Everybody likes to have fun, right?
It doesn’t matter what age you are or even what you’re doing. If an activity is fun, then you’re more likely to continue doing it.
That’s true for exercise and fitness.
But too many of us don’t see the fun to be had in exercise. We think it’s too much work, or not interesting – when, in fact, nothing could be further from the truth.
Just listen to Betty Franks, 82, of Roswell, Georgia.
“I love it,” says Betty of her twice-weekly weightlifting sessions with a trainer. “No one can convince you to work out. You have to know that there will be a benefit, and you’ve got to enjoy it.”
Never Quit Playing
Remember when we were kids? We loved to play and have fun.
And then, somewhere during adulthood, work and responsibilities took over. We had homes to manage, careers and children… Fun was largely forgotten.
As Oliver Wendell Holmes, the physician and author famously said,
“We don’t quit playing because we grow older; we grow older because we quit playing.”
Indeed, the social aspect is key to many mature Americans.
You can find friendship and support among peers and coaches whether it’s at the country club, a running team, a yoga studio or a gym. You can increase the social interaction by lots of ways, like:
- Going with a friend
- Taking a group class
- Using a trainer for solo or small group sessions
Many fitness centers offer group classes in everything from yoga to resistance training, salsa dancing to aerobics. At YPB we are a team of functional aging specialists, working exclusively with the over 50 folks for solo personal training or in small personal training groups of 4-8 people.
Activity Is Its Own Reward
A good gym owner, class instructor or personal trainer knows how to help you have a good time while working up a sweat. They want to make sure you feel comfortable and engaged, not intimidated by the younger, firmer bodies or the confusing words and equipment.
That doesn’t mean you aren’t working hard or pursuing your goals seriously. You know there is pleasure and reward to be found in challenging work, in reaching targets, and in being recognized for your efforts.
You did it when raising your family and working at your job. And you can do it now, taking care of yourself.
As Shawn Achor, psychologist and author of “The Happiness Advantage,” says:
“Focusing on the good isn’t just about overcoming our inner grump to see the glass as half full. It’s about opening our minds to the ideas and opportunities that will help us be more productive, effective and successful at work and in life.”
Betty’s Tips for Fun and Fitness
No one has to tell that to Betty Franks.
As she raised her family, Betty occasionally dabbled in yoga or some other form of exercise, before relocating every year or two for her husband’s sales career. When this couple finally retired in Georgia, Betty’s daughter encouraged her to exercise regularly and to use a trainer, so there’d be less risk of injury.
Betty quickly took to it, after choosing the trainer she felt most comfortable with. She wanted someone skilled, but also patient, encouraging, and firm when necessary. In addition, she walks twice a week on the days between her training sessions.
Even now, Betty’s personal trainer comes to her, at her assisted-living center, for their twice-a-week workouts.
“She touches her toes, palms to the floor, with ease and cranks out 15-20 solid push-ups,” he says. “She’s super flexible, has great balance and is such a pleasure to work with.”
Betty appreciates her trainer’s coaching and corrections. She says it’s important to pay attention to proper form and safety.
She also advises:
- Don’t do something if you don’t like it. (She hates the elliptical machine and treadmills.)
- “Don’t compare yourself to anyone,” Betty says. “I am an older lady, and you can get intimidated if you look around at all the younger bodies.”
- Establish a connection with someone – friend, trainer or class instructor.
Betty’s husband, Jim, now uses a trainer twice a week, in addition to the golf and fishing he enjoys. When she’s not working out, Betty reads, enjoys bridge, and plays drums in the band at her living facility.
“Someone asked why I exercise, and I just came out and said, ‘So I don’t have to later.’ I’m not going to wait till I have a problem. It’s now in life when everybody should be exercising. We need to keep everything good, keep everything moving.”
“I’m very happy and content,” she says, confident that her workouts are keeping her healthy, strong – and having fun.
