Since you have more time, are you more concentrated on health/fitness than while working? (weather, retired)
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I am back in Tennessee now and have gone to my local YMCA each of the past two mornings to exercise. Our town has a large retiree population, so seeing a lot of retirees and older folks is not unusual. However, I was really surprised at how in shape and healthy these folks were.
These weren't just a few people walking or people in the facility for physical therapy/rehab (though these services are also offered) - many of them, men and women, were lean and quite muscular. There were probably ten seniors lifting fairly heavy on the free weights. There were a lot of older women running and on the elliptical at a good clip. There were two Silver Sneakers classes this morning - the one I saw was pretty well full.
Obviously by going to the gym, you're going to encounter people that value their health more than those on the street, but I was really surprised by healthy and vital these seniors were and how much more fit they seemed than many people my age who don't take care of themselves. As for me personally, I've walked at least 10,000 steps and exercised on the elliptical and with weights both days - working full time in a suburban area dangerous for pedestrians, I'd be doing well to walk 2,500 steps a day. With heavy traffic during the evening, I generally just went straight home and didn't go to the gym. I feel a lot more loose and limber and just better overall since I have more time to exercise.
Have you found that it's much easier to maintain exercise habits and good nutrition with the extra time on your hands?
Definitely. My routine now includes yoga 4 times a week. I exercise at the Y in the morning 5 days a week and walk briskly 5 miles at the park pretty much every evening (weather permitting in the winter, of course). Now, I normally only eat out when I am on a cruise. Otherwise, I prepared meals that include mostly baked or steamed veggies and a small portion of "Wild Caught" fish. I find that with eating at home, I can control how much sugar, salt and type of fat I consume.
I was just are concerned about my health when I was working, but now that I am retired I have the time to do more about it. Exercise walks (fast, 30 min), playing golf while walking the course and carrying my clubs, getting more sleep, etc.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Wrong assumption for many of us. We have far less free time in retirement. Working hours were simple compared to all the exciting options when retired.
Been a farm kid since day one. Outsoors every hour of daylight, but have never darkened the door of an 'excercise gym'. Wish I had a 24 hr indoor lap pool nearby, in case I had some free time between midnight and sunrise.
Currently on the 12,000 ft elevation road that I did my first 'century' bike ride. I have not been doing enough of that lately, too busy.
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