A TRIATHLON TALE I finally participated in a triathlon this year. It was the Carpinteria (California) Olympic Triathlon a week ago Sunday. Earlier in the year, I’d missed out on two other triathlons and a marathon because of injuries or flu—the latest being the Santa Barbara Triathlon in August with a pulled calf muscle. I arrived at Carpinteria State Beach and the triathlon transition area early. I found my spot, racked my bike and placed out my gear for the 3 segments of the event and had plenty of time to pull on my wet suit. Then I sauntered down...
SILVER SNEAKERS FITNESS I write Generation Fit for seniors 50+, but this week I want to talk about SilverSneakers, which is restricted to those 65 or older (or otherwise on Medicare). If you’re younger than this, it’s something to look forward to or you may know someone older who is unaware of the program. Spin class with instructor SilverSneakers® is the nation’s leading fitness program designed exclusively for older adults. It’s available at no charge by many insurance carriers for members of their Medicare Advantage plans. Some Medicare Supplement insurers and plans with group retirees also offer the program. Carriers...
MIGHTY NEAT Reading my latest issue of IDEA Fitness Journal, I came along an article called The Smart Way to Move by Terry Eckmann, PhD. This fascinating piece is about NEAT, which stands for non-exercise activity thermogenesis. This is the energy we expend each day for everything that is not sleeping, eating or exercise-like activities. Thus NEAT is specifically all the non-exercise activities we perform on a daily basis such as doing yard work, washing dishes, walking from the car to the grocery store, etc. I researched NEAT online and found that the term and the theory originated from James...
NEVER GROW OLD FITNESS PROGRAM I’ve mentioned in previous posts that I attended the 35th Annual Idea World Convention in Las Vegas for five days in July. My most fulfilling experience at the convention was an all-day workshop titled “Functional Aging Specialist Certification Course.” This interactive workshop gave me an introduction to the tools and skills necessary to implement functional training techniques, strategies and movements important to seniors. Cody Sipe, PhD Cody Sipe, PhD, gave the workshop. Cody is an award winning, 20-year veteran of the fitness industry, a professor of Physical Therapy at Harding University, exercise specialist in exercise...
RUN FOR JOY—LONGER & INJURY FREE Senior Couple Jogging In Park If you’re a runner, you should enjoy this article. If you’re not presently a runner and determined not to be (perhaps from bad experiences in your youth or past injuries) you’ll probably skip reading it. Perhaps, you’re considering adding running to your physical training schedule? You should find tips here to help you run injury free. I took up running again back in 2000. I found it enjoyable and over the years slowly increased my distance from 3 miles up to 13 miles and then up to 26 miles....
ON THE ROAD TO FITNESS Back in 2000 I planned a trip to the Grand Canyon. There, my son Zack & I would take the famous mule ride half way down and back on the Bright Angel Trail. In researching the ride I found there was a weigh limit – 200 pounds. I don’t know if they thought the mule would collapse if it’s rider weighed more than that, or would just throw its top heavy passenger down the steep canyon wall. Anyway, I weighed 205 pounds—5 over the limit—so I went on a diet for the couple of weeks...
BODYPUMP STRENGTH TRAINING Even though I was either running, biking or swimming daily I knew, as a senior, that I also needed regular strength training for muscle power, coordination and balance. In the past I’d used machines at gyms to increase strength but found them rather boring. Then, a couple of months ago, I began attending BodyPump™ classes at the Ventura YMCA. The 60-minute classes are performed to music using free weights, barbells and aerobic steps. The focus is towards muscle endurance by moving comparatively light weights and high repetition movements. It’s fast moving, with some 800 total reps...
