Fit for 50: Small steps get you on your way

Fifty is a lousy age. If you’re not a full-fledged “senior,” then you’re at least standing on the doorstep of “it’s all over but the shouting.”

Just watch television and you can tell there’s not much hope for anyone 50 or older, except maybe for Betty White who appears to be 38 though she’s actually 90. Makeup and good lighting cannot be overestimated.

Of course, that’s all a lie. Pop culture has a way of turning every life experience into an inaccurate snapshot. This distortion may seem bizarre unless you understand that every pipeline of culture – electronics and marketing -  is designed to sell you something you don’t want or don’t really need. It does not exist to make your life better, or accurately reflect you.

That’s your job.

And that’s why we talking about “Fit for 50.” We’re not using the term as a line of demarcation. It’s not an ending or destination. It’s the beginning of the life you always wanted to live, though culture suggests you have minimal value, especially as you sail past 50 to 60 and 70 and 80.

So, here’s my first rule for “Fit for 50.” We’re going to ditch the word “senior” which does not describe anyone unless it’s your fourth year of high school.

For the rest of us, it’s a shorthanded insult that suggests all your interests will revolve around adult diapers, denture adhesives and enhancements that require someone to call a doctor if it lasts for more than four hours.

The essence of avoiding that trite description is to be fit. Fit must become your personal corporation. But how do you do that?

If you watch TV advertising for fitness advice, you are pummeled with images of people who spend eight hours a day sweating on the treadmill and other devices of torture.

In order to reach the level of muscle development normally shown in TV ads,  intense weight training would have to become your entire reason for existence.

That’s a life no rational person would choose, especially a person  who is 50 and should know better.

So how do you best reach for “fit”?

It’s thrilling to know that you can become fit at any age. You really can.

Attempting to recapture 30 when you are 50+ will simply lead to frustration, especially if you haven’t been exercising for a while. That is what’s so amazing. You can begin “working out” at any age and definitely see improvement. Eating the right foods, following the right exercise program, sleeping 7-8 hours every night, losing weight and gaining strength are great goals for anyone at any age to strive for.

For starters, I have found that yoga is excellent for balance and flexibility. Training your muscles to be self-reliant again is one need, but fitness is also a function of movement and balance. Yoga aims you toward balance and flexibility as fundamental life skills.

With aging comes stiffness in places that you would never dream. Yoga addresses this basic first. One common suggestion in yoga class is to spread your fingers as much as possible when doing some of the stretching poses such as “downward dog” because we lose that flexibility with aging.

When I started doing yoga, my balance was abominable. Who knew? When I had to do the one-legged poses I could hardly remain standing. Now I’m able to do them with much less difficulty.

It’s very important to do low impact exercises as you age and walking is great for building stamina and strength. Walking is my other favorite exercise because I love being outside.

When was the last time you were in a county Forest Preserve? A walk there every day would start you on the clear path to be fit.

I like to walk in the forest preserves and I don’t mind walking the track at the fitness center. Slow at first. Take it easy.

Small steps can have big results when it comes to exercise. It doesn’t have to be too difficult; it should be exciting. The small step approach when you are facing a “get fit or else” situation can take you from couch potato to athlete…well maybe not athlete but it’s truly amazing how fit you can become.

If you haven’t been exercising in a long time, you begin by taking easy steps. You walk to the first mailbox on the block; then the next day to the second mailbox; then to the end of the block; then around the block.

There is a tremendous feeling of accomplishment when you are on the journey to fitness. You have more energy; you look better; you stimulate endorphins, which make you feel better; you sleep better; you lose weight and these things help you to stay on the path.

Just remember, you are not a “senior” and never will be unless you choose to finish off that bachelor’s degree. 

Who am I, and why would a person listen to me? Both fair questions. I’m Christine Hammerlund and I’ve been a nurse for years. I have delivered babies, saved lives, and cared for hundreds of patients through their medical triumphs and tragedies. Now I run Assured Healthcare at http://www.assuredhealthcare.com. We're a multi-million dollar medical staff provider in Illinois. I live in Antioch, Ill. Got health questions for me, whether large or small? I’ll answer. Visit us at http://www.facebook.com/AssuredHealthcareStaffing  and Chrishammerlund@yahoo.com