What is typical of the "Beyond 50" individual?
- 50+ men and women see their body changing, typically through increased weight gain, belly fat, and/or loss of muscle tone or flexibility
- 50+ women have been through or are going through menopause and notice many changes due to the hormonal imbalance
- 50+ men and women have some minor health issues creeping in such as higher blood pressure, higher cholesterol, arthritis and/or diabetes
- 50+ men and women have lost some fitness due to a major setback such as an injury, a hip or knee replacement, or an illness (i.e. cancer or heart disease)
Additionally, men and women "beyond 50" may be empty nesters or retired, and now have the time available to focus on themselves. Finally! After years of working 8 to 5, after years of raising a family, they have reached the golden years and for so many, can finally prioritize themselves!
I'll tell you a story about a friend of mine - maybe you can relate (I hope not!)...
Sarah (I have changed her name) got married and had a child. She drove over an hour each way, every day to an 8 to 5 job. When she got home, she cooked dinner for the family and spent time with her child doing homework, and eventually, taking him to numerous sports games - soccer, basketball, and baseball. Her weekends were spent doing laundry, shopping for groceries and clothes, and cleaning the house, and also going to more sports events for her son.
Over the years (Sarah's son was in high school now), and Sarah's weight kept on increasing. Not just a little, but a lot. At just 5'2", Sarah was well over 250 pounds. She had trouble getting in and out of cars. Her joints started hurting. She was routinely out of breath just walking around the house. I offered her my services, free of charge, because I felt strongly that if I could just get her to prioritize herself sooner than later, we might stand a chance. We walked 15-20 minutes 2-3 mornings a week (before work) and did some light resistance training and stretching. After about six weeks, Sarah told me she had to stop. She was getting stressed out trying to "make the time" for our sessions. I reluctantly let her go, but she assured me that as soon as her son went to college, she would have more time for herself. Sarah's son did indeed go to college, but instead of taking more time for herself, Sarah only worked more and spent weekends visiting her son. She filled up her time with "other things".Long story short, Sarah never did make time for herself. She never did prioritize her health and as a result, today, she is hurting, physically and medically. My hope is that people reading this will realize that you cannot put your health off to tomorrow. You have been given a body, and you need to take care of it currently! I remember reading a Chinese Proverb about health (but I cannot find it, even with Google search!). It reads something like this:
"If you don't have your own health, you won't be around to take care of others."I'd like to add, that if you don't take care of yourself, you'll be a burden to others."
Ultimately, it's your responsibility. If you start today, you'll be able to add more function and fun to your life!
Be 365fitt - AT ANY AGE!
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