Good Health is for Everyone

I'm always talking about how to be healthy and lots about sports and sports injuries.  But what if you don't really consider yourself an athlete?  What if you're older?  Or have medical problems?  Where do you fit in all this?

Let me tell you about several folks that fit in to all this stuff about health and wellness and fitness.  I'm only going with first names (maybe even fake names) but these are real people.  I mask their identity a bit because I want you to identify with what they're doing, not with who they are.

Let me tell you about Bo.  He's 73 and has had more than his share of health problems.  His movement is slow and deliberate but every single day, he's doing something active.  He's doing it to combat the ravages of age and disease.  I think he's winning the battle.

I'd also like to tell you about James.  I still consider him an athlete.  He has probably slowed down but he still maintains a very active lifestyle, biking, running, strength training.  He does it for his own health and so that he can continue to take care of his wife, who is confined to a wheelchair.  If he's not there and not physically able, what's to become of her?

And in his words, "as long as I can continue doing what I'm doing, it will keep me from depending on someone else for help." 

And Mae.  81 but doesn't look it at all.  Long ago retired, she doesn't fit the mold of who you would think would be a regular in the gym.  But even on days when she doesn't visit the gym, she is active, walking and leading a full, busy lifestyle.  I'm convinced her time in the gym allows that lifestyle.

John is a pickleball player.  At 74, he flies airplanes, travels, and generally does pretty much anything he wants to. 

And then there's Randall.  A powerful man at 84, he tosses around weights that I won't even touch.  Another gym regular, he isn't seeking to reclaim past athletic glory as much as he is maintaining a piece of his persona. 

Oh, and he is missing his left leg.  It's been missing now for 80 years.  Hasn't slowed him down much.  I would still match him against a lot of younger people in a lot of things.

So what's the point?  Aren't these just the gym superstars, people who are blessed?  Not at all.

An active lifestyle is available to anyone that puts in the effort.  And it can be life changing at any age.

It's not just for those that have been active and fit all their lives.  One of those above smoked for 60 years.  Another stayed drunk for 6 straight years one time.  Yet, they figured it out.

So what's it take?  You've got to see your primary care physician.  They have to give clearance for anything like this that you want to start. If you've got medical issues, get them fixed.

I would suggest that you see your physical therapist, who can help you with any issues like flexibility, posture, and biomechanical issues that might become injuries down the road.

You've got to dedicate yourself to it.  If you think about it, you've got more time for all this once you retire.  That means fewer excuses.  And it really is never too late to get started.  Just ask all of those that I mentioned. 

Oh wait...you can't.  They're in the gym or in the mountains hiking or whatever else they want to do.