Industry Condescending to Seniors

When researching,” exercise older adults” or “best exercises for seniors”, I was struck by the tone of the articles. They all seemed to be written by young professionals who act as if we seniors are one step from entering a Hospital or Rehab Unit. They seem to me to be very condescending, almost to the point of insulting. The exercises they show are all for the very old or for the extremely out of shape, people who look like they just got out of Rehab or are planning to go in.

Active Boomers

I’m reaching out to the active senior. The people that I’m interested in helping are seniors who realize that they need to step up their program or develop new programs to maintain what they have and to build better muscle tone so that they can continue to do the activities they love, and live longer healthier more productive lives. People, that are looking for a proven way of staying fit and active as they approach their 70s. A program that they can do in an hour or less, 3 times a week, and get results.

Three Basics

1. Do at least 150 minutes of walking or another aerobic exercise per week

2 . Practice strength training 2-3 times per week, but never 2 days in a row

3. Balance exercises every day

The articles then go into detail, about specific exercises, and here is where I have a real problem, because the exercises look like we all live in old folks homes, and use walkers. Their idea of a squat is sitting and getting up from a chair, their idea of an upper-body exercise is doing a wall push up, and of course, they all suggest doing 3 sets of 12 or 15 reps, which, as I’ve already mentioned is hogwash.

It’s Insulting

To have fitness “experts” talk down to Baby Boomers, like all we’ve been doing is sitting in front of a TV eating chips, for the last 20 years is insulting. If you believe like I do that 70 is the new 60, then it’s probably upsetting to you too. That’s one of the reasons I started this Website, for people who are not interested in disappearing quietly into the night. Instead, it’s for people that have a zest for life, and a desire to push the boundaries, of what’s possible. I want it known, right here, right now, that anything is possible, if you have the right attitude, no matter your age.

Tired of the Condescending Attitude

If your sick and tired of the “experts” constantly pontificating beliefs, that only turn out to be wrong, ten or fifteen years down the road, then you are in the right place. Ageism exists in our country and it’s both casual and systemic. The prejudicial attitudes towards older people, old age, and the aging process have led to discriminatory practices against older people (esp. baby boomers) in both institutional practices and policies. These attitudes perpetuate a stereotype about seniors and what it means to grow old.

Dis-empowering Beliefs

Seniors themselves are guilty of buying into the attitude of Ageism. After, all we have internalized a lifetime of the negative stereotypes ourselves. If you add to these stereotypes, the fear of death, disability, or dependence, it’s no wonder that we see so much angst out there among our generation.

With advances in Medicine and our overall quality of life in the last 25 years, we are seeing more and more people adopting the attitude that today’s 70 is the new 60 and 80 the new 70. In order for this attitude to really flower Seniors have got to be willing to change their own dis-empowering beliefs about growing old.

Join the Fight

Many have started the discussion about Ageism, Pierce Brosnan, Madonna, and Kim Cattrall to name a few, so a movement is starting. This website is my “Line in the Sand” that the beliefs about Seniors, getting and staying in shape are wrong, and that the whole stereotype, of what’s possible, once you’re a senior is wrong. The general stereotype in our society about what it means to grow old needs to be refuted. To be setting Goals and striving to attain them is what keeps you young, I can’t imagine a life without them.

Conclusion

A wise man once said, “that as long as a Man is striving towards a Goal he is a success”. Through my many careers, I’ve come to realize, that to work at something or for someone for ten or twenty years is a long time, especially nowadays. If you entering your 60s, now is the time to refocus and set new Goals, that will ensure that the next 10 or 20 years are not only the most enjoyable but also the most profitable. Getting or maintaining your health and fitness is the starting point., for without that nothing is possible. Once you have a firm foundation in this area, the sky is the limit. And as we have all heard countless times ” the only one who limits you is you”

As always, thanks for visiting. Dave

Why we Do Repetitions

We all know what one rep is right? Well just in case it’s one complete contraction of a particular muscle. So if the arm is straight and you bend it 90 degrees that counts as one rep. You have just contracted the Bicep muscle one time. The purpose of doing reps is to tire and actually “tear” the muscle, whichever muscle you are targeting. Now the “experts” will tell you that in order to get the maximum benefit, you must tear this muscle repeatedly, by doing multiple sets of reps, usually, a set consists of 12 reps.

The “experts” will tell you in order to get the most out of your workout you have to do tear the muscle multiple times by doing multiple sets of 12 reps. This is false, you only have to exhaust the muscle to the point of tearing muscle fiber once, doing it multiple times is a waste of time.

One Set of 12

A set should consist of between 8 and 12 reps. You adjust the weight so that you can do at least 8 reps but no more than 12. Your body position and posture should be set to the machine’s specifications and the slower you can do one rep the better. There is a style of doing reps called super slow but I find trying doing one rep every 20 seconds just too boring, 10 seconds a rep is just about perfect. The goal is to achieve muscle exhaustion not doing more than 12 reps. If you are able to do more than 12 then add weight if you can’t do 8 reps then lower the weight. It’s that simple.

Move From Machine to Machine

The nice thing about using machine weight systems is that they allow you to exercise different muscle groups by simply changing your grip. So for a basic bicep machine, there are three different grips and you do one set for each grip. You then move to the next machine adjust it to your specifications (shouldn’t take 30 to 60 seconds to adjust) and do a set for each hand position. Most Gyms have what is known as a speed line where they have between 10 to 12 machines designed to work out every major muscle group of the upper body. The object is to move from one machine to another working out 16 different upper body muscle groups give or take.

Total Body Workout

The lower body can be worked out using 5 or 6 machines the same procedure and you finished. One set between 8 to 12 reps timing as perfect form you can maintain and go as slow as you can tolerate. Now you might read this and think to yourself that Dave is crazy and this doesn’t sound right. So let me share a story of when my thirty-year-old stepson came to visit and thought he’d like to work out with the old man. Using the weights that I was using he not only struggled to do the reps but he threw up after only doing 8 machines. so, before you scoff that this can’t possibly be enough let me assure you it’s plenty.

Conclusion

Now obviously in subsequent articles, I’ll be getting into specifics, about machines and postures and some fantastic tech gadgets they’ve developed over the last few years if you like to track and monitor your progress, but I wanted to give you an overview of what I’ve found that works. Doing this routine three times a week or every other day (no more) will start getting your muscles toned within thirty days, and you won’t believe the difference in the way you feel in ninety days.

As always, thanks for visiting. Dave

Attractor Patterns

When we talk about starting a fitness routine for seniors, we have to realize that its as much mental as it is physical. This awareness is key, and will ensure you success, as you embark on this path back to fitness. Being aware that the mind forms beliefs based on patterns that its formed from information that its been bombarded by from the outside world. These patterns are usually what the majority of people believe, and are often wrong.

The Habitual Mind

Our Minds are thinking machines, they never stop thinking 24/7, and what a lot of people have come to realize is that 85-90% of our thought are repetitive and often problematic. Once, Mind has accepted an Attractor Pattern of ideas it will keep thinking about them repetitively until it eventually becomes a belief. For instance how many times have you heard the statement, ” in order to be successful in society today you need a College Education”. Enough times that for a majority of people, this has become a belief. But its a dis-empowering belief that has caused whole generations of people to become Debt Slaves to Big Finance by chasing this false belief, that a College Education will get them success in society today, its simply is not true

Getting Fit is Hard Work is a False Belief

The idea that getting fit is hard work is an Attractor Pattern created by The Fitness Industry. They have a vested Interest that you believe this, in order to justify their existence. It’s ludicrous that we believe its appropriate to pay someone (a trainer) a $100.00 an hour to watch us workout and maybe give us some advice and encouragement while we do it. The whole supplemental and vitamin industry is built on claims that have been proven false time and time again. It’s all been designed and marketed by the Fitness Industry to make money.

Past Failures

Buying into to these false beliefs has caused millions of people especially Boomers, to become disillusioned with the idea that they can get fit. Not being able to relate with a routine, designed by a trainer who is usually in their 20s or 30s and who has their own ideas on what it takes to get physically fit has caused,people to just give up, thinking that its just too hard and certainly not fun to get into shape.

Getting Fit Is Easy and Fun

I’ve developed a routine that’s easy and fun. That can be done in under an hour and if you just consistent doing it every other day or three times a week you’ll be amazed at how fast you’ll start getting you muscle tone back, while improving you balance coordination and overall sense of well-being.

It’s all About Attitude

I know what you thinking but before you just dismiss me let me again remind you that I’m 67 years old and have developed this routine over the last thirty years and I’m stronger now than I’ve ever been. I know for fact that if you listen to a few of the things that I’ve come up with, you’ll not only find working out enjoyable but you’ll look forward to doing it.

Conclusion

I’m not talking about building Hugh muscles, I’m talking about building muscle tone. I’m specifically talking to the Boomer Generation, people that are my age and want to enjoy the next ten or twenty years of our lives, by being able to do the things we want to do, and maintain our independence for as long as we can. If you feel like its time you started doing something for yourself, but are inherently lazy like me, than this will be perfect for you. You can have the best years of you life, and all it takes is making a choice, about what and who you going to believe.

As always, thanks for visiting. Dave

Getting Fit after age 50 is easy. The experts “Trainers” would like you to belief its

hard, because their livelihood is based on your belief, that strength training for seniors is hard and time-consuming. The Fitness Industry has flooded Mass Media with false information about

what it takes to get into shape, build muscle mass and improve our overall sense of well-being, by insinuating that it takes guidance and supervision by trained professionals and a laborious and difficult workout regime, and that only through months of dedication, can you hope to achieve any fitness goals.

We are constantly told how we must sacrifice and strive in order to get back into shape. As, we are beginning to understand how our minds work. We’ve come to realize that our two basic operational faculties, reason and feeling, are both inherently unreliable. Although we ascribe our actions to reason, we in fact operate primarily out of pattern recognition, the logical arrangement of data serves mainly to enhance a pattern recognition system that than becomes truth.

But nothing is ever “true” except under certain circumstances and than only from a particular viewpoint, characteristically unstated. In other words simply because we have seen information from multiple sources, that strength training for seniors takes dedication, hard work, and can only be successful, under the benign supervision of trained professionals. This has created a pattern that we recognize as true and is in fact an illusion. An illusion created by the fitness industry in order to generate business.

Develop a Few Good Habits

By developing a few good habits, anyone can get physically fit and build muscle tone no matter their age. I can show you how a routine of exercizes, that take less than an hour, done every other day or a minimum of three times a week, can not only restore muscle tone, but improve coordination, balance and an overall sense of well-being. The most amazing thing about this is its simplicity. While the “experts” would like us to belief getting in shape after 50 is baffiling and complex, I have found that true answers to supposedly complex problems, have the hallmark of simplicity.

The Habits

1. Establish and maintain a healthy diet. Again the “Diet Experts” have all kinds of advice and recommendations on what constitutes a healthy diet, that also include books, vitamins and supplements. They have gone to great lengths creating pattern attractors to make us belief in what they say. But if you have made it to age 50 you have seen fad after fad come into popularity only to be disproved and often ridiculed only a few years later. I will not insult your intelligence by going through a litany of diet advice, this website isn’t about that. Let’s just agree that a Human, that has lived for five decades knows inherently what constitutes a healthy diet. And what they need to eat to feel good. So Let’s leave it to three meals a day, consisting of the basic food groups, taking in moderation. That should be just fine.
2. In order for the Body to rejuvenate itself its important that you get sufficient sleep. 6 to 8 hours a day is usually sufficient. We will be going over a few things that help sleep, like listening to Aura Cleansing vibrations, and reading in latter articles, but for now Let’s just keep it simple. Problems with sleep are usually caused by the simple fact that the body is not tired. You will be amazed what a simple weight lifting routine will do for your sleep. Another thing I strongly encourage and again, we will get into it, in more detail at a later date, is a 30-45 minute power nap, mid way through you day. You will find that it rejuvenates you either before or right after a brisk workout.
3. Proper hydration throughout the day. Believe me that I’ve been real late in coming to the understanding of how important proper hydration is, to the functioning of the total body. If you want to start an exercise routine it becomes even more important. Later on we will go in depth about some things I’ve uncovered in my research but trying to drink eight 8 oz. of water a day has always posed a challenge to me and I still find it hard to do consistently.

The Promise

Most of what we belief has been formed by the creation of attractor patterns created by industries that have a vested interest that we belief in a certain way in order for us to need and desire their products or services. Just because we have a belief doesn’t mean its true. Strength training for seniors doesn’t have to be complicated or hard. As,a matter of fact just the opposite. We know that the Human Body is remarkable and its rejuvenating capabilities are miraculous. My website is devoted about talking about common sense solutions to what a lot of you may think are complex problems. Simply because Hugh Industries have evolved in pushing certain ideas and beliefs and using sophisticated physiological techniques to convince us of their viability, doesn’t mean there’re true. I’m here to tell you its all an illusion, an illusion created to make money, not to benefit you. Stick with me as I go down the many Rabbit Holes, surrounding what it means to be physically fit as a senior citizen in society today.

As always, thanks for visiting. Dave

Fitness for the over 50’s

When people over 50 hear the words physical fitness they immediately think of only the physical aspects of fitness. True physical fitness encompasses much more than that. It must include, in addition to the Body, the Mind (thoughts) and the Spirit (emotions). To get truly fit a person, especially if they are over 50 must work on all three aspects. Working on the Physical aspect while ignoring our Thoughts and Emotions is not going to get you the results you looking for.

It’s a three-pronged approach

Working all three aspects the Body, Mind, and Spirit, is going to be one of the goals of this website moving forward. By ignoring your Thoughts and Emotions about fitness your setting yourself up for frustration and failure. If we don’t prepare ourselves Physically, Mentally, and Emotionally for what we are trying to accomplish we’ll end up getting frustrated and quit before we’ve even started.

Get Fit At Any Age

Realizing that getting fit at any age but especially when you over 50, is going to take a lifestyle change. And change at any age is hard for most people. The important thing here is to be patient with ourselves and to develop a routine that challenges us but isn’t so difficult that we dread it. Consistency, setting, and accomplishing goals, and being committed are just the beginning.

Consistency

Consistency is doing your routine every other day or three times a week. In order to do this, you have to develop a routine that you can do in an hour. Start to finish, for one hour. You can exercise every major muscle group within 30 to 40 minutes. And it doesn’t have to be hard and arduous work, as a matter of fact, it should be fairly easy and fun. You can establish goals for each muscle group, and monitor your progress each time you do your routine.

Commitment

Commitment, something has made you want to get into shape. It may have been a Doctor, a Spouse, or just you looking in the mirror, it doesn’t matter what got you to this point. What’s important is that you are here now. I have developed techniques that have enabled me to stay with a routine for over thirty years, and if it’s worked for me I know it will work for you. In subsequent articles, I will share with you, everything I know, about developing a routine that has not only been effective in maintaining muscle tone, well into my sixties but has been fun and enjoyable as well.

Where to begin

You will be amazed how easy it is to get back into shape, no matter how long it’s been, or how bad of shape you’re in. If you’re are aware of a few things about yourself, your Mind, Body, and Emotions, you’ll be amazed at how fast you can regain muscle tone. Your muscles actually like to be worked out. I’ve read all kinds of material about this and suffice it to say that a healthy body enjoys exercise and works at its optimum level when it gets it. We were not designed to be sedentary, and our body shows us it’s displeasure in numerous ways when we are.

Get Started

The hardest thing about getting fit when your over 50 is starting. But the fact that your reading this shows your ready to start. You have had the thought that something has to change if you want to have a life and do the things you dream about. We aren’t talking about becoming a world-class athlete, we are talking about feeling good, building muscle tone, improving our coordination and balance, and adopting a healthier lifestyle.

Banish Doubt

You may have all kinds of doubts, fear about being able to do this, but if you trust me and follow some of my suggestions, I can guarantee that you’ll be better off than you are now. Once you start getting your muscle tone,confidence and self-esteem back, all kinds of opportunities will start to present themselves to you.

The Theater of Exercise

I’m sorry to break this to you, but if you think you can do this alone, in your garage or in front of the TV in your living room, I’m here to tell you that won’t work. Everyone I know, who has tried this, has some exercise equipment, either in their garage or in the corner of their house, that is just gathering dust or being used to pile stuff on.

Takes a Community

My experience has shown me that if you are serious about getting fit in your 50s it’s going to take a community. I’m not talking about getting involved in some organized training program. What I’m talking about is having a place to go where you can exercise. I know this is going to sound strange, but going into an environment, where everybody is working on getting and or staying in shape, helps your mind and emotions get with the program. Your mind sees it, smells it, and hears it, and even if you don’t feel like working out when you walk in, sometimes just being in the Theater of Exercise is enough, to get you into your routine. The psychological power of the theater is real, don’t discount it.

Convenient

I can’t tell you how many times, I’ve been totally unmotivated to do anything, but by simply going to the Theater of Exercise, I’ve found myself doing my routine almost as though I were in a trance. This theater can be a Gym in your complex, a YMCA in your community, or a HEALTH CLUB or SPA near where you live, it just can’t be in your house. The most important thing besides being out of the house is that it has to be convenient. If it is too far away or a pain to get to, it won’t work for the long term. No matter how nice the facility is, if it’s a hassle to get there, you’ll quit going within a year.

Benefits of going to the Theater

The other reason I stress a Gym or Club, is that you have examples and a lot of resources, to learn the proper techniques and positions, on whatever equipment you choose to use. We will be talking later about equipment and while a number of people swear that Free Weights are the only way to go, I have always preferred Weight Machines. They are easier to set and adjust and safer to use. But what really is important here, is learning the proper techniques, having someone check you out on how to adjust the equipment and the proper form to use is extremely important. I can’t stress enough, that in order to see benefits in any routine, technique and form are key. It doesn’t matter what equipment you prefer, there is a right way and a wrong way to use them. Save yourself a lot of frustration by learning the proper way to use whatever equipment you select for your routine.

You’ve already started

You’ve already started getting into shape by looking for a Website that might help you. I decided to do this Website to help people, especially seniors realize that there is a lot of misinformation out there on what it takes to get in shape and stay in shape. I want to share my experiences, of over thirty years of exercising,so you don’t make the same mistakes I’ve made.

Developing an easy program, that is both effective and fun, is key to being able to do it, well into your senior years. The Theater of Exercise has become a Billion Dollar business, that is often just interested in the bottom line. You are capable of designing a routine for yourself, you don’t need a trainer or taskmaster, watching you and pushing you, for that last rep. Taking your time, and realizing that progress is achieved through consistency and having fun and that no matter how good something is for you, if it’s not fun you simply won’t do it for very long.

As always, thanks for visiting. Dave