Hi
July 15, 2021
In this newsletter . . .
How strong
is your resolve?
Not long ago, my son gave me a book titled Can’t Hurt Me, by David Goggins. And what a story! Goggins, cruelly mistreated as a child, an early failure in school, and a young adult whose future is headed nowhere manages to turn his life around to become a super-achiever.
How did someone with so much going against him make such a transition?
He looks his weaknesses and shortcomings straight in the eye, never making excuses, blaming others, or taking the easy path. Instead he challenges himself directly, physically and mentally. One of many confrontations he puts himself through is becoming a Navy SEAL. That alone would mean success to most of us. But he doesn’t stop there. He continues to push himself, endlessly.
As seniors, we may not be up for challenging the Badwater 135, as Goggins did (a footrace beginning in Death Valley, the hottest place on earth, and ending 135 miles later on the
flank of Mt. Whitney). But there are lessons to be learned about never giving up, whether in studies, at work, or in the gym.
A few thoughts about fitness for seniors . . .
To sell us goods and services, advertising copywriters must understand the concerns of a graying population. They know, for example, two things seniors worry about: 1) Will I have enough money for a comfortable retirement? And 2) will I stay healthy enough to enjoy it?
Regarding the first concern (money), I’m not by any stretch a personal finance expert. I'm just a fitness advocate. Still, I have seen what happens to people who disregard financial planning for their retirement years. So I have a few personal thoughts about money matters, for the curious who care to look.
To the main topic of senior fitness . . .
Sarcopenia is that strange-looking Greek word meaning “poverty of flesh.” It is what we see in the
elderly who are bent over and tottering from a combination of osteoporosis and the wasting away of muscle tissue (sarcopenia). That won't happen to me, we think to ourselves when we’re young. Like the words in a Travis Tritt song, ”I’m ten feet tall and bulletproof.” Yet aging starts earlier than we think.
Inactive men and women over age 30 slowly lose muscle tissue every year. At about age 50 the loss starts happening faster. After age 65, it accelerates even more. Visit a nursing home and witness its ultimate toll. Loss of muscle mass is often an underlying reason many end up dependent on others.
We are going to age, all of us. We are going to get old. Yet with regular activity — particularly resistance exercise — we can apply the brakes. To a large extent, we can keep sarcopenia at bay. With proper nutrition and resistance training, we have a good chance of retaining a decent degree of strength and fitness right up to the end of life.
On the other hand, poor eating habits and a do-nothing physical lifestyle will greatly accelerate our decline. It’s a great life. Make the smart choice. Start by getting a barbell, dumbbells, or a kettlebell, or resistance bands, or join a gym. Get good instruction. And stay active. It’s one of the best gifts you can give to yourself and your family.
Stay healthy. Stay
fit.
Logan
Senior Exercise Central
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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.
Sincerely,
Logan Franklin
The Gray Iron Fitness Newsletter
www.senior-exercise-central.com
