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“Living with a pacemaker after 60”

The “Battery” in My Chest: Maintaining an Active Lifestyle After 60

We’ve all arrived in our sixties with a few stories to tell.

By this stage, it’s almost inevitable that life after 60 has thrown health challenges your way.

Some are down to lifestyle, some are the result of a long career, and some, like mine, are just down to the genetic lottery.

My main problem? My heart decided it wanted to stop whenever it felt like it.

I’ve been told many times by my wife and kids that I don’t actually have a heart, so perhaps the timing was just ironic.

I’ll skip the medical jargon; the short version is: I’ve had a pacemaker for six years.

A Change in Power: Living with a Pacemaker

https://www.bhf.org.uk/

My grandson, who was four at the time, called it my “battery.” And honestly? That’s exactly how I see it.

Apart from the first six weeks of being careful post-implant, I’ve had no real issues. I am grateful for it every single day.

However, it reminds me of my stepdaughter. She lives with a genetic bowel condition and a colostomy bag.

For someone with an active lifestyle and a serious travel addiction, it presents huge hurdles.

But she just shrugs it aside. It’s something she can’t change, so why get stressed?

The “Why” Behind the Business Fitness Rule

Last week, I talked about the 1-Hour Rule: Giving your body and business one protected hour, three times a week.

When people hear “fitness,” they often think of marathon runners or gym rats.

But when you’re thriving after 60 with a “battery” or a “bag,” fitness takes on a different meaning.

It’s not about punishment. It’s about maintenance.

Those 3 hours a week are how I ensure the rest of my “machinery” stays worthy of the pacemaker.

It’s the positive, “can-do” attitude that turns a medical device from a limitation into a tool for a second act.

Resistance Bands or Dumbbells? How I Use Both to Stay Strong After 60

Overcoming the “Warranty” Period: Your Second Act

We are all living on slightly different terms in our sixties.

But a health challenge doesn’t have to be the end of the road; it’s just a change in the operating manual for your active lifestyle.

I’d love to hear from you: What “repairs” or challenges have you had to overcome?

Sharing these stories isn’t about complaining, it’s about showing others that with the right mindset, you can stay strong, active, and very much in the game.

Looking Ahead: Escaping the Cold

The reason I’m so disciplined with these habits isn’t just about health for health’s sake. It’s about what that health allows us to do.

My wife and I are planning a trip to Thailand this December to escape the winter cold. To make that happen, to truly switch off and enjoy the heat, I need both my physical “battery” and my business engine to be in top shape.

Tomorrow, I’m going to share the second half of this equation:

The Business “Pacemaker.” I’ll be diving into how I’ve been “fixing the machinery” of this blog (JavaScript, LCP, and all the technical gremlins) to ensure the business can run smoothly while I’m on a beach in Thailand.

Keep an eye out for tomorrow’s post on how a few small habits today buy you the freedom of tomorrow.

When a quote doesn’t land, most of us default to the same explanation.

“They wanted it cheaper.”

It’s comforting.
It lets us move on quickly.
And most of the time, it’s wrong.

In reality, price is rarely the real reason a customer walks away.
More often, the issue is perceived value, or more accurately, how clearly that value was understood.

A Real Example From the Weekend

This post was partly inspired by a conversation I had at the weekend with a former client.

They ran a small electrical contracting business that, on paper, should have been doing well, but wasn’t growing.

The company operated in two very different markets.

• Domestic work, dealing directly with homeowners
• Contract work, supplying building contractors in the luxury housing and commercial sectors

The two partners worked extremely hard.

They had:

• Three permanently employed electricians
• A network of self-employed electricians and labourers
• Both partners managing jobs and working on the tools
• Both partners preparing quotes for their respective sectors

Despite all that effort, their win rate was poor.

As competition increased, margins tightened and frustration grew. They were seriously considering letting staff go and retreating back to small domestic jobs, essentially going back to where they’d started.

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The Problem Wasn’t Effort, Or Price

When we analysed the business properly, there were several issues.

But one thing stood out immediately.

Very little time was being spent on building value into their quotations.

Quotes were technically accurate.
Prices were competitive.
But they told the customer almost nothing about why this business was the right choice.

Like many owners, they were:

• Quoting late at night
• Rushing between jobs
• Treating quotes as admin rather than sales tools

Price was left to do all the work.

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Stepping Back for One Hour Changed Everything

This is where the 1-Hour Rule came in.

Rather than chasing more work or cutting prices, we agreed on something much simpler:

One protected hour, three times a week, focused purely on quotations.

During that hour, they:

• Reviewed lost quotes without emotion
• Asked what risks the customer was really trying to avoid
• Added clarity around experience, process and reliability
• Explained how problems would be handled, not just what would be installed

Nothing dramatic.
No re-brand.
No discounting.

Just clearer thinking and better communication.

The Result: Quick Wins and Breathing Space

The effect was noticeable surprisingly quickly.

Win rates improved.
Conversations changed.
Price resistance reduced.

Most importantly, the business stabilised — giving them breathing space to address the other issues properly, rather than making panic decisions.

The work didn’t change.

The way it was explained did.

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The Lesson

When businesses struggle, price is often blamed first.

But in many cases, the real issue is that value hasn’t been made visible.

And that doesn’t require more hours, more staff, or more stress.

It requires stepping off the treadmill, even briefly and using time deliberately.

One hour at a time.

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Price Is What You Pay. Value Is What You Understand.

Customers don’t buy numbers on a page,they buy confidence, clarity, and reduced risk.

If they don’t fully understand:

• why your approach is different
• how it solves their specific problem
• what happens if they choose incorrectly

then price becomes the only thing they can compare.

It’s not the customer/clients fault, it’s purely down to a communication problem

The Quiet Advantage of One Focused Hour

This is where The 1-Hour Rule becomes powerful.

Most business owners are busy reacting:

• emails
• calls
• problems
• delivery

Very few protect time to improve how they sell, explain, and position what they do.

One protected business hour, three times a week, changes that.

Not by rewriting everything, but by making small, deliberate improvements.

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Where Value Is Usually Lost

From years of consulting, I see the same patterns repeatedly:

• Proposals explain what you do, but not why it matters
• Benefits are listed, but not linked to the customer’s real pain
• Experience is assumed, not demonstrated
• Risk reduction is implied, not spelled out

Customers then hesitate – and hesitation feels like “too expensive”.

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One Simple Habit That Changes Conversations

Here’s a habit worth using during one of your weekly business hours:

When you lose a quote, don’t disappear.
Don’t argue.
Don’t discount.

Instead, ask this question

“I’d really value your feedback — what would I need to change in my proposal to win your business in the future?”

You won’t always get an answer.
But when you do, it’s gold.

And here’s the key point:

The answer is almost never “lower the price”.

It’s usually:

• We weren’t quite ready yet
• We needed more reassurance
• We didn’t fully understand the difference

That’s not a pricing issue.
That’s a value explanation issue.

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Build Value Before You Send the Quote

During your protected hour, review just one proposal and ask yourself:

• Have I clearly explained why this approach exists?
• Have I connected the solution to their risk, not mine?
• Have I shown what happens if the problem stays unsolved?

You don’t need more pages.
You need clearer thinking.

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Compounding Works in Business Too

If you improve just one proposal a week, something interesting happens:

• Confidence increases
• Conversations improve
• Price pressure reduces
• Trust builds faster

Over months, the business becomes calmer, and more profitable.

Not because you worked harder.
But because you worked more deliberately.

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How This Fits the 1-Hour Rule

This post isn’t about selling harder.

It’s about using one hour, three times a week, to:

• step off the treadmill
• think clearly
• build value before price becomes the discussion

That’s how small businesses quietly get stronger.

And it works especially well after 60 — when experience is your biggest asset, but only if you know how to show it.

If this resonates, subscribe to Ropho for practical tools and calm thinking on building a better business — and a better life — after 60.

For years, fats were demonised.

Low-fat everything.
Calories feared.
Anything creamy viewed with suspicion.

But the truth is simple:

👉 Your body needs fat, especially as you get older.

Healthy fats play a vital role in:

• hormone balance
• joint health
• brain function
• energy levels
• nutrient absorption

The key isn’t avoiding fat, It’s choosing the right types and sensible portions.

Without wanting to sound boring most of my information comes from https://www.bhf.org.uk/ (6 surprisingly healthy fatty foods).

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Why Healthy Fats Matter More After 60

As we age, a few things change:

• joints need more support
• recovery takes longer
• energy dips more easily
• inflammation becomes harder to ignore

Healthy fats help with all of that.

They support:

• lubrication of joints
• brain clarity and memory
• steady energy (without sugar spikes)
• absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K)

Cut fats too aggressively and you often end up:

• tired
• hungry
• craving sugar
• struggling to recover

That’s not a willpower issue, it’s biology.

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Healthy Fat Sources Worth Including

You don’t need superfoods or exotic ingredients.
Most of the best sources are already familiar and easy to use.

🥑 Avocado

Benefits: Heart-healthy fats, filling
Ideas: On toast, sliced into salads, alongside eggs

🫒 Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Benefits: Anti-inflammatory, good for heart health
Ideas: Salad dressings, drizzled over vegetables or fish

🌰 Nuts (almonds, walnuts)

Benefits: Nutrient dense, good for brain health
Ideas: Small handful as a snack, chopped into yoghurt

🌱 Seeds (chia, flax, pumpkin)

Benefits: Fibre + omega-3 fats
Ideas: Sprinkle on oats, yoghurt, or salads

🐟 Oily Fish (salmon, mackerel)

Benefits: Brain health, anti-inflammatory
Ideas: Grilled with lemon, added to salads

🍳 Whole Eggs

Benefits: Healthy fats + high-quality protein
Ideas: Breakfast hero, boiled, scrambled, omelettes

🍫 Dark Chocolate (70%+)

Benefits: Antioxidants, enjoyment matters
Ideas: A small evening treat, not mindless snacking

🧀 Cheese (in moderation)

Benefits: Calcium, flavour, satisfaction
Ideas: Grated over meals rather than eaten in chunks

🥣 Full-Fat Greek Yoghurt

Benefits: Filling, probiotic
Ideas: Dessert alternative with berries or nuts

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Portion Control — The Simple Rule

You don’t need scales or calorie counting.

Rule of thumb:
👍 A thumb-sized portion = roughly one serving of fats.

That might be:

• a drizzle of olive oil
• a small handful of nuts
• half an avocado
• a knob of cheese

Fats are calorie-dense, but they’re also satiating.
Get the portion right and they help control appetite rather than sabotage it.

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How This Fits With Movement and Strength

Healthy fats and movement work together.

If you’re:

• walking more
• using resistance bands
• doing light strength work

…your body needs fats to:

• recover properly
• reduce inflammation
• keep joints comfortable

This isn’t about dieting.
It’s about fueling a body you still expect to work well.

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The ROPHO View on Food

Food after 60 shouldn’t be:

• joyless
• restrictive
• or built on fear

It should support:

• strength
• energy
• enjoyment
• longevity

Healthy fats tick all four, when used sensibly.

A Gentle Reminder

Everyone’s health situation is different. The information shared here is based on personal experience and general guidance, not medical advice.

If you have an existing health condition, are recovering from illness or injury, or are unsure what’s appropriate for you, it’s always sensible to speak with your GP or a qualified health professional before making changes to your diet or exercise routine.

This post forms part of the ROPHO approach — practical habits that support energy, health and longevity after 60. If this resonates, subscribe for simple, no-nonsense guidance on living and working well later in life.

The “Business Fitness” Rule: Why 1 Hour a Day, 3 Times a Week Changes Everything

We’ve all been there.

You know you should move more, you know you should eat better.

“I don’t have the time.”

In small business, we say exactly the same thing about sales, marketing, and proactive planning.

We convince ourselves that once the day-to-day grind is over, it will be time to concentrate on the business.

However the reality is,the grind never seems to end.

The 1-Hour Rule

Here’s the reframe that changes everything:

You don’t need more time, you just need one protected hour, three times a week.

Not every day, not all at once, just one hour and that hour has two jobs.

1 Hour for the Business

Stepping Off the Treadmill

This is the hour where you stop reacting and start acting.

No emails, no fire-fighting, no “I’ll just quickly do this first”.

This hour is for proactive habits that quietly move the business forward:

• Following up warm leads
• Sending thoughtful, personal emails
• Reviewing and chasing quotes
• Reconnecting with people who already know you

This is the difference between running a business and building one.

Most owners never make this time, which is exactly why it works.

1 Hour for the Body

Keeping Yourself Fit to Play the Game

The second hour is just as important.

Getting away from the desk, moving your body, clearing your head.

Not extreme workouts, not punishment, just movement you’ll actually repeat.

Because a stiff, tired, distracted owner doesn’t make good decisions, and no amount of strategy fixes that.

Why Three Times a Week Is Enough

You don’t get fit from one heroic workout and you don’t build a business from one burst of motivation.

Improvement comes from regular, boring consistency.

Three hours a week of proactive business work:

Stops opportunities slipping through the cracks, builds trust before price is even discussed

Creates momentum instead of panic

Three hours a week of movement:

Improves energy, sharpens thinking, makes the work easier to handle

It’s Rarely About Price

When a deal doesn’t land, we often say:

“They wanted it cheaper.”

Usually, that’s not the truth, it’s the shortcut explanation.

More often, the value wasn’t clear enough.

One simple habit during your business hour can change this:

When you lose a quote, ask:

“I’d really appreciate the feedback, what would I need to change, to win your business in future?”

The answers are almost never about price.

They’re about trust, timing, or clarity.

Also on Ropho

Health & Fitness

The healthy fats worth prioritising for energy and longevity.

Business

How to build real value into your offers so price becomes secondary

Small habits.
Protected time.
Done consistently.

That’s how progress really happens, after 60 and beyond.

If this resonates, subscribe for free. No hype, no hustle, just practical advice for life and business after 60.

What Is Cholesterol, and What Can We Do About It?

Cholesterol is one of those words that seems to come up more and more often as we get older.(Cholesterol after 60)

It’s mentioned casually in conversation, raised in GP appointments, and often discussed with a mixture of concern, confusion and half-understood advice.

For many people, it becomes part of everyday small talk, almost like discussing the weather.

So what actually is cholesterol, why does it matter, and what can we realistically do about it?

Let’s strip it back to the basics of Cholesterol.

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What Is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance found in every cell of your body. Despite its bad reputation, it’s essential for life.

Your body uses cholesterol to:

• build cell membranes
• produce certain hormones
• make vitamin D
• help digest fats

Most of the cholesterol in your body is made by your liver. The rest comes from food.

Problems don’t arise from cholesterol itself, they arise when the balance is wrong.

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The Difference Between “Good” and “Bad” Cholesterol

You’ll often hear cholesterol described in terms of HDL and LDL.

• LDL (low-density lipoprotein)
  Often called “bad” cholesterol. Too much LDL can lead to fatty deposits building up in arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
• HDL (high-density lipoprotein)
  Known as “good” cholesterol. HDL helps carry excess cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it can be processed and removed.

It’s not just about total cholesterol, it’s about the ratio and balance between these types.

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Why Cholesterol Tends to Rise After 60

As we age, several factors come into play:

• metabolism naturally slows
• muscle mass reduces if we’re less active
• hormonal changes affect fat processing
• long-standing habits catch up with us
• genetics start to show their hand

You can live sensibly for decades and still see cholesterol creep up later in life. That doesn’t mean you’ve failed, it means your body has changed.

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What Can We Actually Do About It?

This is where things often get confusing, because advice is either overly simplistic or unnecessarily frightening.

In reality, there are four practical levers most of us can influence.

1. Diet (But Not Extreme Dieting)

Small, consistent changes matter more than drastic overhauls.

Helpful habits include:

• reducing processed and ultra-processed foods
• choosing wholegrains over refined carbs
• eating more vegetables, fruit and pulses
• using olive oil rather than butter most of the time
• including oily fish regularly

You don’t need perfection, you need direction.

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2. Movement and Activity

You don’t need to become a marathon runner.

Regular movement:

• raises HDL (good cholesterol)
• helps manage weight
• improves insulin sensitivity
• supports heart health

Walking, cycling, swimming, resistance training, it all counts. The key is consistency, not intensity.

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3. Weight, Stress and Sleep

These three are often overlooked but hugely important.

• carrying excess weight affects cholesterol processing
• chronic stress impacts hormones and inflammation
• poor sleep disrupts metabolic health

Addressing these doesn’t require radical change, just awareness and gradual improvement.

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4. Medication (When Appropriate)

For some people, lifestyle changes alone won’t be enough, often due to genetics.

Statins and other medications can be very effective at reducing risk, and for many people they are the right choice.

This isn’t about “failure”, it’s about risk management.

The important thing is understanding why medication is being recommended and combining it with healthy habits, not using it as a substitute for them.

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A More Helpful Way to Think About Cholesterol

Rather than seeing cholesterol as a ticking time bomb, it’s more useful to see it as feedback.

It’s information about how your body is responding to:

• age
• lifestyle
• genetics
• long-term habits

Used properly, it helps guide sensible decisions, not fear-driven ones.

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Final Thought

As we get older, conversations about health become more common, and that’s not a bad thing.

But understanding beats worrying.

Cholesterol isn’t something to panic about or ignore. It’s something to understand, monitor and manage, so we can stay active, capable and confident for as long as possible.

That, after all, is the point.

When my own cholesterol levels came back higher than expected, discovered during checks when I had a pacemaker fitted.

I wanted information that was clear, practical and not alarmist.

One of the most helpful and trustworthy resources I found was the https://www.bhf.org.uk/

They provide:

• plain-English explanations of cholesterol
• balanced guidance on lifestyle changes
• clear information about medication
• evidence-based advice you can trust

If you’re looking to understand your numbers better, the British Heart Foundation is an excellent place to start.

For me, having clear information helped turn worry into understanding, and understanding into sensible action.

An Important Note on Medical Advice

It’s also important to say this clearly.

General information is useful, but it isn’t personal medical advice.

Cholesterol levels, risk factors and treatment decisions are individual and influenced by age, family history, existing conditions and medication.

That’s why you should always discuss your results and options with your GP or a qualified health professional before making changes.

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If this topic resonates with you, you’re welcome to subscribe for free, practical, no-nonsense advice on health, lifestyle and living well after 60.

Move More, Live Better: 10 Benefits After 60

As we get older, the way we travel changes.

It becomes less about squeezing everything in and more about enjoying where you are. Less about distance, more about quality.

For me, holidays are about shared experiences.

Walking, talking, eating well, laughing, and creating memories with the people who matter.

Those moments have a way of bonding us that everyday life rarely does.

And you don’t have to go far to find them.

Within four hours of the UK are cities, coastlines and cultures that deliver everything from romance to relaxation.

Without the fatigue that can come with long-haul travel.

Here are 10 fantastic destinations you can reach quickly, ideal for relaxed travel in your 50s, 60s and beyond.

Vienna, Austria 🇦🇹

Elegant, cultured, walkable.

Coffee houses, palaces, classical music, Christmas markets, pure charm.

 Vienna holds a special place in my heart, as this was our very first overseas trip together 24 years ago celebrating my wife’s 40th birthday.

Like everywhere places change, but for me Vienna takes Number 1 spot as one of the nicest cities, I’ve been lucky enough to visit. 

Perfect for: romantic weekends, culture lovers.

Greek Islands 🇬🇷(3–4 hrs depending on island)

 Santorini for sunsets, Crete for beaches & food, Rhodes for history, Corfu for greenery. 

Warm seas, wine, slow evenings by the harbour. 

Perfect for: sunshine, relaxation, lazy dinners. 

Italy 🇮🇹 (3 hrs average)

 Rome for history, Florence for art, Venice for romance, Sicily for food & coast, Lake Garda for scenery. 

Italy fits every mood, and the food alone is reason to go. 

Perfect for: culture, pasta, wine, passion. 

Barcelona, Spain 🇪🇸 

Beaches + city. Tapas culture. Gaudí’s architecture. 

A stroll down Las Ramblas then seafood by the marina, perfect blend. 

Perfect for: short breaks & warm weather. 

Lisbon, Portugal 🇵🇹 

Views, pastel streets, trams, fado music. 

Fresh fish, custard tarts (dangerously addictive). 

Perfect for: gentle city exploration + sunshine. 

Paris, France 🇫🇷 

Closer than many UK cities — 2.5hrs via Eurostar. 

Museums, riverside walks, wine, bakeries. 

Perfect for: romance, food, city strolling. 

Dubrovnik, Croatia 🇭🇷 

Terracotta rooftops, clear sea, old-town charm. 

Walk the city walls, sit by the water with a cold drink. 

Perfect for: scenery lovers & relaxed explorers. 

Amsterdam, Netherlands 🇳🇱 

Cycle-friendly, canals, art galleries, tulips in spring. 

A relaxed, youthful city — great for wandering. 

Perfect for: casual weekends & short breaks. 

Malta 🇲🇹 

Warm climate most of the year. 

Historic streets, boat trips, blue lagoons. 

Perfect for: winter sun getaways. 

Madeira, Portugal 🇵🇹

Technically Portugal but completely unique, Madeira was my mother’s favourite destination and had to be on my list. 

Mountains, incredible scenery, Levada walks, flowers. 

Perfect for: nature, hiking, relaxation. 

Tips for smooth under, 4 hour travel 

🧳 Pack light, hand luggage is freedom 

🚕 Choose accommodation within 20–30 mins of airport 

🍽 Book one special meal per trip, a memory anchor 

🛏 Stay central to minimise travel time 

🧭 Don’t overschedule, wandering is part of the adventure 

📸 Photos matter, but moments matter more 

Short trips recharge the soul without draining energy. 

Why this type of travel suits later life 

As we get older, comfort matters. 

Short flights mean: 

Less fatigue 

Less airport stress 

Easier planning 

More time enjoying, less time travelling 

Sometimes a 3-hour flight feels like a magic portal, leave grey drizzle, arrive to blue skies and cold wine. 

As always, I would like to hear from you, where are your favourite destinations, what types of holidays you are enjoying in your sixties and beyond. 

Tell me what makes you excited about holidays, is it relaxing with a good book on a beach or something more adventurous.