By Linda Shaffer
Not sure about you but the odds of me being labeled physically fit would be like winning the Mexican lottery or being hit by a flying turtle. Before all the fit people, doctors, nurses and physical therapists start calling, let me say that I am a huge fan of fitness. It’s a good thing for your body and mind. It is a great goal. It’s very rewarding for many people but not for this person.
Don’t you dare think I’m a “chair sitter motion quitter” because I am still moving around. I do things. I can make my bed. I did it yesterday and it took most of the day. It’s a king-sized thing with two twin beds on the bottom that move up and down. That helps. I have learned to use those moving parts to my advantage. I still run out of breath and energy between sheets. I also run out of breath when emptying the dishwasher, folding clothes and gardening. It’s part of my life. I’m not ready to stop yet but the muscles that power my lungs are wearing out.
Your issue might be muscle loss in general or heart failure which keeps you sedentary. You know that heart of yours is the BIG muscle. Maybe you can exercise and stay active. Either way, the more active you stay, the more your body will thank you. I was surprised to learn that we can benefit from all the activities we do. From folding laundry to pulling weeds or walking to the mail box. Everything counts. We just need to give ourselves credit where credit is due. Think about how many things you do in an average day. Each of those things matters.
There is a thing called muscle atrophy. This is the wasting or thinning and loss of muscle tissue. It’s caused by many things but aging can be a major factor. Though lovable, old people tend to have more health issues which slow them down or cause a sedentary lifestyle. We might also have issues with corticosteroid and other medications, or limited ability to move because of osteoarthritis or other physical or mental impairments. While doing my homework at the National Health Institute for this I also learned that muscle atrophy can be caused by being in a place which lacks gravity…you know, like outer space. Wow. I began to feel lucky that I’m not orbiting the planet. I’d be in deep doo-doo up there right now on the MTA of space vehicles.
What I learned this week is that physical fitness for Geezers is a real thing. It doesn’t matter how little you do…so long as you do it and are happy. I spend time every day celebrating my friends who still get around. They play cards at Senior Centers, volunteer, do crafts, cook, have pinochle parties, play cribbage and garden. Some of them ride horseback, paddle kayaks and participate in sporting events. Do I envy them? Yes, sometimes I do but my life is trying to teach me to accept what I can do and not dwell on what I can’t.
OK, I have my days and might as well go public. I had nine bone-related surgeries in five years after I turned 70. This means five years of physical therapy. Medicare has a questionnaire which they require prior to physical therapy. They ask, “What is your goal for this treatment?” Every time I said the same thing. “I want to be able to use the vacuum cleaner.” I believe there is someone at Medicare who thinks I’m a nutcase but I don’t care. Can I use the vacuum cleaner? Nope. I tried one night and got caught by the neighbor lady. Yikes. I bought a hand-held model, and I can use that. It helps my vacuuming anxiety. I also got myself one of those nifty old fashioned Fuller Brush floor cleaners. I’ve always called that activity, “pushing the floor.” It doesn’t count as vacuuming but is very gratifying and reminds me of when I lived with my Grandparents and my job was to push the floor. It is also a form of exercise.
Because I knew I would write about fitness, I looked up aerobics guru (Milton Teagle) Richard Simmons, July 12, 1948-July 13, 2024. Apparently, he re-named himself after an uncle who paid for his college tuition. We can thank him for “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” and so much more guilt during our mid lives. He had five Dalmatians and a housekeeper. He took a fall on the night of his birthday but refused to go to the hospital because it was his birthday. (At least this is the story.) This made me sad. He helped the world lose a lot of pounds during his lifetime.
To be fair, I looked up his antithesis, Keith Richards. He was born on December 18, 1943. With Mick Jaggar he co-founded the Rolling Stones in 1960. Though he looks like a well-used leather bag, he is a remarkable talent who has five children and a number of grandchildren. His lifestyle has not always been healthy but he remains active, content and happy. Sound like a Fairy Tale? That rascal.
Have a great week my friends.