Some days a little goes a long way...

Robbie McLendon has been running what he calls the Bootfit class at the Hartsville YMCA for a lot of years and those who like to jump-start their fitness routine - at any age- would benefit from this High Intensity Training.

The Friday classes are generally a little shorter than other days but the intensity is high. For example, today Robbie had devised three sets of exercises that you did as many reps as possible of the set for five minutes. Then a 30 - second break got you ready for the next set, which was followed by a third.

I did have to modify a bit (honesty) but I think I still made the most of sets.
Set One was a 50 meter backward run ( my balance isnt what it was so mostly I went forward)
Followed by 10 knees to bench.  Second set was 30 jump rope singles (I am not good so many of those jumps were simulated) followed by 15 dips. Third was 100 meter run followed by 20 squats. There was a lot of shortness of breath when the workout was finished. A little goes a long way.

And for a few weeks now Robbie has been adding a core workout to the end of the classes -- because everyone has five more minutes.  I do a lot of core work on my own but these five minute back to back exercises challenge each time we do do them.

And it helps to have other in the class to push you -- even when they generally outperform you. It does not matter what they others - it only matters what you do. And, it matters that you do something no matter what your age.

Let's see if I can add some photos he took today.

always trying to revitalize this blog and not often succeeding BUT

I wanted to find a way to get a bit more exposure for this article by Julia Hubel, who is a sixty-something, a veteran, and successful writer and speaker and entrepreneur.

Earlier this morning as I was leaving the Rooster (Hartsville,SC Coffee Shop)
WALL-E was just arriving extolling the great F3 morning workout. I had slept in today.
And, then, as I opened my email there was this article on Medium:  https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/superbly-fit-after-sixty-seven-strategies-for-aging-well-69ab1ac0a908

Decided that meant I should get a post about out and staying in shape after sixty, or in my case and others after seventy. If you have suggestions on information that might motivate you to move your sixty or seventy something body for better health, a more open exposure to life, or any other benefits, please let me know.  I will try to find some ways to share.

Here are a couple of shots from Bootfit Hartsville at the HartsvilleYMCA. 

There are three or four seventy somethings moving with those thirty and forty somethings and younger to get and stay in shape with Robbie McLendon leading those classes.

The key is to get with the program

I am hoping to restart this blog and will begin by attaching some of the articles that I am seeing come up on my social media.  One today has to do with advice for older athletes getting back into a program.  I found most of this advice right on target:
https://getpocket.com/explore/item/here-s-how-to-get-stronger-after-50?utm_source=pocket-newtab

It is amazing how young I was when I started this blog and how much more I have grown since that time.  Had a Bootfit class with Robbie McLendon at the Hartsville YMCA today that revisted some of the challenges like tire flipping and sledge hammer swinging of a few years ago.  It beat me pretty easily and I am looking forward to the next time. It beat a lot of the others in the class too.

The goal is to move and if you have specific goals then move with your program.

Excuses

Always time to begin an exercise program

Exercise is as important to a 60+ year old as it is to a 30+ year old. In fact, exercise may be more important as we continue to move forward on this life journey.

The other day I was talking to a friend who is going to hit the meaningful 65 in a couple of months.  Our conversation was focused on work but did stray into the mention that he is having some troubles twisting his neck to see when moving from a parking space or changing lanes.  Some soreness, some stiffness -- he is a runner but does almost nothing for strength and/or flexibility.  Guess he had better start.

Doing some research for today's post this recent article from the Cleveland Clinic came up with six tips for getting back into exercising.  It is a useful read. And for those who want to get into exercise or back into exercise YMCA sponsored gyms generally provide clean space, good equipment, people who can help, and others like you that will help your motivation.

If you are thinking about getting back into an exercise program, quit thinking and get moving.  If you are already in a routine, quit reading and head out to the exercise.

Hot Outside - Drink Water

Heat in the summer is what the summer is about.

You do not want or need to use heat as an excuse not to be exercising.  You do need to use the idea of heat to remind you that staying hydrated is important to your health overall and particularly during a hot exercise day.

I am not a good water drinker.  I am trying to mend my ways. One of the reason's for today's blog is to give myself another accountability lever to drink more water. Now, you all know I am not good at it and I want to get better. It is public, My hope is the public goal statement will make a difference in the private behavior.

So, what difference does it make to stay hydrated.  It can have some positive effect on losing or maintaining weight -- at least according to a recent study.

Keep a glass or a bottle of water handy and see what better hydration might do for your exercise.

Willie Jackson - One of my fitness role models

And, one of my role models continues to be Willie Jackson. I wrote about his nightly trips to the Hartsville YMCA a  year or so ago. Willie Jackson is still a regular at the Y.

We were talking the other night and I asked him about an update. He says he is at the Y every day because that is the place to be.  He exercises as part of living a fun, healthy life. He still likes the rowing machine for basic cardio.

And, he told me that while he does not like it a lot he uses the shoulder machine because it helps him keep his range of motion and so he has branched out.  One of the benefits of working at the YMCA in Hartsville is that everyone is willing to help out everyone with advice. I am not sure buy Willie probably asked Robbie McLendon about shoulder movement and Robbie probably recommended the pull down. And, is you want more information on working out after a "certain age" you might want to try Go4Life.https://go4life.nia.nih.gov

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Willie is one of my role models. He is one I expect to see at the weight room three to five nights a week. While exercise may not exactly be the Fountain of Youth -- I watch Willie use it to stay fit and that is the role model I want to follow.