I have noticed recently that there are wide disparities in health and quality of life among those in their 70s and 80s. Some of the factors include, genetic, or even random chance. I have, however, noticed one common thread among those whose health is still excellent into their 80s: Exercise.
I work part-time for the Fox Valley Park District and see the same seniors come in day after day. They lift weights, walk on a treadmill, ride the bikes, or play pickleball. Some work with a trainer, others have their own routines. The key is that they are all consistent in their commitment. So I decided to ask some questions.
Ruth Ann Little has a smile that lights up the room. She is 86, but moves just like a much younger woman. She has survived leukemia, aortic stenosis, and has a pacemaker, but I would never have guessed those things if she hadn’t told me. After Monday workouts she always apologizes for not staying to talk. She has to run over to a soup kitchen to volunteer. Other days she stays to chat.
Ruth Ann Little has worked out since February 1995. I asked her what inspired her to begin and she told me that a girlfriend who had open heart surgery gave her a gym membership so the friend would have a workout partner.
I asked what type of workouts she has done over the years. She explained that for 20 years she walked two miles per day. Now she does her cardio workout primarily on the exercise bikes. She laughs that she never experiences shortness of breath while at the Prisco Center, though sometimes at home she notices it.
She loves the Prisco Center, not only for working out, but for going on trips with her friends. She believes socializing to be equally important for older adults in maintaining good health. When I asked her advice for those in their 50s, she said that once you retire, exercise becomes vitally important. “You don’t have to come every day, but you do need to keep a regular schedule,” she said. “It is a life or death thing to keep up the habit.” She noted that usually when people fall at her age, they break bones and their health quickly deteriorates. Over the years she has taken some bad falls, but has never broken a bone. Her doctor gives credit to her workout regimen.
Ann and Joe, who asked to use only their first names, echoed sentiment that exercise and the social aspect of the gym are equally important. They said they have met many nice individuals, including their friends, Pat and Terry, who work out regularly. They give credit to their workouts for giving them more energy and helping them to be more outgoing.
Their advice to the rest of us is: Don’t start out with too much. Know your limits. Ann said she once fell off a treadmill because she was going too fast. The key is consistency. Joe said, “sometimes you look forward to your workout and sometimes you don’t, but you have to keep at it.” The seniors had a clear message to their younger friends who do not yet work out regularly: Start now!