Janet Ciel writes:
The other day I was having a conversation with a biking friend who mentioned she had a dream of being a poster child for the 70′s and above age group. She said she was buckling down on her eating, biking as much as possible, and is joining a gym. She was inspired by an amazing woman she read about who is in her 90s and still competing in track and field events.
You know my response was enthusiastic, as of course I always feel that our maximum potential is just another bike ride away. I am amazed at the strength and endurance increases that are possible by just doing it, what “it” is for you, over and over again. No matter what your age you can get stronger and more vibrant.
But some of you have not even started. You might be in your 70s or older and are saying, “it’s too late for me, why bother?” The answer to that is baloney!
First, what do you want your old age to be like? How does being in a nursing home from a stroke, heart attack or inability to move sound to you? How about the idea of your kids having to take care of you and the burden on them? The endless hospital visits, and the vulnerability that comes from a frail body: you are longing for this?
But I think the huge question is: Do you want your life to be one of motivation and striving towards a better you, or one who is just resigned to who you are and will be…a “whatever” kind of thing?
Okay, I am on a rant here, but I feel strongly about this. Those of you who are not doing something truly challenging for yourself physically, I encourage you to push the envelope and actually develop some muscle. And when I say muscle I mean it both literally and in other contexts.
Literally, we need real muscle so that we do not develop osteoporosis. When you work with weights you will develop muscle, and it is vital for our long term strength and well-being. I so recommend braving a boot camp, if you’re reasonably fit, or a core fitness, bar sculpt, TRX or other type of class which works with weights and resistance.
But we also need to develop our “I-am-getting-off-the-couch-and-getting-my-butt-in-gear” muscle too. Once it has been in use for awhile it becomes habit. And once you create the habit…change is inevitable.
We should consider the brain muscle. Okay, I’m not sure brain is a muscle, but it certainly needs a big shift when it comes to activity for a lot of us. So many people have the “I hate exercise” loop running through their heads. If that sounds like you I encourage you to recall a time in your life when you decried having to do something you “hated,” but then eventually liked and then loved. Think computers, for example. I am betting most of us were a tad intimidated, if not downright angry at having to face this machine and learn it. Now it is so ingrained in us that we cannot go anywhere without it being with us in some way. Few people go into a serious exercise regimen “loving” it from the outset. In fact, for most I would say it is a gradual build-up of little steps leading to an eventual “Wow, look what I can do!”
So set this blog aside, get on some sneakers and let’s make 2014 the year we look back on and say, “I started then and I am so glad!”
Note from Marlene: Perhaps you started writing and then stopped because of __________ (fill in the blank). No matter the reason, if you really want to write. . . just start. . . get out a notebook, paper, pen or flex your fingers and sit at your keyboard. By the way, I started a boot camp program last year and absolutely love it. If you are in the Petaluma area, join me at Fitness Revolution.
Guest Blogger Janet Ciel has lost 80 lbs and maintained that loss since 2001. She is a former Weight Watchers leader, and a certified Life Coach specializing in weight management. Janet and her husband Denver recently opened a new bike rental company in Sebastopol, the Sebastopol Bike Center. Janet is a proponent of healthy, smart eating and activity. Check out her website, Healthy and Happy and subscribe to her newsletter to read her blogs monthly.
