Spoken by Satchel Paige, considered one of baseball’s best pitchers who pitched his last game at 60 years of age, this question reminds us that we really do age in different ways and at different rates.
Grant and I both feel like we are in our mid thirties – partly because 30 years later we continue to do all of the activities we did in our 20s and 30s. Last week, we packed up our gear and headed out on a ski vacation with our grown children. With most of the family in tow, it felt like old times. Reminiscent of our cross-country adventures as a young family, we were reminded of how fortunate we are to have both the opportunity and good health to enjoy these activities.
The activities we cherish the most are those that we took on as a family. Having spent countless hours with our children playing the games that they loved, we are now, like many of you, playing with our grandchildren in much the same way. We climb and slide in the park, push the swings endlessly, go swimming and walk to the river to feed the swans and ducks. As our grandchildren get older, we fully expect to ski and skate with them in the winter or swim and cycle in the summer. Should they choose to play tennis, play golf or go hiking, we are preparing to be to be there, with them, every step of the way.
In fact, preparation for this active lifestyle is key. The prevailing fear about aging is that as you get older, keeping up children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews becomes impossibly difficult. However, nothing is further from the truth. If continuing to be active is becoming more difficult for you, then you’re likely not using your body enough. Use “it”, and you won’t lose “it”.
So, what to do? It’s actually very simple – get moving! A smart resistance exercise program has enormous benefits. It can:
- Increase lean muscle mass – making you exponentially stronger
- Rev your metabolism and lower body fat – helping you to lose extra fat or prevent weight gain
- Enhance glucose metabolism to lower the risk of diabetes.
- Increase bone mineral density – helping you to avoid injury
- Improve blood lipid and lower resting blood pressure levels – to keep your heart and circulation healthy.
- Reduce lower back and arthritic pain
Adding short-burst cardio intervals to your resistance training is equally important. It helps to maintain or improve cardiovascular function, as well as reduce the risk of diabetes, colon cancer, heart disease and stroke. And, including exercises to improve balance and flexibility will not only help prevent injury in any type of activity, but will lessen the risk of falling.
The number of candles on the birthday cake should never determine how “old” you actually are. In fact, biological factors that contribute to aging can be delayed with a lifestyle that includes regular exercise, healthy eating and life balance. It’s never too late to start, but it’s up to you to live your life with not only quantity of years, but quality of life. But, no matter your age, get moving today and let “old” sit and wait for you.
