I did my first lunge with Jack LaLanne. I sweated through four Jane Fonda tapes, did Tai Bo until I had pulled both hamstrings, wrenched my neck on my Pilates trainer, and suffered through more strained muscles from lifting weights than I can count. I’m 57 years old. I’m tired. I’m giving up the hope that one more workout with Gilad will have me competing with Cameron Diaz for the next incarnation of Charlie’s Angels.
I want to look good, but I don’t want to hurt anymore for the sake of beauty. That doesn’t mean I’m giving up. I’m determined to take a lesson from some of my most glamorous and well-toned, past-50 friends.
My friends Sue and Lynne both take Salsa dancing lessons and love it. They both also have perfectly shaped calves and toned bodies. Vivian rides horses three times a week and is absolutely stunning. My friend Jan snow skis all winter and water skis all summer. She is thin, muscular and beautiful. Susan does Tai Chi. Not only is she in great shape – she moves through life with an aura of peace and tranquility.
Each of these women have found an activity that brings joy and satisfaction to their lives, while keeping their bodies fit and healthy. They don’t spot train in order to have six-pack abs. They don’t do squats to the point of muscle fatigue in order to sculpt the perfect bottom. They use their bodies to enhance their lives and keep fit as a side benefit. Isn’t that really what we should all be aiming for – fitness and well-being, rather than someone else’s perfect body?
Walking is one of the best exercises for people “our age." And who doesn’t like to walk? In the woods, along the bike path, at the mall – it’s all good. I can definitely walk three times a week and strengthen my marriage by dragging my husband along for conversations we’ve ignored too long.
Because core conditioning is important for our posture and flexibility, I’ll continue to work the mid-section. I really enjoy the exercise ball for core strengthening. I find ab work on the exercise ball fun, and less strenuous than crunches on the floor, so that will take care of core conditioning.
I won’t totally give up weight training, but I’ll switch to lighter weights with more repetitions. I’m also going to find a racquetball partner since I enjoyed the game tremendously when I was younger.
So, bottom line for me right now is – I’ll take walks with my husband, bounce on the ball while I watch the 6 PM news, do some light weight training and get back into racquetball. In other words…I‘m going to keep moving in ways that make me happy and healthy, without the need for muscle rubs and heating pads. How about you?
Has anyone tried pole dancing? It's all the rage out in California and there are different levels. The wife of an actor on the West Wing has a Web site about it.
Posted by: Cindy Howell | January 10, 2006 at 02:19 PM