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The Gray Iron Fitness Newsletter, Issue #196. Rugged Senior Workouts. February 01, 2017 |
Hi
February 1, 2017
In this newsletter . . . Rugged Senior WorkoutsI thought I was kind of tough, but I’m really such a wuss. A few days ago it was clear weather here in California, but in the mid- to low-50° (Fahrenheit). And I decided that it was “too cold” for my outdoors exercise walk. So I went instead to an enclosed shopping mall. Wuss or not, at least I could say that I did go on my walk. Coincidentally, when I returned home I opened some email and found a note from newsletter subscriber Bob Hastie, who lives on a ranch in Manitoba, Canada. The same day as my enclosed mall exercise walk, Bob, who is 81-years-of-age, went out snowshoeing with his Alaskan Husky dog, Koda. It was -20° C (or -4° Fahrenheit). The snow at his ranch was too deep and too soft to walk on without snowshoes or cross-country skis. And on his way home, the straps on both snowshoes broke. With still 150 yards to go to get home, he tied what was left of the snowshoe straps to his hands and crawled, hands first, through the soft snow the rest of the way. He said it was like doing 150 yards of Burpees in the snow. Here’s a picture of his trail home, his snowshoes, and Koda.
Whatever the circumstances, it pays to stay consistent and get in a workout. Even if you live in cold, winter environs, like Bob Hastie; or if you decide to “tough it out” in a warm enclosed shopping mall, like I did.Young whippersnappers Several of the workouts at Senior Exercise Central are structured more for younger seniors who may still be seeking increased muscle mass. I followed many of them when I was younger. And I know they work. (See: Workout A, Down the Rack, Supersets, Big Arms, Big Arms 2.) As I moved into my 70s, I gradually made age appropriate adjustments to my training. Adding mass was no longer a concern. Staying as strong and fit as possible was. You don’t quit working-out in old age. But you’ve got to be smart about changing goals and abilities. I like kettlebell training, as well as the standard barbell and dumbbell routines; but more and more I make use of quality resistance bands in my workouts. I’ve found that almost any free weights exercise movement you can think of can be duplicated with bands. So your muscles get a great workout and at the same time the bands are easy on your joints, tendons and ligaments. For Young Seniors: This month I added another bodybuilding workout from Living the Fitness Lifestyle, which is no longer in print. See: 4-Day Splits with Weights. If you like the newsletter, we're making it easy to share it . . . 
 Newsletter Policy The Gray Iron Fitness Newsletter is a free publication sent twice monthly to subscribers. The purpose is to provide honest and realistic fitness information for people age 50 and above. I have never been paid or received compensation of any kind to write a positive review or endorse a product. If I say that I personally use a product or service, it is because I find value in it and have paid for it with my own money. Like newspapers, magazines and television, this newsletter and my web site contain advertising and marketing links. Naturally, I am compensated for these. The newsletter and web site provide information to help users establish and maintain a fitness lifestyle. But fitness information is not the same as fitness advice, which is the application of exercise and dietary practices to an individual's specific circumstances. Therefore, always consult with your physician for assurance that fitness information, and your interpretation of it, is appropriate for you. Your comments and questions are always appreciated. Simply click on the "Reply" bottom. |
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