Leading by exampLe - PRO Sports Club

Exercise:The Secret to Anti-AgingBy Jo Lonseth, Personal TrainerFINISHLINEMany of us exercise out of a desire to look good or achieve somehigher performance level in an activity or sport. The thought ofexercising out of necessity to simply be able to function on a dailylevel is far from most minds. However, these thoughts seem tosurface as life takes its toll and the body ages. The main reasons forstaying active and healthy as one ages include being able to get outof bed without difficulty, putting on a coat effortlessly, or beingable to catch a fall without injury – simple but very importantdaily requirements.“Since I’vestartedexercising everyday, I can’timagine livingwithout it”Many view retirement asan opportunity to kick uptheir feet and relax. Whilethat may be an optionfor some people, thereare a few who choose thisas an opportunity to getmore exercise and start (orcontinue) looking after theirbody and health. At age 79,Gloria Setnik is one of thoseambitious retirees. She staysbusy and active by personal training twice a week, attends wateraerobics two or three times a week, and fits in walking dates withher friends throughout the rest of the week. As a result, she hasmade substantial improvements in her health and well-being.Balance and coordination are very important throughout life, butso much more when the bones are more fragile and the musclesnot as strong. This past year when Gloria was playing basketballwith her grandkids, she tripped over the curb and almost fell.However, due to the coordination and agility she gained fromstaying active, she was able to catch herself and prevent what couldhave been a broken bone or a bruised body.As Gloria knows, exercise doesn’t need to be repetitive or boring.You can mix it up by joining a class, working with a personaltrainer, meeting up with friends at the park, or just going for astroll around the block. “My biggest achievement was hauling thatbig old rope all the way around the gym,” says Gloria. “Exercise isalways so fun and interesting.”“Since I’ve started exercising every day, I can’t imagine livingwithout it,” says Gloria. “I feel like something is missing out of myday if I don’t get some sort of exercise or activity in.”Photos: Gerald Pope PhotographyTwo years ago, Gloria weighed 35 pounds more and routinely atea Danish pastry for breakfast. That habit changed last fall. Eggwhites and protein shakes have taken the place of pastries. Gloriastruggled with many health issues as the result of her former yearsof unhealthy choices. One of her regrets is that she didn’t start thiskind of lifestyle years ago. “However, it’s never too late to startbecause I’ve already seen so many benefits from the changes I’vemade in the last year,” she says. “It has been worth every sacrificeand drop of sweat.”proclub.com 47