Growing older—and doing it well—requires outsmarting some of your old habits and adopting new ways of exercise, nutrition, sleep, and play. We seniors may be “old dogs” but most of us can easily adopt new tricks.
Some friends of ours tell us “Don’t bother with exercise, after all, our grandparents smoked and drank and lived to 90!” Yes, but they didn’t endure our current world’s toxins and processed foods. We’re much more aware of science and what it takes to remain healthy than our parents and grandparents were.
Someone asked me the other day which is more important when it comes to longevity, genes or lifestyle? Many people believe DNA dictates how long you live. They now say genes contribute 10-25%, and the rest is influenced by healthy habits.
It’s my birthday this week. If anyone asks, I tell them I’m 47—and severely dyslexic. Most don’t ask anymore. I’m just glad to still be kicking. My sister, mother, and dad all passed away before 60, so I know I must do things differently.
My Senior Fitness Journey
Getting fit isn’t an overnight thing. It starts (somewhere, anytime—you pick) and then you persist day after day—despite plateaus, setbacks, injuries, life challenges, discouragement, laziness, and pain.
Until ten years ago, I was hit-and-miss at the gym, I had a sugar habit, and I yo-yo dieted. In my 60’s I had a health scare, then another, then surgery. I embarked on another “health kick,” but this one became multi-faceted (varied activities and more fun!) and is still going today.
I added two-hour tennis matches every day, weight lifting, and improved my eating by decreasing junk and candy, increasing protein and fat(Yes! It’s good for the brain) in my diet.
Slowly my body fat content decreased, my weight went down, I started feeling muscles instead of flabby arms. I grew to love sit ups. Friends started noticing. I got “carded” buying a senior ticket at the movies!
Rewards for Working Out
Here’s a list of rewards I’ve received in the last ten years of fitness efforts:
- More energy throughout the day
- I can do more things, enjoy life more
- I look younger
- I have more “stick-to-it-iveness” for other things too
- I don’t count calories or worry about my weight (as long as I eat clean)
- I can splurge on dessert once in a while without it turning into a binge
- I’m more open to friends, ideas, other ways of doing things, since I’m not imprisoned by strict regimens and rules that other health and fitness programs impose
- I can carry more things, rearrange furniture, clean out the garage without injuries
- I know when I’m really tired and need to stop, as opposed to “wussing out”
Over the years, the allure of comfort has often outweighed the wisdom of persistence. But I’ve learned. “How bad do you want to be strong and fit?” is a good question I ask myself when I’m feeling tired. Often the first step is all it takes to spur a good workout.
In my opinion, getting older separates the women from the girls. It makes us stronger, allows us to live longer. I tell myself, “Don’t be a sissy. Grow older, better, and wiser!”
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