Thanks for sharing that quote from Arnold! We need to hear more quotes from men, because otherwise it seems like society wants us to believe it's only women who age! And on that note, I need to do my resistance training and then head for a walk.
I would suggest a BHAG. I've lifted for fifty years, so it's a habit. However, when I chose to climb Africa's tallest mountain, that galvanized me into serious cross training at a whole other level. At the time I lived in Denver, and used to run thousands of steps out at Red Rocks. Suddenly Colorado's fourteeners were....wait for it..."training runs," for Kili is nearly 20K high. That'll put hair on your chest all right. The point is that as we age, and I am seventy, you and I have to have really clear goals which allow us to take serious joy in the serious work of being and staying in shape. I recently finished some twelve major surgeries in five years, long story, and I am now back running sand dunes and stairs, slinging weights and generally conducting a comeback so that the rest of my seventies are equally badass in some way. There needs to be a reason- and it's best if what we choose feels like play vs. work. A playout could be pickleball or for me, riding horses, or running, or swimming. Whatever- if it's joyful we will do it. If it feels like drudgery we won't. We make time for what we love. We avoid what we hate.
Arnold is just as subject - at 76 - to conceit as we all are. That said, he still works hard at being in shape as he strides towards eighty. That's the whole point. What do we consistently do, and the body's fitness reflects it.
This article definitely resonated with me. I feel age catching up with my body and it can be depressing at times.
Thanks for sharing that quote from Arnold! We need to hear more quotes from men, because otherwise it seems like society wants us to believe it's only women who age! And on that note, I need to do my resistance training and then head for a walk.
Yes indeed. Your book really changed the way I think about aging as well. Thanks for reading!
Love it Jen. While my body does show it’s age, fitness is still the best drug there is. Can’t stop, won’t stop!
I totally agree -- and it's free!
I would suggest a BHAG. I've lifted for fifty years, so it's a habit. However, when I chose to climb Africa's tallest mountain, that galvanized me into serious cross training at a whole other level. At the time I lived in Denver, and used to run thousands of steps out at Red Rocks. Suddenly Colorado's fourteeners were....wait for it..."training runs," for Kili is nearly 20K high. That'll put hair on your chest all right. The point is that as we age, and I am seventy, you and I have to have really clear goals which allow us to take serious joy in the serious work of being and staying in shape. I recently finished some twelve major surgeries in five years, long story, and I am now back running sand dunes and stairs, slinging weights and generally conducting a comeback so that the rest of my seventies are equally badass in some way. There needs to be a reason- and it's best if what we choose feels like play vs. work. A playout could be pickleball or for me, riding horses, or running, or swimming. Whatever- if it's joyful we will do it. If it feels like drudgery we won't. We make time for what we love. We avoid what we hate.
Arnold is just as subject - at 76 - to conceit as we all are. That said, he still works hard at being in shape as he strides towards eighty. That's the whole point. What do we consistently do, and the body's fitness reflects it.