Weight Training

I've been lifting weights since I was 18, about 57 years to be exact, now that's a lot of years! I lifted heavy weights in the beginning but as I got older the weights diminished and the reps increased. I strongly believe that weight training has allowed me to enjoy skiing, running, hiking, biking, swimming and playing tennis up to the present day without any interruption from injury.

My experience is that weight lifting has kept me in better shape to do all these sports. To quote a book I read recently, The Cure of Everything,  "people with high levels of muscular strength have fewer functional limitations and a lower incidence of chronic disease." I agree with this statement.

If you've never lifted weights before and are past 55 don't think it's to late to start. Begin slowly with some easy exercises using light weights i.e. , pull downs, bench presses, curls and simple shoulder lifts. 

All these weight lifting exercises plus other exercises will be on my website coming soon, so stay tuned.

Pull Downs

Keep it Simple, Consistence and Fun.
      

Use common sense

I just finished reading an article in the NY Times regarding "Hot Weather Exercising."

I'm a regular reader of the health section in the NY Times and consider them quite good. Having said that I've been a runner since the age of 30, I'm now 75, including running marathons, 1/2 marathons, 10K's and 5k's in all kinds of terrain and weather. The idea that a study is needed to determine if your getting hot while running in the heat seems a bit ironic. Of course you're getting hotter!!

 Race in 85 degrees!!

My experience exercising in the heat:

If it's very warm outside then run in the early or late hours of the day when the sun has it's least intensity. Do alternative exercising like swimming, brisk walking, biking, weight lifting, yoga, etc. The older you get the least resistance you have to hot weather, my experience. Or don't exercise the day that it's too hot, take the day off, it won't kill you, might even help.

Keep it Simple, Consistent and Fun. degrees

The simplicity of Fitness

All the research, scientific studies and books on how to stay healthy and fit as we grow older always comes to the same basic conclusion, "eat less, exercise more." It's that simple yet we seem to want to complicate what's so simple.

Now what is that about? As a 75 year old man my experience in staying fit has brought me to the following conclusion:

We are inundated with all kinds of easy ways to lose weight and get fit. What's missing is the big question, is there a willingness on your part to actually do the work and do it consistently? Once you've decided to be willing, then within time, depending on your fitness when you started you'll see change, it's up to you. It's all in your hands. Remember how many years you've been out of shape before you try to get fit and buff in six weeks, it isn't going to happen, it will take time. So.....

Keep It Simple, Consistent and Fun.