Never Too Old

Following up from my last blog- ‘Older Adults and Exercise’, I’d like to reassure anyone that thinks that they have left it too late to start any type of physical activity- that it’s never too late.

Shockingly the Department of Health claim that in the over 65 age group, just 17% of men and 13% of women are sufficiently active. It also says that only 44% of those over 70 take a 20 minute walk just once a year, or never.The Guardian: Why it’s never too late to exercise.

Whatever your age, physical activity will help improve balance and stability, and increase or maintain both your strength and fitness. It will also help improve the health of your heart and lungs, and lessen the impact and/or chances of getting osteoporosis, diabetes and some cancers. Physical activity also boosts your mood and your immune system- so what’s not to love about being more active. It will help you maintain your independence by preserving and improving physical function- something that surely everyone desires.

NHS-The Importance of exercise as you get older

Even if you have never been physically active before, there’s no reason why you can’t be now. Physical limitations or chronic health conditions can usually be worked around. There is usually an activity for everyone, even if you are housebound and/or exercises need to be done in a bed or a chair it is still possible. I acknowledge that there are always exceptions to this though, and for some reasons being physically active is simply not an option, and my heart goes out to those of you. I would always advise (and insist) that you do get the all clear from your GP, and then see a properly trained and registered fitness professional to guide you along the way.

“Every morning you have 2 choices: continue to sleep with your dreams or wake up and chase them.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger. Arnie still trains hard at age 70, and yes, it is what he has always done, but he has no intention of ever stopping, and truly believes that age is no boundary.

There are some amazing older adults out there to inspire. In 2015 Donald Pellmann completed 100 metres in 26.99 seconds, Usain Bolt did it in 9.58 seconds, but Donald was 100 years old! Fauja Singh completed 100 metres in 23.4 seconds, but unfortunately cannot prove his age as he has no birth certificate, they were not officially issued in India when he was born! He says he was born in 1911. Charles Eugster (RIP) was a body buider and sprinter, who at 96 was claimed to be the ‘fittest 96 year old on the planet’. Charles said that “you’re never too old to get in shape”, and he didn’t start doing any serious weight training until he was 87, and he didn’t start running until he turned 95. “By the time you get to 85 you may have lost about 50 percent of your muscle mass and power, so I think it’s extremely important in your older age to do everything you can to build muscle.”

In fact there are countless people over 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 to inspire and motivate.

You may well have barriers preventing you: physical, emotional, psychological and social barriers that need overcoming, both personally and on a broader societal and cultural level, you may just be scared-but try, seek help,what do you really have to lose?

Get that ‘ok’ from your GP, get advice from a professional trainer and follow those dreams.

Just believe in yourself. It may not be easy, but it will be worth it.