Sometimes it just takes nerves. When the years go by and you cross the „silver line“ and dare to become a little lazy, this good old body seems to get what technicians call „storage damage“.
I think oldies like us all more or less share this experience.
Can you relate to this?
Gravitation seems to sneak in, by and by, making it a little bit harder to move your behind …
But – do you really want to give in to gravitation?
What price are you willing to pay?
As long as you are young you may think that retirement is going to be the most comfortable time of your life. You picture yourself completely relaxed and floating along, because you are no longer busy in the job and kids have grown up and can take care of themselves.
How often have I heard a friend say: „Once retired, I will be able to …“
The famous when-then logic. This critical tendency to postpone the beautiful things on your bucket list, until society „allows“ you to break free.
Well, we seem to be very good at ignoring that age comes with a price tag.
And then it takes us by surprise that our aging body slowly but surely starts refusing demands that it used to accept years ago without the slightest complaint!
Moving, moving, moving ...
Nothing to whine about, though. The news and other media are full of advice what to do to live a healthy life. Research and studies all over the place.
Means, we can do something about it.
So, last year, when I felt my condition became a little weak, I decided to give it a go.
But no – I didn’t want to end up in the gym.
If you’re like me and don’t like to be surrounded by sweating, panting youngsters struggling with all sorts of torture racks in hot pursuit of the newest muscle building fad, you choose a different approach.
Coming from a tradition of meditation, Tai Ji Chuan and Qi Gong, I knew how to integrate physical flexibility and balance with mental relaxation and equinamity.
But I also needed to do something to enhance physical strength and endurance, now that I don’t ride horses or hike excessively any longer.
So, I read a couple of books and watched videos by some of our popular fitness gurus. Not the ones that tell you how to train for the New York Marathon at any age. Or prepare for the „Iron Grandma“.
No intention to become a fitness freak
Neither did I want to compete with people who spend their retirement hiking up the Alps barefoot. Which a 65 year old man man from a neighbouring town actually did twice a week, just to have a beer on the mountain top.
I was looking for exercises with common sense.
Beating gravitation and helping my body keep its sound condition. And bringing my energy up.
Fun must be part of it
So, I created my own program for just 50 to 60 minutes a day.
Seemed modest, but – lo and behold – it actually did the job. And fit my lifestyle and schedule perfectly.
To make it easier and more motivating I created fun stuff around it.
For example, a brisk walk in a beautiful landscape always makes my heart sing. Actually, I have a hard time going back home after an hour. Whenever my schedule allows it I just keep on walking. It’s pure fun for me.
Sometimes the weather just doesn’t play along. This is when I hop on my trampoline.
Boring and repetitive? Not if you turn on your stereo full throttle.
Jimi Hendrix, Stones, Led Zeppelin – they make me feel like I’m partying in a rock concert.
Okay, I’m considerate enough not to get on my neighbours’ nerves. I wear headphones ;-).
Also, I need to use my proven remedy against “chicken wings”. Small, handy barbells, 1 to 2 kilos each, do a good job. Especially, when I use them while watching some motivating video clips from the Rocky series. Gonna fly now …
Finally, I want to caress my ego and take a look at my pedometer. It’s a 6.000 step minimum per day for a person of age 65 and older, the experts say.
Ha! I’m ambitious! Whenever I crack the famous 10.000 step mark, I feel sooooo good and proud of myself.
Finally, I’m in for a treat. Something nice and light to eat, tasteful, high in nutritional value, low in calories.
Eat 30 different plants per week to boost your immune system, a researcher and professor in the UK wrote in his book. For me, an easy advice to follow, since I have always been a great fan of veggies and fruit.
After half a year of modest daily training my physical condition and energy have improved considerably.
The secret to it, I found out, is not the intensity of the workout. It’s regularity.
I can recommend it – especially, because it really fires you up once it becomes a habit ;-).
What do you do to keep yourself alive and kicking? Any New Year’s resolutions that you have managed to integrate into your life?
I’d be very curious to know.
