Selena DeLeon - THE WORKOUT DRESSED IN tights and leotard, Betty, a 74 year old great-grandmother rarely misses a day at the gym which she likes to call her fountain of youth. It is a 20-year routine for her. Doing one hour, five days a week, her regimen includes not just aerobics walking the treadmill or taking a low-impact class but, within the last five years, she has also started strength training, which the American College of Sports Medicine says is important for ageing bodies. Pumping iron makes the bones stronger and denser, and minimises flab that can make you feel old. Awed, I asked what was her secret, and this is what she shared with me:
Plan ahead (and don't forget to brag). Plan the week ahead, scheduling time for workouts as religiously as you make time for work. When something is written down, it's as important as a work assignment. Don't make your workouts a secret. Tell your friends, enemies and acquaintances all about your best running times, the number of reps you do with your weights and how often you go to the gym. No doubt it will bore them to tears, but having said all that, you can't just quit at any point.
Mornings, music, good company. Don't underestimate the importance of working out first thing in the day. Start sweating before the business of the day overtakes and overwhelms you. Working out first thing in the morning makes your metabolism work at peak capacity for more hours in the day. Tumble out of bed and get into workout clothes before you've had a chance to think about it and you'll start to feel energetic. Music, whether it's reggae or the latest R & B hit, helps to motivate you and keep you going for longer. Having a workout partner, who is enthusiastic about exercise, also helps. It not only introduces a subtle competitive edge, but if you miss a day, you feel as though you owe him or her an explanation. Feeling guilty about not making it to exercise can sometimes make it easier just to go.
The routine. Try not to think about a workout in total, it can be intimidating. If you are not feeling very enthusiastic one day, just say to yourself, "I'm just going to do a light workout, a little something is better than nothing" and you will end up of course, doing a whole routine.
Other perks, regular visits to that fountain of youth called the gym keeps stiffness at bay, restores wobbly balance, and helps stave off extra pounds. Most active elderly persons, really feel the difference when they are away from the gym, more so than younger participants. Getting out of a chair takes longer and keeping steady balance to put on pants can be a challenge. Looking at Betty, you wouldn't believe her age, and she assures me that her doctor is equally impressed with her medical results.
Planning to be up for a game of catch with her great-grandson also keeps her faithful to her workouts. With rewards as sweet as these, one does not have to wonder how she stays motivated. She could be the poster girl for senior citizen exercise, but she is my greatest inspiration, and every time I get tired or frustrated and think about blaming age, I just think of her. Just as the popular adage says, "age is a state of mind", it is not surprising how much of a role our minds can play in the energy that we all can make available to ourselves.
Good luck, stay positive, and enjoy all the wonderful benefits of a healthy lifestyle!
Selena DeLeon is a certified professional trainer.
