If you are over 60, you will understand this blog. If you are under 50, wait a few years. One day you will remember reading this and say, “Oh! Now I get it.”
Nobody likes to admit they are getting old. But if you, like me, have spent 40+ years trying to eat healthy and being disciplined about exercise, you really don’t want to think that you are losing the battle.
Some things I have voluntarily given up. I don’t jump when I exercise anymore. I know too many people with joint injuries and tendon trouble. If I am in an exercise class or if I am doing a video and the leader starts jumping – I modify. It’s not that I can’t jump. I just don’t think it’s smart to jump.
I have a wonderful step aerobics DVD. It gets my heart rate up and gets all of my muscle groups moving. DD and I did it together in the living room back when she was in college. When we started, I didn’t have any trouble with any of the moves.
But a while ago, my Honorable Husband and I had a conflict. I wanted to do the step DVD and he wanted to watch a movie. I agreed to take my step to the office and play the DVD on the computer. Problem solved. Everyone was happy.
This was about the time that I was within sight of my 65th birthday. One day doing the DVD, I missed the step and had to grab the book shelves to catch my balance. I didn’t like that. I was having trouble keeping up with the instructor. My feet just couldn’t move fast enough anymore. I really didn’t like that.
I thought about lowering the step…but that would be like admitting that I was getting old and could no longer do what I had been able to do. I decided to work harder at step aerobics. But I found myself becoming tentative. I felt old.
So last week I was ready to exercise and I said to my Honorable Husband, “I need 45 uninterrupted minutes on either the TV or the computer. Your choice, but once I start, you can’t bump me off.” He said, “I’ll take the computer.”
That was fine. I moved my step into the living room and started my workout. The warm up went great. As the intensity kicked up, I kept pace. I wasn’t having any trouble with the workout.
What was going on, I asked myself as I went up and down the step. The answer hit me. The computer plays the DVD faster than the DVD player that is attached to the computer. I wasn’t getting old…I had been pushing myself to a pace that the instructor never intended.
I felt empowered. I threw myself into the workout. I felt wonderful. And strong. And young.
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