Defining Seniors
~from Gray Iron Fitness Newsletter"
Years ago, when I put up my first Gray Iron Fitness web site, I aimed at a core audience of people at age 50 and above - seniors. If 50 is the eligible age for an AARP membership, which it is, it seemed a reasonable age for me to draw the line as well.
Someone said that 50 is the youth of old age. That sounds about right. A trainee at 50, in most instances, can handle more intense training than someone at 60, 70, or more. Since I keep pretty good training logs, I can look back and compare my own ability in my late 50s to today. At 72, I’m not as strong as I was then, which should surprise no one.
All of this is leading to something a newsletter subscriber, Bob White, sent that I enjoyed. It follows . . .
A doctor on his morning walk noticed an old lady sitting on her front step smoking a cigar. Though very elderly, she seemed quite happy with herself and obviously enjoying her stogy.
So he walked up to her and said, "I couldn't help but notice how happy you look! What is your secret?"
"I smoke ten cigars a day," she said. And before I go to bed, I smoke a nice big joint. Apart from that, I drink a whole bottle of Jack Daniels every week, and, frankly, eat only junk food. On weekends, I pop a few happy pills, and I don't exercise at all."
"That is absolutely amazing! How old are you?"
"Thirty-four," she replied.
I hope she's having fun.
Meanwhile, senior health club memberships are growing faster than any other age category. Most of us treat ourselves better than the cigar lady, and we still have fun, too.
It is sarcopenia, the wasting away of muscle that robs seniors of strength, balance and, eventually, independence. Resistance training — weights (especially), resistance bands and bodyweight calisthenics — is the antidote to sarcopenia.
The training should include some portion of resistance work, some portion of cardio, and some portion of flexibility training. And ideally, resistance training should be the heart of the program.
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