“Biologically, there…is only growth or decay, and your body looks to you to choose between them.”
-from the book Younger Next Year – for Women by Chris Crowley & Dr. Henry S. Lodge.
I picked up Younger Next Year from the shelves of our apartment building’s library. With its hot pink cover, and the woman running up the side of a clock, it looked a little smarmy. Probably too pat, I thought, too glib, too whatever.
But let’s never forget the ongoing Mennonite dilemma. It was free! Worst case scenario, I would just return it later.
Except, I’m not giving it back. I’m loaning it to everyone I love because it’s kickstarted my new body.
First a disclaimer: Though I’ve been at this for a little while, this body of mine doesn’t necessarily look like it’s new. In fact, I look like I’ve lived and engaged on this planet for the full fifty-two years that I have.
But the authors didn’t promise I’d LOOK younger, but that I’d FEEL younger. I’m happy with that.
I like to think of myself as fairly active and fit, but now that I’ve added in the two days of weights and a few more sit-ups, the swimming, more regular cycling and a rather more energetic pace to my walking, well, it’s apparent there was room for improvement.
It is not enough to stroll to Starbucks and the library. Just sayin’.
For whatever reason, this is the book that really got the message through to me. I already knew most of this stuff. You do too. We all do.
Yes, we’re supposed to exercise, blah, blah, blah…
But these guys have made it very clear, and in a personable style that still delivers some great medical facts, that my first priority is to my fitness plan. It’s my job. Especially when I read that 70% of “aging” diseases are preventable with this simple prescription to get moving…every day.
They write that, “…you may well live into your nineties, whether you like it or not. But how you live those years…is under your control.”
Shit can still happen. I could still get struck my some random disease, but the so-called normal aging of aching and weakening muscle mass does NOT have to be my fate. I like the idea of being fit and fabulous right up until I fall off my perch.
Consider this blog post my public service announcement. I hope you read it and that you too are inspired to live younger.
Are you ready to move?
Tell me your new fitness plans (or current routine) in the comments below. I will select a name by random (yes random!!) draw. I will send the winner a copy of the book. Wherever you are.
Younger Next Year! Looks like turning 55 is a great reason to get this book. Walking to the bank counts right? And since I’ve been looking to “Increase my Vibration” I’ll take all advice. Never weight trained………could be my New Thing! Thanks for entering me in the draw.
Yes Karen, walking to the bank counts (!) but kind of like my walks to the library…not quite ‘it’. This book is all about stepping up the program.
I’ve got to say, I’m lovin’ the weights. I don’t know how to describe it, but it feels like I’m strengthening my mind each time. Apparently the studies are proving that to be the case. We actually get smarter when we lift weights! This is very good news for moi.
I’m very pleased to add your name into the draw. Good Luck!
At the moment, because I’m on deadline, I barely get the the dog out for a 1/2 mile walk twice a day. That’s about it. I’m GOING back to yoga, any week now…any week. I understand that it’s what I should be doing first thing before I have time to think in the morning – but once my brain kicks in, my physical well being is – as Nabokov might say, defenestrated.
Well, thank you for the opportunity to look up defenestrated, (or ‘out the window’ 🙂 I like it.
I thought I recognized part of the word, and of course, it’s because fenestra is Italian for window and then looking further I see that fenestra is the Latin word for opening, and that furthermore it can be used to describe ‘a small pore in endothelial cells that allow for rapid exchange of molecules between sinusoid blood vessels and surrounding tissue’ or ‘a term used to refer to a natural (as opposed to traumatic) opening in the skull or other bones’.
So thanks Miz Sarah.
Now, considering I went to all that effort for your word, surely you could heft a few tomatoe soup cans in a few bicep curls now and again?
Hey Colleen…With so many of your readers keen on getting fit, maybe they’d enjoy soaking in a bath of Avalon Sacred Meditation Bath Oil from Glastonbury after all that exercise. We’re giving away 5 bottles of essential oils to celebrate the Autumn Equinox on the Grail Springs Facebook Page and blog. You can share ideas here: https://www.facebook.com/GrailSpringsWellnessRetreat?ref=tn_tnmn
Please count me in for the book! I need to read it! I doubt the hours I spend doing shavasana or corpse pose burns off many calories!
Hmm…you don’t think Corpse Pose is a real calorie burner? I’m guessing you’re probably right!
I love the idea of Sacred Meditation Bath Oil. Sounds fabulous. I’ll come over to FB and check it out.
Meanwhile, your name is added to the hat for the book and might I be so bold as to suggest a few less Corpse-like poses and adding a few weights to your regime?
The beauty with weight training is that all that new muscle continues to burn the calories when you’re resting. Suddenly, you are burning calories in that resting state. Crazy good stuff.
We all need to find the thing that inspires us – this book sounds like just the ticket!
Ironically, I seem to have been a bit too enthusiastic with my exercising and have a stress fracture in my foot 🙁 Odd how disappointing it is to be unable to exercise for a few weeks! (at least no walking). I’d packed away the yoga tapes, but will get them out as soon as we move on Friday.
Blasted injuries. I HATE that. My Achilles was inflamed over most of the spring/summer and it was really tough to not walk as much as I wanted to. In fact, that’s why I started swimming.
The good thing about adding weights to the program is that it doesn’t bother things like foot stress fractures or Achilles stuff as long as we pick the right program. I just bought a great weight regime book called, The Women’s Health Big Book of 15 Minute Workouts. Look out!
I’m in. A few times a week I’m going to walk briskly with my neighbour and her dog. On the other days, I will choose from a selection of dvd’s and shake my booty, pump some iron and strike a few yoga poses all in the comfort of my den.
Hey you butt-kickin’-booty-shakin’-iron-pumpin’-dog-walkin’-yoga-posin’ gal. Sounds like a fine fitness plan to me. Perhaps you should post a little YouTube video of you sweating like a wild woman in your den! Could go viral! I’m adding your name in the hat. Cutting off the comment/contest on the 28th of this month. Stay tuned!
I plan to laugh more as part of my abs of steel program.
Sharon, I think laughing would be one of the key components of longevity (not to mention the abs of steel plan!).
I don’t have a fitness routine. I eat sensibly – no cheese, no chocs, no ice-cream (this is to reduce cholesterol). I do outdoor activities, such as conservation work and I hill walk on a regular basis. I am slim and heatlhy and have never felt better in my life. Having a positive attitude does help. I know of a lady rambler of 92 who is going walking to Turkey this week! This is inspiration.
Hey Catherine. I’d say your 92-year old rambler friend is a pretty good poster child for a good regime. Sounds like you’re in good company! I think that being outdoors in nature has got to be one of the contributing factors to a healthy fit life. And that walk in Turkey…I’ve heard about it and would love to do that one. I think it follows Alexander the Great’s route or something…
sign me up Scotty. I’ve been on the barely existent exercise plan for too long.
I’m in!
I’m in the draw…
I’m in less than optimal shape…
I’m in the mood to do something about it!
sign me up… xodd
Alright Dee Dee. Drop and give me five! I think the first thing that needs to happen for any kind of change, is that we actually get ‘in the mood to do something about it’. So, sounds like you’ve got that most important part checked off your list.
Next is the actual doing of the program, like those weights and some serious sweaty aerobic-type thing…
Helloooo lovely Colleen!
It’s Nordic Walking for me when I can…not as often as I should (or like!). This week starting up at the gym again…you know, the usual stuff such as the treadmill and some specific equipment. I try to go three times a week during my (extendable – to a limit) one-hour lunch break as luckily it’s quite close to work. The trouble with me is inconsistency the excuse being very little spare time. Maybe your book would give me the boost I need!
Ciao tesoro!
Buon Giorno Vivien! Nordic walking sounds like the ticket but you’re right about the need for consistency. That’s my concern too, as I’m not quite sure how I’m going to do when I head to Mexico at the end of this month. Don’t know what that will look like 🙂
But meanwhile, I’ll add your name to the hat and we’ll see if we can’t ship you a book!
I’ll do the draw before I leave for Mexico (September 28th) and we’ll see who wins. Thanks for adding your comments Viven.
I, on the other hand, really need that book!
Ha! Well Barb, consider yourself officially in the draw 🙂
Hi Colleen,
My current fitness routine: walk fast 45 minutes a day, workout three times a week, each time about one hour, including run/ bike, weights, planks, situps, etc. I recently learned how to do Nordic walking and will add this to my fitness schedule to give myself variety and challenge. You may want to look into Nordic walking (aka Urban poling) if your knees don’t allow you to run.
Thanh
Hi Thanh. Wow. I don’t think YOU need the book! (though I’m still putting your name in the draw 🙂
That’s a very impressive routine.
Thanks for your suggestion about the poles. I use them whenever I’m hiking but don’t use them in the city as my knees do alright with fast street-type walking. But I love them for hillier hikes.
Planks! That’s one I keep forgetting. That’s a killer. Thanks for your routine, I’m inspired to go further!
Hmm, currently it’s not so great given that I’m still recovering from rotator cuff surgery, but my plan, as soon as I can, is to start training for another triathlon in the spring. Swimming should be good for my shoulder, I love to cycle, and I really (sort of) want to be a runner. I’ve done it before, I can do it again, I guess. Yes, I can!
Holy Smokes Sharry. Triathlon is impressive. Unfortunately, my knees no longer allow me to run but I love the idea of having something to train toward…I need a goal like that too.
Now I just have to think of one that doesn’t include running.
I’m thinking another one of those huge long walk/hikes like we did in Wales. I loved that experience (in a very love/hate way 🙂
Thanks for the idea. I’ll pick something and will let you know. Then we can both be working toward our goals.
Hope your rotator cuff heals up soon.
Okay, okay.. you convinced me! I’m going out to buy this book! I have been walking an hour a day, 5 days a week, for more than 6 months and I can’t really say I LOOK or FEEL any better. I like that you’re doing weight training and more sit ups. I used to do 50 every night before bed. So. Back. At. It. I will vow to at least get back to working those ab muscles (Ha! like there are actual muscles under there? eh?)
Glad it gave you more motivation. As I sit ALL day with my job, I really do have to remember to move more through the day. Thanks for sharing!
Gwen, the walking an hour a day is awesome. I’m impressed. I remember how you thought the Skookumchuck trail was long and hard. I bet you’d fly down it next time 🙂
What I took away from the book is to ramp it up now and again. Speed walk for five or ten minute bursts in between the regular walking and get myself good and sweaty.
Of course, I can also sit stock still and have a good and sweaty hot flash but I don’t think that’s what they’re talking about!
Solidarity sister!