Excercise or die..or at least, become fossilised

         That's rather a melodramatic title isn't it. The thing is, it has a basis in truth. I spoke earlier in the week about how I have watched older people, over the last ten, or twenty years, or longer. Watched them choose, to a great extent, how they age. Too many take the easy option, and stop doing anything special to look after themselves. In effect, they stop moving, they do not exert themselves at all. They retire their bodies shortly after they retire from regular work. Well I can understand that, its the time of your life when you are supposed to take things easy. It's understandable then, that most do just that. Or, perhaps 'did' just that. It's because, I believe we cannot afford to do that anymore. We cannot sit down, and wait to die. To be fair, many people do not want to do that either.

           OK, let's be honest, that is how it used to be! No question. You younger people will not remember how it used to be. Not so long ago, people from thirty five, or forty years of age, were considered, and called 'middle aged'. If you did that today, you would be laughed at, and justifiable so. I remember in my family, at the first sign of thinning hair, or before, the comfortable cardigan came out for the men. The aprons, and the easy care, easy fit clothes for the women, and the middle aged spread, well, began to spread around the middle. Until it became more of a late pregnancy look, say the  seven, or eight months, with a big belly straining at the shirt. These, of course were the men.

          Many people died in their sixties, and early, to mid seventies was thought a respectable age to reach. This means most people had a five, to seven year retirement life. That's why, now people are living so much longer, that governments, worldwide, are panicking. Pay the retired population a government pension for twenty, or thirty years? No, no, they say, retire later, or possibly no pension at all, and on, and on. As if it's all a great big plot, perpetrated by the people, against the government. No way, are they going to swallow that, or, to be fair, can they afford to do so. The reasons I believe people are living longer, is better diet, better health care, and also more full, and active lives in better living conditions. Expectations have changed, for the better I think. With perhaps, the fact that jobs have changed too. Perhaps not being as many high energy labouring jobs anymore. The miners, the navvies, and the like. Few of those overworked, and overcrowded communities struggling for survival as they once did.

          As for keeping fit, as I said the other day, the heavier you become, the more you feel like taking it easy. As in the past, in the nineteen forties, fifties or the sixties. Often, before forty, and certainly before fifty, the tobacco pipe was clamped between Fathers teeth, or Grandfathers, and the favourite chair booked for long nights in front of the tv. Where, once relaxed, they would probably drop off to sleep. Enjoying that wonderful new, home entertainment. If you were a drinker, you may have had a walk down to the pub, that energy expenditure soon rebalanced by several pints of beer, taken in a relaxed atmosphere with your mates. In the UK, some blokes would have played a regular game of football, or cricket at the weekend. Soon to be abandoned, before 'middle age'. Making way for the young ones who had the energy to run around. Mother, or the woman of the house, would be getting heavier too. With a good padding all around her body, her hair over permed, and too short maybe. Certainly with little intention, or thought of remaining young, and attractive in appearance. What for, she had her family, her husband, and was settled. Leave that to the young ones.

          What happened next, was it the spread of tv? Was it the popularity of star studded magazines. Was it because suddenly we had this picture of people looking, and acting young, not relaxing into old age. I won't go into whether it has gone too far, with many becoming obsessed with their looks. This is about looking after yourself.

         I think it's good that retirement age people are now looking at it, as another opportunity. One they may not have had before. Suddenly they have the time, and now the energy to play. To take up new hobbies, to spend more time together, to go hiking, cycling, or skiing. Those people are ok, they are doing something to keep fit, to keep active. So many more, are tired, they have done their life's work, sometimes at jobs they don't particualrly enjoy. They have worked for fifty years, under a strict regime to keep the money flowing, to support the family. Now they want to holiday, to relax, read, and yes, maybe watch tv.

          I think we all eat too much. Perhaps a lot of the worst things too, high fat, high sugar. Those old chestnuts we keep being told are bad for us. Even if we are not hungry, the ads are all a round us. Have a hamburger, and chips, some fried chicken. Or, how about some tasty fish, and chips, or fizzy drinks, sweets, and biscuits...so many goodies, that are bad. We have cars, good bus, and train services, it's all so easy. Even the children do not ride bikes to school, or walk, it's not safe, or everyone takes their children in the car anyway.

           All I can say is, it's never too late to get fit. Heaven knows we have the opportunity now. There are more gyms springing up that ever before. You can swim, work out alone, or in  a group. Or can spend nothing,  and walk more, or do excercise to a tape, or tv in the house. You can get a bike, even an excercise machine for inside your house. It does not matter, except do it regularly. Three times a week, at least. For forty five minutes, it's not too long once you get into it.

          I am not trying to preach to anyone, I as much as any, was a couch potato. It's like a light has gone off in my brain, and I now know I have to keep fit, or fossilize. I am going to live a long time, in likelyhood, we all are. Unless we have some really bad luck, but you can't worry about that, can you. So, it comes down to, how do you want to live the next part of your life? I suggest you get fit before you retire. Set some positive habits in place which, will keep you going after you retire too.

            If you can't swim, take a class. The same for skiing, roller blading, horse riding, running, boxing, or even martial arts. Have a go at several things. See what you enjoy, and enjoy the buzz you get, when you work out as hard as you can for half an hour, forty five minutes. You will begin to feel alive again, instead of halfway comatose, as many of us allow ourselves to get.

             Excercise I good for your figure, for your health, for your head, and yes, even for depression. Make some resolutions now, and by the New Years, they will be habits. I guarantee you will feel a million dollars, and will not be sitting in some chair, unable to move a few years down the track. Watching as your neighbour, the same age as you, going out with her friends walking, or still driving to the beach, or having her family around for a meal, and a laugh. Don't be a miserable old thing, resentful of the younger, and fitter.

               So.....don't allow lethegy to decide how your next years will be, or how healthy you are, once retired. You decide, get moving, keep moving, and people will be happy to have you around them. Because, you will be lighthearted, with a positive outlook and a zest for life you have built for yourself.

             Enjoy life...enjoy moving, as you also enjoy the best life has to offer.