A few years ago, I took on a serious physical challenge: I agreed to babysit my infant granddaughter when her parents went back to work.
At first I was sure I was doing permanent damage to my body, which at the time was 57 years old and has arthritis. But after about three weeks, I felt better. My body adjusted to 9-hour days of lifting, carrying, holding, going up and down stairs, pushing her stroller on daily walks, and getting up and down off the floor (a mat where we play) , usually with her in my arms.
It was amazing! I got stronger and more limber. Turns out I wasn’t crickety so much as out of shape. The greatest part about this was discovering one thing in this increasingly weird world that I could control. You know this world: the one where your ears and nose are getting longer or you sneeze and pee your pants or you get growths in weird places on your skin? Unlike aging, this one thing – fitness – seemed to be within my ability to improve. I was pretty stoked.
Even though I’m not babysitting fulltime any more, I now try to work out every day, but I can’t get to the gym that often. So I bought Kathy Smith’s “Ageless” exercise DVD for not-young people.
Holy crap! I’m back at the “I’m gonna die!” stage.
But Smith is around my age, she’s perky but not annoying, and Ageless is for older peeps, so I’m sticking with it. Ageless consists of four 15-minute segments, which anybody should be able to fit into their schedule most of the time.
I’m telling you this because I want to share with you my feeling of hope. At our age, so much of our bodily changes are of the stunning, what the hell now? variety, so it feels good to think that we might still have the power to improve something. Anything.
And if we need motivation, we can always watch 80-year old Sister Madonna Buder doing the Ironman Triathlons.
the body’s like anything else, use it or lose it!
MM, you are 100% right. Happy Fourth!
I agree…along with taking fish oil, moving helps with those stiff joints. Stretching is so important too. I hurt my knee and have arthritis setting in but working out with weights has strengthened the muscles surrounding the joint and made it so much stronger. And when I was in my triathlon phase a few years ago — there were 70 and 80 year olds out there. Impressive.
Jamie, have you seen the Iron Nun? I mean, not all elderly people can do it but the ones who do put us “kids” to shame! Happy Fourth.
Good for you! I keep trying to preach this lesson to my 69 year old mother who lives like she’s 89. (Maybe that’s my problem…I’m preaching)? You must keep moving! Stopping is not an option! Like the eagles we have to move our wings to soar or, as Will Rogers said, “Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”
I love this little nursery rhyme:
The best six doctors anywhere
And no one can deny it
Are sunshine, water, rest, and air
Exercise and diet.
These six will gladly you attend
If only you are willing
Your mind they’ll ease
Your will they’ll mend
And charge you not a shilling.
~Nursery rhyme quoted by Wayne Fields, What the River Knows, 1990
Keep going! We’re right there with you!
Ereline, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve felt grateful that I can simply SLEEP. Not perfectly but well enough. Thanks for the rhyme. Lots of wisdom there. Happy Fourth.
we’re not too old at all-most are just out of shape-i have an ebook coming out -written with an LA fitness guru–she’s in her 30’s—i’m not…:)
it’s about being consistent and showing up! just do it and ur bod will thank u–especially when we ARE old….in all seriousness, we cannot afford NOT to move–the health care crisis is not lessening—-something like 90% of all chronic care is delivered to 5 % of the population-older unhealthy folks—don’t be one! Get ur u know what moving! exercising regularily also increases hormones that decrease depression…..
great post Lynne
Marla, until my mom broke her femur in 2 places last February, she was going to exercise class 3 x a week. Sometimes all they did was get in and out of a chair (while singing “bringing in the sheaves.”) But at 85 it kept her going. She is recovering – now at about 80%. Hopes to get back to class and the company of her girlfriends real soon. What an inspiration. Looking forward to the wisdom in your ebook. Share the link when it’s ready.
Thank you Lynne. I’ve some years on you and if I could slow down I probably would. Necessity does invent. There is one that tops us both though. Helen, a ninty-three year old friend of mine, workes circles around many in their thirties. Years ago when I asked her what her secret was she said, “It’s all in the mind. Your body doesn’t give up, your mind does.”
Pamela, I love your message about Helen. Much of it IS in the mind. I keep getting these weird, mystery ailments. A toe that feels infected. A heel that is super sensitive to pressure, such that I couldn’t wear a shoe for a while (good that it’s summer!) An eyelid that got irritated, swollen, painful. A rash at the nape of my neck. I’m sick of the drama. I’ve decided to ignore it, for the most part. It’s not in my mind but I don’t intend to pay attention. Most of it went away. More will come. Meh.
Good thoughts! I try to do yoga every few days because I hate that “stiff all over” feeling that began once I hit 25 (I mean 55 🙂 and it makes such a difference in how I feel. I’m not that good at it, but it doesn’t seem to matter. The physical activity helps no matter how imperfect it may seem. Thanks Lynne for this lovely reminder to keep at it … and wishing you a lovely 4th of July. –Daisy
Thank you, Prairie Sis. Happy 4th to you as well.
I agree that keeping fit is very important as we get older.
But, hello folks, you over there in the USofA, what is wrong with a good old walk? It does the lot, keeps you fit by exercising every muscle in your body, stretches your heart and lung capacity without undue strain and, most of all, it allows you to think, thereby training those little grey cells we mustn’t forget to exercise too.
Fresh air, being out of doors, watching nature unfold, and all for free. Isn’t that something?
Anybody?
Friko, all you have to do is work in your garden, in the shadow of actual castle ruins (!!) to get a good workout. I’ve seen your blog and the pics are awesome. But to answer your question, so many of us do exercise outdoors. I live in a 55+ community and every morning the sidewalks are filled with walkers and we also have bikers and golfers, too. Plus people swimming laps in the pool. That doesn’t even touch on the exercise classes and gym. So one way or the other, they’re all out there getting it done.
Great blog! Good for you Lynn—work that body and live by my motto—
move it or lose it! Never were truer works spoken then when discussing body parts. Go granny go!
Thanks, Pat. You are an inspiration, after all you’ve been through. You are so upbeat. Everyone, if you want to get a burst of energy, check out Pat’s blog at http://pattymackz.com/wordpress/about-the-author/.
Lynne,
Zumba is a blast. I can’t do half of what my half-my-age teacher does but I figure as long as I shake it any which way I can,it’ll work 🙂
I’m old, out of shape, lumpy and bumpy
one foot in the grave, and the other on a banana peel
and because of all that, am I allowed to feel grumpy 🙂
Yes, you are, Kathy. And that’s what’s cool about being our age. We are “allowed” to do a lot of things. Should I say best wishes or hang in there?
You and I are on the same page! I love Kathy Smith and even had the opportunity to interview her. This gal has brains, spunk, and (of course) energy to burn! Congrats on getting her video–I’ve got my own and was quite good about exercising the first couple of weeks I owned it. Now I’ve been a bit of a slacker… so I’ll razz you if you razz me!
You’re on, Eileen. It must have been intimidating interviewing her. On the DVD she looks like she is having such fun. I will report back. Best wishes with your fab blog. Everybody, check out the Feisty Side of Fifty here: http://feistysideoffifty.com/. It’s a fun and informative blog for gals our age and people who wish they were!
Your post made me laugh!!! Thank you… and you are so right. I’ve had this proven to me a few times in my life, when I thought I was going to hurt myself by pushing in my chair…. then excersizing and feeling lean and limber. Now that I am retiring (today is my official last day and I am using my computer for personal communication (don’t tell!) ) I am hoping to get my crickety body humming again. Thanks for the zen kick!
Nanci, congratulations!!!! I am so thrilled for you! Kathleen above is retiring next month from a nursing career. I hope you two will use this space to trade notes. Keep us posted, girlfriend! (Everybody, Nanci and I used to work together at Jurupa Unified School District in Riverside CA. She was an elementary school principal and I was a central office administrator. We have been friends for – holy cow, Nanc! – 30 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh Lynne, I so enjoy relating to your ageless regimen! Exercise is the answer no matter how old we are, even if we are sitting in a circle in the nursing home day room.:-) But of course we aren’t there ..yet! I try to do 2-3 Zumba classes/week and walk in between and always feel better when I make the effort. The more we keep moving, the longer we’ll be able to keep moving. Good Luck with your program!
Wow, Zumba! My Weight Watchers teacher is always trying to get us to try that. I sounds like fun. You’re an inspiration.
Lynne,
I have been complaining about a stiff neck for ages. I noticed it mostly when driving – when I’d crank my head around to check my blind spot – ouchh!! I thought I was doomed to have an arthritic neck for the rest of my life until I started doing neck exercises. Every time I think of it, I bend my neck from side to side, back and forward and, although it still hurts, it keeps getting better and better. My miracle massage therapist, that you’ve heard me talk about, says that your body will adjust to whatever you want it to do. If you want to sit on the couch every day, it will adjust. If you want to take a daily walk, it will adjust. I guess as we age, we have move it or lose it!! Good luck with your exercises! I’m rooting for you!
You know, Vonnie, I had a therapist (the mental kind) who told me “you get good at whatever you practice” and he meant I had practiced being a servant and a doormat, so that’s what I got good at. Those were the bad old days.
But I am going to try turning my head more because I’m getting that left-turn/merge-left kind of stiffness, too. Thanks for the info.
I’m out of shape, which makes me look older than I am.
I like your attitude that any kind of improvement is worth the effort. Will try to keep it in mind while I regain some of my strength after a few years of forced sedentariness, courtesy of two accidents.
Well hello, Ms. Bean. Good to hear from you! I get what you’re saying about accidents. I’ve had more than my share of surgeries (not accidents) and at this point I feel like, hey, it’s somebody else’s turn. So when I am in a place like right now when I’m healthy and able to exercise, I am going to run with it. Then if I’m forced to sit on the sidelines again, I’ll at least have that in the bank. Start slow and don’t be too hard on yourself. Let us know how you are coming along. Best wishes.
Oh, Lynne, your description of “aging” is priceless! I can’t say I feel all creaky and hurting (and I hope I never do!), but you’re right in saying you’ve got to MOVE! So many people think exercise is for kids (it’s not!) or athletes (nope!). Our bodies weren’t meant to sit or lie still all day; we do best when we don’t get all “stoved up”!!
Hey, Deb! Sometimes it is scary, so you have to laugh. I watch my mom going through it, and she’ll be 86 tomorrow. So I think, dang, I have 29 years to learn how to be as courageous as she is.