…however, I like active living much better than I hate working out at the gym or exercising

Hank owns a family operated ski resort in New Hampshire but spends his winters in Florida. Thirty years ago he had a ski accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down—he couldn’t even wiggle his fingers.

Gradually Hank regained control of his upper body and through the use of leg braces and a specially designed walker with tricycle wheels and handle bar, he has been able to escape the prison of a wheelchair.

Most any day you can see him awkwardly hobbling and lurching around the gym where we go, and working out on the machines that will strengthen his arms, legs and torso. His positive attitude and indomitable spirit lights up the place and serves as motivation for the rest of us (what do we have to complain about?)

When possible, he swims in the ocean buttressed on one side by his wife and on the other side by a friend. Although Hank’s exercise routine is not always comfortable, he absolutely refuses to give up and let life pass him by.

Charlie was 85 but he didn’t look a day over 60. He had been widowed for more than 20 years and would have been quite a catch for the many widows who also attend the gym.

However, he was content to live alone as long as he could socialize and exercise with his many acquaintances (not to mention a few girl friends). Just talking to him was a tonic for most. He had heart problems for many years and we lost him last year to a stroke. Most of us still feel the void. Still, he extended his life for years because of his exercising and daily visits to the gym.

Don, who never smoked, contracted throat cancer last summer “up north” (as us snowbirds refer to our summer sojourns to our homes).

He had a rough go with chemo and radiation and was a little late arriving at his Florida condo, but immediately after arrival Don resumed his daily exercise at the gym. He realizes that his exercise routine is even more important now in order to keep his immune system strong and fight off any cancer cells still floating around in his blood stream.

What you have here is a profile of an enlightened group of seniors who realize that in order to enjoy life in retirement, it is necessary to make an investment in daily exercise—every bit as important as our financial investments—in order to insure that we can continue to enjoy the golden years.
A study published in the Health Psychology journal states that seniors like to work out together. The study also states that people trying to change a lifetime of unhealthy habits need something more than will power. Joining a group helps. The study also indicates that after eight weeks of regular exercising many people can settle into a long-term habit of working out.

Incidentally, we interact with the young bulging biceps bunch very nicely—acting as a role model to them, as they act as a role model to us.

One of America’s greatest health problems—particularly among us 55-Plusers—is a sedentary life style. According to another study by Stanford University, only 48 percent of Americans say they meet the federal recommendation for exercising half an hour four to five times a week. Actually the number of people who meet the minimum requirement for daily exercise is probably far less then the reported numbers.

I hate to exercise! It is totally boring and an interruption to my busy schedule. However, I like active living much better than I hate working out at the gym, and exercising in general. After my bout with cancer I started chemotherapy but could not tolerate the poison that invaded my digestive track. The doctor told me that my only defense against the return of this horrid disease was to strengthen my immune system, and this required proper diet and a healthier lifestyle, including regular exercise.

Actually my favorite is swimming, which we do almost every day of the year since we live on Owasco Lake in the Finger Lakers region during the summer, and on the beach in Jupiter, Fla. during the winter season. Our second favorite exercise is bicycling, which we can also do almost every day of the year.

Health statistics show that regular exercise that raises your pulse rate will extend your active life by at least 10 years. Most of the group we hang out with are in the 75‑85 age group and I can tell you from personal experience that the formula works.
Old Chinese proverb: “The trip of 10,000 miles starts with the first step.”