Stay with it 3-4 days per week

Okay since my last post I have given you a little time to reflect on the past mature fitness revelations recorded in this blog site. Now I am going to drive home some important facts of life and reiterate some of the things I have said in the past. On Friday I went on a 200 mile motorcycle ride out in the Yellowhouse canyons, ate fried catfish for lunch, got back home and then went on a 25 mile bicycle ride, then topped the day off with a healthy vegetarian meal and two domestic beers. Then on Saturday I got up early, did some office work, and then went out on a 40 mile bicycle ride with 2 of my male friends and my wife. All of these training partners are people I have spent a lot of time in the saddle with and one of them will be doing an Ironman Triathlon in June, while the rest of us will be doing some form of running and triathlon competition over the course of the summer. The point to my story, first, all of these folks are 20 years younger then me, second, we learned the importance of doing some form of fitness workouts throughout the year, not just in the summer months, and fourth, each of us determined what we have to do to bring up our fitness level. I want to emphasize to everyone that a consistent 3-4 days per week of exercise throughout the year is very important. One of our training partners on the Saturday ride had not been able to train since late last summer or early fall. So he suffered throughout the day, while the rest of us, having exercised throughout the year, had a reasonably good day with no ill effects. Now please understand that I am not using this example to shame anyone or to suggest that everyone should achieve Ironman training fitness. For sure our Ironman training partner for June was in a higher degree of fitness level than the rest of us, even though we all completed the ride feeling strong. Our friend who was not able to train to any degree for the past few months was not feeling well, experiencing leg cramps and just general fatigue. But, with him being a former college athlete he was determined to get his program started for this year, and the next ride he will show progression towards this goal. My concluding point here would be to stay consistent, and ALWAYS do something 3-4 days per week. I remember when I first started swim training for triathlon and I worried about missing a workout, I was told to get in the water no matter how much time you had. So, if my workout was usually 2-3,000 yards and I only had time for 500 yards, do it anyway. It would be better than doing nothing. I encourage everyone to those 3-4 days of exercise in, no matter what.

Another point I would like to make is that while I know there is a big deal about senior or mature fitness diets, workouts, etc., I don’t think there is as much difference as the guru’s want us to think. While I do know that the volume of workouts do decrease and there are factors involved with aging that affect fitness levels basically we can continue to do what we please, as long as we feel like and have the desire. While some aspects of exercise may even be eliminated and replaced for another type of exercise, it matters not as long as that most important muscle, the heart, is properly exercised.

Have a great week of work, fun and exercise.

Mike Greer

10 Ageless Living points of Life

While I know the name of this blog site is maturefitness I don't always have to stay on the hard party line of drop down and give me 10 push ups, or if there is no pain there is no gain, or if you don't sweat every once in while you are dead meat. So, what is my point and where is this heading? To answer that I would say that what I am really looking for, above and beyond that is a little common sense philosophy that fits within the fitness dialogue. With this in mind I will refer to a conversation I had with a friend of mine a few years ago while we were having lunch. She ask me how I stayed young in feeling, appearance and attitude. While I was flattered that she would ask I really had never given it that much thought but when she challenged me to do so I came up with my initial 10 points to answer that question. Since then and within the last few days, while on a bicycle ride, I discovered the 11th point and so it will be share for the first time in this post. The funny thing is that the first 10 were written down on a paper napkin in a restaurant in Albany, GA.

Eleven points of ageless living(involving philosophy, physical, and spiritual): 1. Mythical "perfect age"--If you did not know your birthday, how old would you think you are(mine is 28, and this should be determined by the first number that comes in your head). 2. Diet-this should be balanced with a 40 complex carbohydrates, 30 protein, 30 fat breakdown. Eat to live, not live to eat. Always be mindful of your genetics, what did your parents eat and how did it affect them? Remember, you cannot change your genetics but you can control them through lifestyle discipline. Look at your parents as a mirror of your self and adjust your lifestyle accordingly. 3. Exercise-guess you thought I would never get to this one. As has been pointed out in this blog on previous occasions find a good aerobic exercise that keeps the heart rate up for 20-30 minutes, 3-4 times per week. That is all you need for a sound exercise program. 4. Mental exercise-this involves spiritual, being true to yourself, sense of urgency, having a true hero or two, a mentor, a role model, etc. 5. Active sex life-WOW, thought I would never get to this one. I just read some interesting thoughts on this by Napoleon Hill. He says, "that sex desire is the most powerful of human desires. When driven by this desire, men/women develop keeness of imagination, courage, will-power, persistence, and creative ability unknown to them at other times." He also calls it, "the mystery of sex transmutation." Obviously a deep subject and one that could be discussed for hours and days. The ironic thing about the sex drive is that it was given to man from God to both give him/her happiness and pleasure, but in the same token it was given to challenge our self control and restraint along the same lines. Yea, Adam did it when he just couldn't resist that red delicious apple and the sparks began to fly when he discovered that thing between his legs. Now on to the other points. 6. Balance in life activities or moderation in all that we do-this is probably one of the hardest to maintain since we all want to do what we enjoy and put off what we don't. But in the process we get very narrow. Balancing the EGO should be of utmost importance, since we can achieve many great things with our ego(in tact), but letting it go wild can create great damage in our lives. 7. Passing through life transitions positively-"ask not what another 10 years can do to your life, but what it can do FOR your life." As we go through the 10 year increments of life we must view them as what has been and can be accomplished with our new experience and insight. We must be willing to go out of our comfort zone to achieve our goals and not view aging as growing old. There is a big difference. 8. Prevent yourself from holding grudges--use the Golden Rule as the rule of life, be able to forgive and forget, mend bridges, don't burn them. Do not let yourself be pulled into others' controlled dramas, that you have no control over and can cause hard feelings. 9. Passion-not to be confused with #5, but simply a passion for life and living life to its' fullest. Our passion can be directed towards our life, our vocation, and our avocation. Passion is a must!!! 10. Embrace adversity(one of the most important facets of these points). My favorite scripture dealing with this subject comes from the book of Job. What a story. This guy was chosen by God and Satan to have a little contest to see if he could hold up under the pressure of having everything life could ask for and then losing it all, while settling this little debate between Satan and God. Through his faith and belief in himself he was able to overcome all of the adversity and move forward. Even after losing family, material possessions, and respect in the community he was able to gain it all back, through his faith. What a story and example for all of mankind. Please remember at this time this concludes my initial top ten of ageless living points, but while on a bicycle ride the other day I thought that I could add number 11 to this list. 11. Just simply FORGET you age and not let it enter your mind. Now that is a hard one and is not the same as number 1. Since we live in an age of time that our age seems to be the center of conversations everywhere I think we need to just forget our age. I know that at times when I am not reminded of it by others I really can do that. Think about these points and get off that couch!!!

Mike Greer