MIndy’s CallIng

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the weekend, daily exercise will pay
off when you hit the field or court.
Improved strength, energy, and stamina
will boost your performance, and
the muscle conditioning that comes
from regular workouts will help prevent
injuries. That’s the message a lot
of guys both want and need to hear.
“Many of the men I see ask me how
they can stay active, feel young, and
[be more] healthy as they get older,”
Borchers says. “That’s where the motivation
to work out more often comes
from, and motivation is a huge thing.”
The activities you choose should be
ones you enjoy; otherwise, you won’t
stick to your regimen. Running, cycling,
rowing machine—no matter what you
select, you should get at least 30 minutes
of sweat-inducing cardio five days
out of the week. Strength training
should be part of your workout on at
least two of those days.
Borchers realizes finding time to
exercise every day can be difficult, but
the time is often there if you really look
at your schedule. Then, it’s just a matter
of making exercise a habit.
“Once you get used to the routine,
you will find that it’s easier to maintain,”
says Borchers, who gets his own
workout in the early morning when he
has the most time to himself. “You have
to make exercise a priority.”
EXPERT TIP
“Use it or lose it. Strength and coordination decline with age,
and we’re not in our 20s forever. But you can keep yourself
conditioned if you exercise regularly.”—James Borchers, MD
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*American Journal of Preventive Medicine, August 2008
EXTRA POINTS
James Borchers, MD, a college
football team physician, offers
these tips to make your workout
work for you.
Game plan Decide what you’re
willing to commit to and how you’ll
fit your workout into your schedule,
then pencil it in your calendar
just like you would record a lunch
meeting, Borchers says. Make it a
non-negotiable appointment.
Away game If you travel a lot,
pack some lightweight exercise
equipment like resistance bands to
use in your hotel room. Or stay only
at hotels with fitness centers—and
be sure to use them, he says.
Team effort If you find it hard to
stick to a solo exercise program,
take a class such as indoor cycling,
boot camp, or kickboxing, Borchers
recommends. Group workouts
can be fun, and they also boost
your commitment.