Author Topic: Am I getting weaker?? (Read 1114 times)

gypsyman · « **on:** September 09, 2011, 04:22:12 AM »

Is it just me, or are the company's making it harder to open products. Just yesterday, bought a box of cereal, mainly for the wife.(some granola healthy stuff)When I went to open it, I had a heck of a time, trying to open the bag inside. Did it the usual way, pinched both sides, and tried to split it open. I stretched the bag, but just couldn't get the dang thing to open up. My wife was sitting on the couch chuckling, so I handed it to her, saying, you go ahead and try it. She had a pair of scissors next to her, and cut it open. I mumbled something about a part of her body being smarter than the other parts, and walked away, with her really laughing now. Back in the mid 70's, I use to win bar bets, by starting my '66 Harley shovelhead by hand.(I took the electric start off, so no I don't mean by pushing the button on the handlebars)I know I've lost some strenght since then. But, it's gotten down right embarrassing sometimes. Any one else notice this, or like Samson, since most of my hair fell out, I don't have the muscle I use to have?

Old Fart · « **Reply #1 on:** September 09, 2011, 04:49:43 AM »

Tougher plastic material and heat fusion.
Kicks my fanny also.
Had a tough one that I almost blew a gasket on once.

magooch · « **Reply #2 on:** September 09, 2011, 05:02:33 AM »

Modern day packaging is a pain in the butt, unless you regularly carry an ax, or chainsaw around with you. Especially some of those plastic bubble packs. My wife used to work at Sears and from time to time, she was able to buy a display item, or group of items (tools) that were packaged in a special plastic. It was real work extracting the goodies from those things.

In a lot of cases, it appears that more effort is put into making the packaging tamper proof rather than user friendly. I can understand that thinking on some things, but when it is the case with food items, it can be frustrating.

BBF · « **Reply #3 on:** September 09, 2011, 10:32:50 AM »

So is opening jars, I suspect they have hired gorillas to put the final twist on those lids.

DDZ · « **Reply #4 on:** September 09, 2011, 11:05:26 AM »

I think we can thank the shop lifters for the tough packaging. My favorite is the stuff that is shrink wrapped in tough plastic, where you need a razor knife or tin snips to get it open.

Sourdough · « **Reply #5 on:** September 09, 2011, 02:13:07 PM »

In the kitchen I keep a pair of scissors, and a small strap wrench, in a drawer. Scissors for the inner bags, and the strap wrench for jars. I keep a pair of tin snips on my bench in the garage. When not at home, I whip out the Leatherman. I gave up using my hands alone a few years back, when the packaging got tougher than me.

Empty Quiver · « **Reply #6 on:** September 09, 2011, 02:38:24 PM »

Since I wasn't fifty twenty years ago I cannot say for certainty. But, I will back you 100%. I am weaker, I know it, but I ain't that weak. I admit to using the shears to open the damnable clam shell packaging. I'm afraid I'll open an artery with a pocket knife on those things. I use scissors on the chip bags to keep them from splitting lengthwise. The kid still opens my cereal boxes I am not sure what she does, probably opens them with shear hand strength.

Mikey · « **Reply #7 on:** September 09, 2011, 02:48:40 PM »

Naw, you/we are just getting older. And they have made things all the more difficult as it seems with fine print and tamper proof containers and symbols that don't mean anything to us, or at least that has been the complaint of all of those (us) who have aged in to experiencing the very same thing.

Welcome aboard. With luck you might soon be able to use your Senior Discount at the breakfast buffet, and you might like it. Enjoy yourself, old age only comes along once in a lifetime........

ironglow · « **Reply #8 on:** September 09, 2011, 02:53:32 PM »

It's age guys, gotta face it ! I was always one of the strongest guys around..if that V8 engine was on trhe floor and it belongs on the bench..I just put it there ! Now, just hand me the alternator..that's enough !

ratdog · « **Reply #9 on:** September 09, 2011, 04:02:54 PM »

i am having the same problem its the packaging.now always carry a pocket knife but as far as keeping my pants up it is me.

thanks to who invented suspenders.

lakota · « **Reply #10 on:** September 09, 2011, 04:07:53 PM »

I love modern packaging. I especially like the plastic blister packages that new pocket knives come in. The kind of package you need a pocket knife to open

rockbilly · « **Reply #11 on:** September 09, 2011, 04:26:10 PM »

I glad to hear that some of you young fellows are having problems and the cause MIGHT be the packaging. For the past year I thought it was the Chemo or that I was turning in to a wimp. Of course, authur also plays a big role in it too, the joints in both hands don't want to work like they use to.

Goatwhiskers · « **Reply #12 on:** September 10, 2011, 04:00:29 AM »

Yeah, rockbilly, as the old woman said, I knows them ritus boys, and arthur is the worst of 'em. Goatwhiskers

Got to thinking after reading this thread, are we all a bunch of old goats, no young immature types reading this forum to get educated?

ironglow · « **Reply #13 on:** September 10, 2011, 04:05:41 AM »

Quote from: ratdog on September 09, 2011, 04:02:54 PM

i am having the same problem its the packaging.now always carry a pocket knife but as far as keeping my pants up it is me. thanks to who invented suspenders.

***************************************************************************************
Ratdog;
How can you do it ? I feel NAKED without my pocket knife !^{I bet Sourdough would feel the same without his Leatherman..}

powderman · « **Reply #14 on:** September 10, 2011, 07:27:44 AM »

How can you do it ? I feel NAKED without my pocket knife !

^{Me too, I've carried one since grade school. POWDERMAN.}

powderman · « **Reply #15 on:** September 10, 2011, 07:29:24 AM »

Don't know why my last post was small letters?? POWDERMAN.

ironglow · « **Reply #16 on:** September 10, 2011, 10:11:16 AM »

Powderman;
You're not alone...I'm having trouble with type size also

??

powderman · « **Reply #17 on:** September 10, 2011, 07:20:50 PM »

Quote from: DDZ on September 09, 2011, 11:05:26 AM

I think we can thank the shop lifters for the tough packaging. My favorite is the stuff that is shrink wrapped in tough plastic, where you need a razor knife or tin snips to get it open.

YEP, pocket knife time. POWDERMAN.

bilmac · « **Reply #18 on:** September 10, 2011, 11:55:26 PM »

It burns me when they put some chintzy little thing in a package that is worth more than the chintzy little thing, and then you bust the chintzy little thing trying to get it out of the stupid plastic wrapper.

BBF · « **Reply #19 on:** September 11, 2011, 06:32:43 AM »

When I turned 65 several years ago I was ripe enough and authorized to use suspenders IMO.
A great item to keep your pants above the butt crack !!

no guns here · « **Reply #20 on:** September 12, 2011, 11:00:19 AM »

Nope ain't you and ain't the packaging... it's both. I'm only 44 and still pretty stong but some of this new packaging is a PITA. I can still pick up and carry about anything that I have to. But a cereal bag will kick my butt 3 out of 5 times. I can TEAR it open, but then the cereal goes all over the kitchen and then the wife goes NUTS. It's easier to just use the kitchen scissors to open it up without a mess. Jars... well yeah, I can twist them open but if I have to work too hard then inevitably something will slip and the jelly get all over the cabinet and then the wife goes NUTS. It's easier to just use one of those rubber straps to get a better grip. I do so love the plastic bubble packs on knifes though... nothing like having to ask around to borrow a knife to open the knife I just bought. Nothing like getting your butt kicked by a piece of plastic...

NGH

mechanic · « **Reply #21 on:** September 12, 2011, 12:26:59 PM »

I'd just once like to meet face to face with the guy who invented the packaging for CD's............

Ben

Austin from NC · « **Reply #22 on:** September 12, 2011, 01:57:55 PM »

I'm a young feller and never had a problem with packaging but I always carry a pocket knife. Now pickle jars are a different story. Hercules couldn't opem them thangs.

Austin

ratdog · « **Reply #23 on:** September 12, 2011, 04:32:58 PM »

i use to pack my chicken feed sacks out to the coop and about half way there my pants would fall down.so i had to get suspenders i am constantly pulling up my pants .and the kids are about down to there knees. drives me crazy and the guy at the store is much fatter than me and he doesn't wear suspenders his pants must be glued on. how does he do it? i have alot of pocket knives scattered around so i can always find one .i was running low one day and thought ill bet there in my lazy boy recliner so i slamed it up and down and out fell the ones i thought i lost. isn't life exciting.

ratdog · « **Reply #24 on:** September 13, 2011, 07:30:33 AM »

i broke some bones in my hand opening a pickle jar healed now. no more of that.

ironglow · « **Reply #25 on:** September 13, 2011, 09:39:47 AM »

You know, those lids of today, even though i am older and weakere..I'm still convinced that those things are on tighter now than ever..

BBF · « **Reply #26 on:** September 13, 2011, 12:40:06 PM »

Equally I gave up on cracking walnut or hazelnuts with my teeth. Almonds on the other hand..........

Spirithawk · « **Reply #27 on:** September 13, 2011, 03:42:57 PM »

It's a comunistic plot to drive you crazy. lol

OldSchoolRanger · « **Reply #28 on:** September 15, 2011, 01:36:33 PM »

gypsyman - What is happening to you is called Sarcopenia (Muscle loss). It comes with age. Age brings a progressive loss of muscle mass and muscle strength. If you are over 30, and physically inactive, you stand to lose about 3 to 5% of muscle mass every decade, and an equal decline in strength.

This can be resisted, by exercise. Sarcopenia may also be the result of not taking in enough calories or protein to sustain your current muscle mass.

gypsyman · « **Reply #29 on:** September 15, 2011, 03:06:27 PM »

Just how many 12oz. curls am I suppose to do a day?

gypsyman