The great thing about being part of the baby-boomer generation is that our numbers are so large that we can’t be ignored—and we’re not! But that means not a day goes by when we’re not bombarded by at least one article telling us the best way to stay healthy, stay strong, or look and feel younger.
I’m embarrassed to say that even though I’m well-versed in nutrition, disease prevention, and fitness, I still find myself captivated by the ads and infomercials that boast about the latest miracle supplements, diet, or exercise program–all claiming they’ll save you from aging or disease while keeping you slender! They sure know how to tap into our greatest desires.
But then, another Tuesday and Thursday roll around, and I get a jolt of reality. These are the days I work out with my dad over Zoom. Notable because he celebrated his 97th birthday at the end of October 2024.
Believe me, I’ve analyzed every part of my dad’s life to try and figure out how he managed to have such a great health span. He did have a couple of blockages in his heart decades ago that were easily dealt with, and since then, he’s been good. Yes, he’s slowing down. Yes, he’s a little forgetful. But overall, he’s doing great.
I have a saying I started using for the members at Agile 4 Life Fitness because there have been so many times when it’s been true. I think it applies to my dad as well.
Just an ordinary senior getting extraordinary results.
In other words, my dad and the other seniors I know were never elite athletes who hired the best trainers. They aren’t millionaires or billionaires who live in massive homes with their own gyms. They’re just normal seniors who made a little extra effort to improve their fitness and ended up with extraordinary results.
The amazing part – these seniors had no idea they’d end up being special!
Take Janice. She normally does an hour of pole walking and an hour of stationary bike, plus a yoga and a strength training class every day. Which helped her recover in record time from her recent total knee replacement. Her overall strength and endurance are amazing for a woman in her late 70’s. She says she’s stronger now than she was 20 years ago. I can vouch for that.
Then there’s Caron. She had so much pain from spinal stenosis that she was getting cortisone shots. In the past two years, even after a family tragedy, she has had almost no pain due to her stenosis. In fact, she’s noticeably gained muscle and feels so much more balanced that she went back to downhill skiing with her family. All that again from a woman in her late 70’s.
Even Sheila shocked me. She’s 86. She was rushing in the rain, tripped on the sidewalk, and came down hard on her knee. For your average 86-year-old old this would have been a broken bone for sure or worse. For Sheila, she got it checked, and miraculously, there was nothing broken. Totally amazing! She continued to come to her yoga and fitness classes and did what she could. Within 6 weeks, she was ready to go on another downhill skiing trip with her family.
The last senior I want to tell you about is Gloria. She’s mid 70’s and still works every day in her own business. She’s had 2 total knee replacements. She’s struggled with her weight and diabetes for decades. Things were so dire that she had to have bariatric surgery before she could get her knee surgery. For years the diabetes had played havoc on her body. To keep her eyesight, she’s been getting shots in her eyes every 3 months. Finally, her doctor suggested she try one of the new medications that better control diabetes. Fast forward. Gloria has lost 80 lbs. She is finally off insulin, she hasn’t had to get shots in her eyes for months, and she’s gained at least 6 lbs. of muscle. She’s even entered a couple of races and never misses a walk with her precious 4 legged companion.
If nothing else, in these uncertain times, I hope this has inspired you not to give up. But to invest in your health by investing in your fitness. Our futures aren’t guaranteed. But you never know when you’ll be the next senior who gets extraordinary results.
