safaris in Tanzania (awesome - highly recommend) and Nigeria (dangerous, would not go right now) in the national parks are conducted inside Land Rovers so there's no walking at all. 

When I hiked Kilimanjaro and then stayed for a small safari, I didn't go with a group and didn't take my husband or kids.  Met up with one friend who hiked with me, but then didn't stay for the safari.  It was all fantastic and I loved it.  You definitely do not need to go with a group, especially if you're going with a guide in the parks.

Tell us more about what you want to see/do and we can offer suggestions or point you to resources. 

[Lizard Queen]

I think you need more than 1 trip.  For 100 lbs. total, I'd split it up:  First 30 lbs lost, 1 trip, another 25 lbs., another trip, then another after 20, 15 and 10.

[cronewitch]

My brother that lives in Mexico said I should lose weight before visiting him. They have lots of ruins that take lots of walking, so it is a hard vacation so I could go visit him if I had new smaller clothing and good walking shoes. He is older than me so it can't be too hard.

[Cookies Galore]

Ooh, I'd love to see Victoria Falls! Friends of ours went to Rwanda and Tanzania in October and they had an amazing time.

[billisonboard]

I wonder if process might be the thing to do.  Don't decide now what you will do when you get in shape. As you lose weight and gain muscle tone, continue to explore options. Develop a plan to build a fund as you go along to finance this reward. I bet there would come a time when you find the perfect match between trip, conditioning, and money. 

[Deleted]

A fireman!

Oh wait, I guess the question had more direction than that

You could join a trip so you are part of a small group if you like. We have friends who take photo shoot trips all over including Africa. They teach photography to the group and show you around. Something like that?

[Deleted]

You could also set smaller, as Billis (and fliz) said 'process ' goals... Shorter trips, or buy a camera, stuff like that...

[gooddecisions]

If it were me, I wouldn't wait 3 years or until 70. I would get my body in shape for that goal and then go when I felt up for the challenge. Health is a funny thing and you never know when it might turn on you. As you age, you start having more fears, like would I want to be in a foreign country if my health was not reliable.

[tskeeter]

Feb 4, 2015 8:18:51 GMT -5 cronewitch said:

I am dieting to control weight and diabetes and blood pressure and have a long way to go and need exercise. I think if I get in good shape I deserve a reward. I was looking at Safari on line, you can see lions and meercats and things and a waterfall named Victoria Falls but it would be lots of walking and kayaking and I am too old and fat for that. You don't need guns the guides have guns and the wildlife is not really going to attack tourist and if they did the guides would probably shoot them. I could bring a camera but I don't have anyone to go with. So I looked up travel clubs and we have one that does 12 trips a year different places so I could go see camels or something. I need to lose a lot of weight first and buy a passport and new clothes.

So where in the world should a old woman go alone that would be pretty safe but interesting. Should I go alone or with a group of people? Do I need guides to make sure lions don't eat me? Should i invite family to go with even if I have to pay for everyone?

How do I know when I have earned a trip? I am thinking age 70 deadline and losing 100lbs gives me three years, is that too old to go alone?

Is 70 too old to travel alone?  Heck no.  But it is more fun to travel with someone else.  So plan on connecting with a travel buddy on whatever trip you're on.  My uncle used to do this.  Where ever he was in the world, he'd strike up a conversation with other folks who appeared to be tourists.  If their travel plans coincided, he'd invite them to join him on whatever adventure he wa planning for the next few days.  So, if he was watching the Tour de France, he'd put together a small group to travel from race location to race location.  He'd done the planning, so it made it easy for others to tag along.  And he got some company and met lots of fun people.

You're never too old to travel.  You just do it more slowly than you once did.  DW's 83 year old aunt accompanied us on a trip to Normandy and Paris.  She's an old woman, but she could wear me out.  One of the pictures I love from that trip is Aunt Mary striding down a Paris sidewalk, a fierce and formidable look on her face.  One look and you're sure that she's going to be live to be at least 100.  Aunt Mary regularly travels solo from her home in Florida to her children's homes in Seattle, the northeast, and the midwest.  And there are no indications that Aunt Mary is going to slow down any time soon.

One of the groups that Aunt Mary liked to travel with was what used to be Elderhostel.  Don't know what name they go by these days, but if you search on Elderhostel, I bet you'll find them.  These trips are older folks.  I think minimum age is 50, unless you're traveling with someone who meets the age requirements.  Tours are meant to be educational, so I think there are lectures by appropriate experts to help you better understand the sites you see.  To me, that sounds like a great way to travel.  Active folks who have some life experience to make them really interesting to spend time with.      

[Deleted]

I say small reward every 20 pounds because that is big deal alone. Weekend in Portland or SanFrancisco for the smaller treats. If Safari is interesting, you can go closer for wildlife like Yellowstone National Park. Lots of encounters with animals and great scenery and fishing.

I remember reading about Giraffe Manor. Maybe enough to go to hotel and pet giraffes through window?
www.thesafaricollection.com/properties/giraffe-manor

[Happy prose]

Congratulations and stick to your goals. Tomorrow is a reward in itself. I think you'll be amazed at what you are capable of doing once you're 100 lbs lighter. You're going to feel 20 yrs younger!

[msventoux]

Congratulations on meeting your goals.  An acquaintance went on a "glamping" safari last year.  Their accommodations were gorgeous and they were driven everywhere, so there was no hiking.  I'm sure it was expensive, but it was a once in a lifetime experience for them.  They had a blast and came back with some great stories and gorgeous photographs that they took.

I would imagine you can go pretty much wherever you want to go.  Cruise to Antartica?  Tour Ireland and Scotland?  Jet boat excursions in New Zealand?  I know a retired schoolteacher who has done all of the above and generally takes a grandkid with her or joins up with a tour group geared towards seniors. 

[sapphire12]

Good luck Crone! I wish you much success on accomplishing your goals.  I think you should do something smaller on an interim basis in addition to the big trip when you reach your goal weight. As you start getting back in shape, you will find it easier to move around. I don't need to lose any weight, but when I take a break, otherwise known as winter, and resume power walking in the spring, I can feel I'm out of shape.

[cronewitch]

Feb 4, 2015 20:49:24 GMT -5 @taliare said:

I say small reward every 20 pounds because that is big deal alone. Weekend in Portland or SanFrancisco for the smaller treats. If Safari is interesting, you can go closer for wildlife like Yellowstone National Park. Lots of encounters with animals and great scenery and fishing.

I remember reading about Giraffe Manor. Maybe enough to go to hotel and pet giraffes through window?
www.thesafaricollection.com/properties/giraffe-manor

Portland is only 200 miles people here ride their bikes to Portland. I was in WW with a women who couldn't ride an exercise bike 5 minutes but lost a lot of weight then could so she got a bicycle as her diet reward and her WW friends taught her to ride it. She decided to ride to Portland but it was really cold and raining so she only made it half way. My ISO rode his bike to Portland in one day but it was really hard but thousands of people every year do it some in one day and some in two days. His house is over half way to Portland so going to Portland isn't a big deal.

The giraffes look friendly and spoiled they might be fun to go visit. Meercats look friendly too. Australia has some cute animals too. What else might be interesting is going to see poor people and seeing what I can do to help if you could find people living on a dollar a day and give them $10 it would make them happy.

[Deleted]

Seriously worse than hiking for me would be the stamina needed to survive the plane ride to Australia... Isn't it like 14+ hours?

[cronewitch]

Feb 4, 2015 23:19:05 GMT -5 oped said:

Seriously worse than hiking for me would be the stamina needed to survive the plane ride to Australia... Isn't it like 14+ hours?

I looked it up and it would be 17 hours plus a 9 hour wait between planes. I don't need to see animals that bad we have a zoo here. Maybe a cruise wouldn't be so bad. My brother keeps taking them they are going to Panama Canal next maybe he can buy some shorts or a hat they got a pretty bowl in Belize.

[Deleted]

I don't think flights to Africa are so bad ?

Although I hear cruises are nice too... You could take one to Alaska easily!

[resolution]

Every year they have "repositioning cruises" where they move the ships from the Australia season to the Hawaii season. You could hop onto one of those and sail from LA to Sydney or from Sydney to LA and just have a one way plane trip.

[Deleted]

Feb 5, 2015 4:04:30 GMT -5 cronewitch said:

Feb 4, 2015 23:19:05 GMT -5 oped said:

Seriously worse than hiking for me would be the stamina needed to survive the plane ride to Australia... Isn't it like 14+ hours?

I looked it up and it would be 17 hours plus a 9 hour wait between planes. I don't need to see animals that bad we have a zoo here. Maybe a cruise wouldn't be so bad. My brother keeps taking them they are going to Panama Canal next maybe he can buy some shorts or a hat they got a pretty bowl in Belize.

ok, I have to say it....I don't think seeing animals in a zoo can any way compare to seeing them on a safari in Africa.

[billisonboard]

I haven't been on a cruise since my Navy days (do those count? ). Do you have to be in shape to take one? 

[justme]

A weekend in San Francisco will have you lose weight just walking around. Definitely one of those vacation places where you can lose weight. Maybe pick your small goals like that, so the reward and help you get you to the main goal.

[MJ2.0]

Feb 4, 2015 23:19:05 GMT -5 oped said:

Seriously worse than hiking for me would be the stamina needed to survive the plane ride to Australia... Isn't it like 14+ hours?

I want to go to Australia someday. I hate plane rides too, so I figure I'd break it up by flying to Japan first, spend a few days there, and then fly to Australia. Same thing on the way back.

[Artemis Windsong]

Feb 5, 2015 8:01:41 GMT -5 resolution said:

Every year they have "repositioning cruises" where they move the ships from the Australia season to the Hawaii season. You could hop onto one of those and sail from LA to Sydney or from Sydney to LA and just have a one way plane trip.

Do you have a website reference for this?  Or does a person need to be in the area to get the deal.

[Artemis Windsong]

I recently read an article that said go on your trip while you can still get off the bus.

Unless your heart is set on Africa, there are safari parks in the U.S. where you can view the animals in their natural habitat.

One that is very popular with some of my friends are the river cruises in Europe.  Alaska cruises are very popular.

I usually do exercise training in addition to my regular program when going on a trip.  My energy level drops while I'm traveling so I try to increase my endurance before hand.

[zibazinski]

New wardrobe?

[resolution]

Feb 5, 2015 11:30:02 GMT -5 Artemis Windsong said:

Feb 5, 2015 8:01:41 GMT -5 resolution said:

Every year they have "repositioning cruises" where they move the ships from the Australia season to the Hawaii season. You could hop onto one of those and sail from LA to Sydney or from Sydney to LA and just have a one way plane trip.

Do you have a website reference for this?  Or does a person need to be in the area to get the deal.

As far as I know, they are just mixed in with the normal cruises on their websites, most of them let you run a search based on the sailing area or destination ports. I just found this one on the princess site but it won't give me a good link so I am pasting a link from a third party website that I don't know anything about.

cruise.cruiseadvice.org/28-night-hawaii--tahiti-and-south-pacific-cruise_golden-princess_4-19-2016.html?tab=it&

[gooddecisions]

Feb 5, 2015 12:13:57 GMT -5 @patstab said:

Elderhostel is very expensive, I looked at it. I went with a tour group a couple of times, have to look it up if I can remember the name.

The price was reasonable, kept the size to 16 people and the guide we had was excellent there was a lot of walking. It was part older, part younger people. I really enjoyed it.

Hubby has enough frequent flier miles for us to fly to Africa I think, we have talked about meeting in S Africa but now DD is so unstable I can't see it happening and I have nowhere to leave her. We had enough for other trips when he was in Asia and she did the same thing so we lost them. I'm afraid my out of the country traveling days will never happen. This really depresses me so I try not to think about it.

Sometimes you can have the means and still not able. That was always the thing I wanted to do more then anything in the world was travel to far off places. It kills me all the places my husband has seen, I get really depressed sometimes.

Oh well, that wasn't the question, get started on your weight loss and soon as you feel comfortable and fit enough to go take a cruise.  They have all kinds of onshore excursions and most say whether they are strenuous or not. Traveling is so wonderful. I am hoping to

get to do at least a couple of cruises yet. But it will probably be husband keeping daughter and me going alone, he and I never get to

do anything together.

Go enjoy your life while you can it will get away from you and believe the rest of the family will sure enjoy the money, don't worry about that! Good luck and start today!!

Crone should plan her trip for this time next year with you. Your husband will be retired and can watch after your daughter. You'll finally get to do some traveling and spend time with a like-minded online friend. Do it!

[Plain Old Petunia]

Heck no, that's not too old to go alone. Just consider guided trips. Viking River Cruises is an awesome company.   When I went to China on a Viking trip, there was a woman in her late 70s in our group, traveling alone.  She said she travels alone frequently and has a great time.

And, I have a client who went here: The Hide

I'd love, love, love to go to The Hide.