What These Images Reveal about Active Aging To
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  1. What These Images Reveal about Active Aging To

    Are you a “Golden Girl” or a showgirl?

    This meme of Rue McClanahan and Jennifer Lopez went viral, comparing the “Golden Girls” actress in 1985 to the unstoppable superstar during her Super Bowl halftime show this year.

    You get the sense it’s supposed to be a dig at the more matronly, old-fashioned image.

    But its message is far more potent for active agers over 50 who want to live life on their terms for as long as possible: It’s all up to you.

    And, for the men out there, try imagining, say, John Forsythe, who was 63 when “Dynasty” premiered, next to Brad Pitt, 56.

    All four of these celebs were healthy and attractive in their way. One isn’t better than the other.

    Healthy living means freedom, and freedom means choice.

    It’s up to all of us to decide how we want to present ourselves – how we want to look. It’s up to each of us to accept or reject society’s expectations about what’s “appropriate” at certain ages. Our options are endless – limited to neither McClanahan’s nor Lopez’s versions, Forsyth’s tuxedos, or Pitt’s shirtlessness.

    When you have the strength, stamina, and stability to choose, then it’s all up to you.

     ‘The Happiest Demographic’

    A common myth about aging says that after 50, people (especially women) face a dreary life of loneliness, physical difficulty, and despair. They’re also (supposedly) stuck in the past, and have no sexuality – according to more myths.

    But the opposite is true for millions, who are finding that the “grandma years” turn out to be the best time of their lives.

    Adults 65 to 79 say this is their happiest stage of life, according to a British study of 300,000 people. The study found that satisfaction with life peaked during this period. This jibes with other clinical and anecdotal research in the United States, which has more women over 50 than ever before, according to the US Census Bureau.

    It isn’t hard to see why women at this stage of life report such levels of satisfaction.

    They are often more able to focus on their wellbeing than during their child-raising years. They are trending toward retirement and less work-related stress. And many say they no longer feel the anxiety about money and keeping up with peers that drove them earlier in life.

    The Role of Fitness

    “Contrary to the cultural scripts that say women are old and useless and in the way — diminished versions of their former selves — in reality, older women are the happiest demographic in the country,” says Mary Pipher.  Mary is the author of “Women Rowing North: Navigating Life’s Currents and Flourishing as We Age.”

    Fitness plays a huge role in helping people this age feel satisfied, healthy, and confident. That’s because fitness gives mature people the ability to continue living the way they want to live — to enjoy hobbies, travel, sports, grandchildren, and other things they value. It gives them the stamina and agility to avoid injury and hospitalization. It helps them present their sexuality; however, they choose.

    Let’s face it: If you feel good physically, you’re going to be happier. And that will show at any point on the “Golden Girls”/J-Lo spectrum.

    Want to get more physically fit and happier, check out our 21-Day Longevity and Strength Program? We will help you extend the length and quality of your life by restoring your strength, improving your balance, and reducing your joint pain.

    Join our 21-day longevity and strength program today! <<<

  2. Improve your Weekly Fitness Test by 10%

    Lisa Wright, CFT, LCI

    Do you want to improve your fitness starting THIS week? Well, it’s about time and the good news is you’re only five steps away from a healthier you.

    Step 1: Perform your own fitness assessment
    Your fitness may be better than you think. Recording your baseline fitness score will give you a benchmark against which to measure your progress. Consider recording the following:

    • Your pulse rate before/after you walk 1 mile
    • How long it takes to walk this mile
    • How many pushups can you do at one time (from your knees or military style)
    • Sitting front reaches. How far can you reach toward your toes without bending your knees
    • Measure your waist at the belly button with tape parallel to the floor
    • Your body mass index

    Better yet! Grab our fan page coupon and come in for a Body Composition and Fitness Assessment for 1/2 price!

    Step 2: Decide on a fitness plan

    There’s an old cliché, “Failing to plan is planning to fail”.  As you design your fitness plan, keep these points in mind:

    • Have reasonable fitness goals. Do you want to lose fat or gain muscle? Do you have a special event ahead of you? Have a clear and stated goal to work toward.
    • Balance your exercise routine. Strength training at least two days per week is considered maintenance. 150 -180 additional minutes of cardiovascular activity per week would be necessary for fat loss. Mix it up, keep it fun!
    • Pace yourself. Don’t jump off any cliffs with all of this. Begin slowly and consult a medical professional if you have any limitations.
    • Build activity into your daily routine. Schedule your exercise time in like you would any other appointment. Split it up during the day, park across the parking lot, take the stairs, walk the dog – I know, you’ve heard all this before!
    • Plan to include different activities. Cross train means mix it up! Keep it fun. Most triathletes are just this because it’s not boring. Run/walk, bike, swim, strength train, etc.
    • Allow time for recovery. Your body will actually tone and condition during your rest time. Build this in as well. Soreness or injury is NOT a sign of progressing – feeling rested and ready to go again is your sign.
    • Write it all down. Journal everything! I know this takes time. Putting it all onpaper is how to markedly review your progress.

    Should you choose to hire us, at the end of your body composition and fitness analysis, we will make recommendations toward a customized fitness regime just for you.

    Step 3: Determine what equipment you will use

    Aside from a good pair of athletic shoes, you want equipment that’s practical, enjoyable and easy to use. You might even want a training session with us to learn about all the possibilities before making this purchase. Used and homemade equipment is another option.

    Step 4: Ready, Set, Go!

    Warm up and cool down. Use easy walking and gentle stretching before and after your sessions for 5 – 10 minutes. As your stamina improves increase the amount of time you exercise from 30 to 60 minutes six days of the week.

    • Split train if you have to. If you really want to stimulate your metabolism, break up your sessions into two or three 20 -30 minute bursts. This might even fit into your schedule better.
    • Make it fun.Be creative – we learned only last Friday that sandcastle building can burn up to 240 calories in one hour.
    • Listen to your body.Out of the ordinary symptoms are sure sign that you may be pushing yourself too hard.
    • Make decisions, be flexible.Whether for emotional or physical reasons, if you just don’t feel good, give yourself permission to take off a day or two. Getting started in the first place was the only hard part, a day off here and there will do you good.

    Step 5: Check back in with yourself often

    Retake your fitness assessment again (at the longest) 6 weeks from when you started and again every three to six months. This assessment will determine how it’s going and what you may need to tweak in order to keep progressing. You may be surprised at your progress and how well it is going. If it’s not broken then there is nothing to fix – just keep your momentum going.

    For motivation, join our Facebook Fan Page and monthly e-newsletter. You could ask a friend to exercise with you, or find some new and interesting activity. Phase out your old habits with loving kindness as you embrace the new and healthier you.

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Your Personal Best Location
Your Personal Best Training Studio
Doddridge Plaza
3765 S. Alameda, Ste 102
Corpus Christi, TX 78411
(361) 857-5087 info@ypbtrainingstudio.com