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Old 10-05-2013, 06:36 AM
 
Location: Los Angeles area
14,017 posts, read 20,869,471 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Caladium View Post
By the way--here's a tip for those who like working out in gyms but don't want to pay gym fees: Sometimes gym use is included as a perk for volunteer work. Yesterday I was talking with two retirees at my local firehouse who say they work out in the gym there as much as the firemen. I've heard places like hospitals will let volunteers use their gyms, too.
Good idea. In the Los Angeles area gyms can draw very good attendance, so there is lots of competition among two or three chains in addition to economies of scale for large, well-equipped gyms. The result is what I consider very reasonable membership fees. The chain I belong to, L.A. Fitness, charges about $35 a month, but they also have a plan whereby you pay for three years in advance and the monthly drops down to about $20. Membership includes a wide variety of group classes at no extra charge and each location has a pool, lots of resistance machines, and free weights. There is a variety of cardio equipment: elipticals, stationary bikes, and stair machines in addition to the traditional treadmills. The hours of the different L.A. Fitness locations vary slightly, but the one around the corner from me is open 5 a.m. to midnight Mon.-Fri. and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Major holidays have reduced hours, but Christmas is the only day of the year they are actually closed. Not bad at all in my book.
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Old 10-05-2013, 07:27 AM
 
808 posts, read 1,175,655 times
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Haven't read through all the responses, but for the past 10 years I use Leslie Sansone's Walk Away the Pounds DVDs. She has many different ones out and they are timed so you can do 1 mile, 2, 3, etc. They consist of fast paced steps (walking), side steps, leg lifts, arm lifts and she guides you through it. I like the fast ones, which are 12 minute miles. Weather doesn't matter as you do it in your home. I do it 5 times a week and vary up the videos so I don't get bored. I also walk outside, but I never have the excuse of bad weather, too hot, too cold, etc. If interested, you can view clips at www. collagevideo.com
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Old 10-05-2013, 08:05 AM
 
Location: in the miseries
3,576 posts, read 4,497,795 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Caladium View Post
They get exercise because they walk everywhere or ride bicycles. And the bikes they ride in China aren't usually ten speeds, they're those heavy, sturdy ones that require a good amount of strength to pedal (especially if it's loaded down with groceries). They garden, repair things, tend goats and chickens, climb steps and often have to climb steep hills.
I remember those one speed bikes. Sure wish I had mine now.
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Old 10-05-2013, 08:09 AM
 
Location: in the miseries
3,576 posts, read 4,497,795 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Escort Rider View Post
I too discovered that I returned to previous levels with the hand weights quicker than I did with the cardio, although I didn't include that in my original post. So glad you brought up the weight workouts, which are extremely important for us older folks.
I was a very religious (three times a week) using my hand weights. Did this for 30
years with very few breaks.
Fast forward -now I have shoulder issues and can no longer lift (according to my doctor)
any weight over one pound. That hurts sometimes, too. So be careful
I was only lifting 10 lbs!
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Old 10-05-2013, 08:11 AM
NCN
 
Location: NC/SC Border Patrol
21,662 posts, read 25,569,421 times
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Our experience has been that two weeks is the max for staying away from the gym. My husband is 70 and just had cataract surgery. I am already suggesting that maybe he should go for a walk since he can lift practically nothing.

He once told me he feels going to the gym is like taking another pill. You may not want to do it but it is necessary to stay alive.
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Old 10-05-2013, 08:18 AM
NCN
 
Location: NC/SC Border Patrol
21,662 posts, read 25,569,421 times
Reputation: 24373
Quote:
Originally Posted by Caladium View Post
By the way--here's a tip for those who like working out in gyms but don't want to pay gym fees: Sometimes gym use is included as a perk for volunteer work. Yesterday I was talking with two retirees at my local firehouse who say they work out in the gym there as much as the firemen. I've heard places like hospitals will let volunteers use their gyms, too.
If I couldn't afford to pay for our gym, I would check into working for them part-time. I think a lot of their front desk workers and some of the activity instructors may do this. If you are a good swimmer, maybe a part-time lifeguard?
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Old 10-05-2013, 09:46 AM
 
2,479 posts, read 2,204,676 times
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Default Bike bike bike

Quote:
Originally Posted by lancers View Post
I don't know why anyone would want to jog when they get older. I ran track in high school and college jogged in my 20's into my 30's and just found it to be incredibly boring after a while. The impact was tough on the knees too. So I took up the bike and find exercise to be a lot easier and much more fun. I'm 61 couldn't imagine jogging at 70.
Played tennis, ruined my knees so even walking hurts. Got a beach bike with balloon tires, a wide seat, and pedals pushed back so I can pedal and sit up-right. I do about 6-7 miles each day for an hour traveling on sidewalks, off through roads and into subdivision streets. The bike is a coaster so its slow, granted, but I can go where cruiser bikes would bend a rim. Absolutely fantastic. Every runner I see does not seem to be enjoying the experience. Whereas I am enjoying a biker's high every time. Actually lowers my blood pressure.
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Old 10-05-2013, 10:30 AM
 
Location: Sebastian, Florida
677 posts, read 872,645 times
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As someone who deplores exercise and gyms in particular and has two bad knees and some back issues, here are the things I do to stay fit:

I have a pair of Kangoo Jumps rebound shoes. They are really fun and really get your heart rate up. I just go for a bounce around the neighborhood, listening to my favorite workout music. I also ride my bike, which is a Townie by Electra. Great cruiser bike, but has 18 gears so you can get a good fitness ride, too.

For strength training, I have a stability ball, some rubber exercise bands, some free weights and a bosu ball at home. Depending on what I feel like doing, I find a workout on YouTube, put it on my iPad, and it's like having a personal trainer in your home!

I WISH I loved to exercise and enjoyed going to the gym, but I hate the crowds, the noise, and other peoples' perspiration!
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Old 10-05-2013, 11:00 AM
 
Location: A coal patch in Pennsyltucky
10,325 posts, read 10,581,616 times
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The responses on this thread are sad. Your bodies are capable of doing a lot more than you think they can. There are so many excuses for why people are not exercising. Of course, injuries happen and many people are suffering from diseases and conditions they can't help. For the rest of us, we don't have an excuse. The reasons most people don't exercise are: 1. they never exercised their entire life. 2. they are lazy. 3. They are overweight or obese.

For those who want to compare I ran the Great Race in Pittsburgh last Sunday. It is a 10K, which is 6.2 miles. Here are the results of those runners that are 70 and older. Please note Lou Lodovico who is 89 and seems to run at least 30 races a year. Richard Monheim is also noteworthy since at age 72, he beat over 84% of the other finishers.

The first number is their time for the 10K and the second number is their mile pace. There were 8139 finishers of this race.

Richard Monheim Pittsburgh PA M/72 48:37:00 7:49/mi
Ronald Macy South Park PA M/71 51:24:00 8:16/mi
Larry Ratkus Irwin PA M/73 54:09:00 8:43/mi
Mario Chiodo Pittsburgh PA M/70 54:26:00 8:45/mi
lou alaksin new galilee PA M/73 54:38:00 8:47/mi
James Bailey Cedarville WV M/72 55:33:00 8:56/mi
David Anderson Greensburg PA M/70 56:27:00 9:05/mi
Chuck Hatfield pittsburgh PA M/71 56:48:00 9:08/mi
Earl Casebeer Wexford PA M/70 1:00:5 1 9:47/mi
David Gibbs Pittsburgh PA M/71 1:01:14 9:51/mi
Raymond English Eighty Four PA M/78 53:49:00 8:39/mi
Motohiro Brown Chicago IL M/76 1:02:42 10:05/mi
Donna Smith Latrobe PA F/77 1:03:44 10:15/mi
Leon Bierbower Chambersburg PA M/78 1:04:20 10:21/mi
Nancy Lassen Abington PA F/75 1:14:15 11:57/mi
Bill Brown Pittsburgh PA M/75 1:17:18 12:26/mi
Margaret Kimpel Ellwood City PA F/76 1:26:45 13:58/mi
Robert DeMello Atlanta GA M/77 1:30:20 14:32/mi
Ray Popovich Pittsburgh PA M/76 1:37:28 15:41/mi
David Lester Pittsburgh PA M/77 1:39:31 16:01/mi
Bill Kenworthy Mount Lebanon PA M/80 1:07:50 10:55/mi
lou lodovico ellwood city PA M/89 1:10:34 11:21/mi
ELLA CUSTER WHEELING WV F/83 1:19:26 12:47/mi
henry fast pittsburgh PA M/82 1:22:36 13:18/mi
Ruth Black Pittsburgh PA F/80 1:28:31 14:15/mi
Toni Farah Pittsburgh PA F/81 2:13:42 21:31/mi
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Old 10-05-2013, 12:55 PM
 
Location: Los Angeles area
14,017 posts, read 20,869,471 times
Reputation: 32530
Quote:
Originally Posted by villageidiot1 View Post
The responses on this thread are sad. Your bodies are capable of doing a lot more than you think they can. There are so many excuses for why people are not exercising. Of course, injuries happen and many people are suffering from diseases and conditions they can't help. For the rest of us, we don't have an excuse. The reasons most people don't exercise are: 1. they never exercised their entire life. 2. they are lazy. 3. They are overweight or obese.

For those who want to compare I ran the Great Race in Pittsburgh last Sunday. It is a 10K, which is 6.2 miles. Here are the results of those runners that are 70 and older. Please note Lou Lodovico who is 89 and seems to run at least 30 races a year. Richard Monheim is also noteworthy since at age 72, he beat over 84% of the other finishers.

The first number is their time for the 10K and the second number is their mile pace. There were 8139 finishers of this race.

Richard Monheim Pittsburgh PA M/72 48:37:00 7:49/mi
Ronald Macy South Park PA M/71 51:24:00 8:16/mi
Larry Ratkus Irwin PA M/73 54:09:00 8:43/mi
Mario Chiodo Pittsburgh PA M/70 54:26:00 8:45/mi
lou alaksin new galilee PA M/73 54:38:00 8:47/mi
James Bailey Cedarville WV M/72 55:33:00 8:56/mi
David Anderson Greensburg PA M/70 56:27:00 9:05/mi
Chuck Hatfield pittsburgh PA M/71 56:48:00 9:08/mi
Earl Casebeer Wexford PA M/70 1:00:5 1 9:47/mi
David Gibbs Pittsburgh PA M/71 1:01:14 9:51/mi
Raymond English Eighty Four PA M/78 53:49:00 8:39/mi
Motohiro Brown Chicago IL M/76 1:02:42 10:05/mi
Donna Smith Latrobe PA F/77 1:03:44 10:15/mi
Leon Bierbower Chambersburg PA M/78 1:04:20 10:21/mi
Nancy Lassen Abington PA F/75 1:14:15 11:57/mi
Bill Brown Pittsburgh PA M/75 1:17:18 12:26/mi
Margaret Kimpel Ellwood City PA F/76 1:26:45 13:58/mi
Robert DeMello Atlanta GA M/77 1:30:20 14:32/mi
Ray Popovich Pittsburgh PA M/76 1:37:28 15:41/mi
David Lester Pittsburgh PA M/77 1:39:31 16:01/mi
Bill Kenworthy Mount Lebanon PA M/80 1:07:50 10:55/mi
lou lodovico ellwood city PA M/89 1:10:34 11:21/mi
ELLA CUSTER WHEELING WV F/83 1:19:26 12:47/mi
henry fast pittsburgh PA M/82 1:22:36 13:18/mi
Ruth Black Pittsburgh PA F/80 1:28:31 14:15/mi
Toni Farah Pittsburgh PA F/81 2:13:42 21:31/mi
Thanks for that interesting data, which pretty much supports a lot of things I've been saying in this thread. However, we need some perspective on those very impressive 70 and over people whose names, ages, and times appear in your list. We need to keep in mind that they have chosen to be competitors in running races. The average Jane and Joe will only be frustrated by making comparisons. The degree of fitness required for good health and well-being is somewhat lower than the admittedly exemplary and amazing people who are out there competing. It is simply not necessary to perform at their level in order to reap enormous benefits from regular exercise.

What your post illustrates well, I think, is that a lot of the decline in physical ability which so many people attribute to aging is really due (in large measure) to long-term inactivity. Of course there is some inevitable decline due to aging, but much less than a lot of people assume.

Last edited by Escort Rider; 10-05-2013 at 02:09 PM..
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