Posts Written By L Parker Brown

“You know you’re getting old when everything hurts. And what doesn’t hurt doesn’t work.” Those words of Hy Gardner, former columnist for the New York Herald Tribune could be prophetic for sedentary Boomers who choose to live an inactive lifestyle. But that doesn’t have to be your reality. If feeding your face and pushing buttons on the remote control is your only daily exercise, and you have more aches and pains than a quarterback abruptly sandwiched between two linebackers, then there may be a simple solution. Get off the couch and move. Word up from this Baby Boomer – exercising not only improves your quality of life, it can be fun.

Each morning, when I awake, I look forward to working out, because exercising has become an essential part of my life; in conjunction with reading fitness books and magazines.

I enjoy the challenge of pushing myself and I have the battle scars to prove it. Just 10 years ago, I enrolled in a cardio kick boxing class and completed it unscathed. Okay, I lied. I got one minor injury, but was soon over it. In no time at all I was able to tap my foot again while listening to R. Kelly sing Step in the Name of Love.

Long distance walking is one of my favorite activities. For over two decades, I participated in numerous walk-a-thons supporting various causes like Breast Cancer, Osteoporosis, and the annual Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Walk. A 5 to 10 mile walk was a piece of cake for me – minus the calories. That was before I was recently ambushed by a torn cartilage in my right knee requiring arthroscopic surgery. Bummer! That curtailed my long distance walking. But while recuperating from the surgery I continuing doing cardio using Lisa Erickson’s Seated Aerobic Workout video. Need I say that where there is a will there’s a way?  

According to the U.S. Census Bureau Baby Boomers were born between 1947 and 1964. That puts us between the ages of 47 to 65. And while it has been said that Boomers want to have it all, you can bet your tie-dyed jeans and love beads that at this stage of our life, basic health and physical strength are at the top of our wish list. How do we make that wish come true?  Exercise. It makes us feel good and look good, too.

Who doesn’t like being complimented on how well we look for our age? And admit it; it just makes our day when someone says that we look younger than we really are. But narcissists excluded, I don’t know anyone who would honestly say, “I’d rather look good than feel good.” Because all the Botox, wrinkle fillers, and hair pieces in the world don’t mean a thing if you go through life everyday feeling like you were body slammed by Hulk Hogan.

Boomer alert! The federal government and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommend 30 minutes of exercise five times a week.

Years ago, I began exercising with Richard Simmons and Jane Fonda video tapes. Since then my exercise routine has evolved to include a little bit of everything which I will tell you about in a future post. In the meantime, one of my workout role models, 72 year old Jane Fonda is still going strong and looking good. Fonda has osteoarthritis, had knee surgery last year and had a hip replacement in 2005. In spite of all that health drama, she is still working out and releasing exercise DVDs including some this year, age appropriate DVDs for seniors.