A Couple
of Thoughts

I’ve written that in my youth men and women, with few exceptions, never worked out in commercial gyms at the same time. Today, of course, men and women sharing health club workout space is common practice.

Yet some women subscribers have said that, common practice or not, they sometimes feel uncomfortable in coed gyms. This should not have surprised me. But, after all, I’m a guy and see things as men see them. I had posited that having women in a health club with men tends to have a civilizing effect on male behavior. Generally, I believe that is true. Yet I also realize that it takes only a few knuckleheads to spoil things.

After reading one woman’s comments, I thought back to a time not too many years ago when a man where I worked out pestered a pretty, young receptionist (probably still in her teens), as well as getting pushy with some of the female members. The women didn't appreciate the man’s attention and the word finally reached the gym’s owner. I forget how it was handled, but they did get rid of him. Though not as flagrant as this guy was, the act of ogling women as they work out can be enough to make some feel self-conscious and a reason for seeking women-only venues.

Most guys have better manners. But not all. Unfortunately.

A subscriber thanked me for “not making blatant sales pitches for supplements.”

The supplement business is a multi-billion dollar industry with little regulation or oversight. Frankly, there’s probably no reason for using the majority of the stuff they sell, anyway. That a regular diet of good food provides enough of what’s needed for most people most of the time.

Still, I have to admit I didn’t always think this way.

As a young muscle-head, I gobbled vitamins like crazy and wolfed down God only knows how many home-brewed protein drinks, often containing ingredients that today cause me to gag just thinking about them. Now I take a couple of things my doctor suggested. But that’s it.

What changed my thinking? Maturity, mostly, and digging a little deeper into the subject.

For example, reports from independent testing sources show that many supplements do not either (1) contain the amounts they claim or (2) include fillers and sometimes harmful substances.

I subscribe to ConsumerLab.com, an independent laboratory that tests supplements, vitamins, minerals, and herbals and reports on their findings. I have no connection with ConsumerLab, other than being a subscriber, but find them a valuable source when looking for scientific information.

Even those containing exactly what is advertised in the precise amounts they claim, may not be needed anyway.

My advice: Check with your doctor if you suspect you’re lacking in something. Get tested. Don’t overload your body with substances you may not need. It wastes money and some can be harmful.

Compound Exercise of the month . . .Not for beginners — but for those in good physical condition and with some kettlebell experience. Use good judgement and a kettlebell weight according to ability. Full disclosure: I was a “youngster," at 75, when I made the video. Today I’m 87 and instead of keettlebells I use resistance bands, which are effective at any age but very senior friendly.

Stay healthy. Stay fit.

Logan

Senior Exercise Central

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Sincerely,

Logan Franklin
The Gray Iron Fitness Newsletter
www.senior-exercise-central.com