I’ve Joined The Resistance

If you think this post is political in nature you will be disappointed. The resistance I am referring to is physical in nature; that is resistance training. It seems these days you can’t get away from articles, blogs and social media expounding on the topic of resistance training and every day a new article pops up confirming the benefits of it especially for women.

Our mom Betty could be considered an early adopter of this phenomenon when she participated in a study in her 60s that assessed the impact of resistance training on senior women. She learned a lot of different exercises related to strength and balance and continued them on into her 70s. She also became a bit of a media star a result of this study. I wish I could tell you that I learned from my mom’s example but alas, it appears that I’m a slow learner when it comes to fitness.

The Long and Winding Road

You know how they say opposites attract? Well my husband and I definitely personify that phrase when it comes to physical activity. I’ve been married to him for over 50 years and since the day we met he has consistently devoted himself to any and all forms of physical activity – running, playing hockey, skiing, cycling and weightlifting to name a few, all of which he continues to this day at the ripe old age of 71!

So you would think that some of this would rub off on sedentary old me over the years, right? Wrong. Not that I didn’t try things. I tried running, but alas my knees quickly told me to try something else. Jane Fonda workout tapes were my thing for a while (I know I am severely dating myself). Then there was cross-country skiing where my husband decided to introduce me to it on a cold winter day out in the middle of nowhere. Needless to say that one was a nonstarter. At various times walking was my exercise of choice but nothing ever really stuck. Raising a family and a busy job took priority and there just wasn’t enough hours in the day. At least that’s what I told myself.

No Where To Hide

Once I retired I literally had no more excuses to hide behind. Besides, menopause and the achy knees and sore hips were telling me to get going or else. And so I did. I started slowly with walking workouts at home and online yoga. A short stint with pilates left me with an unnatural fear of the reformer contraption so I moved on. After a conversation with Big Sis about her experience working with a personal trainer, I decided it was time to get serious about resistance training, so I followed her lead and hired a personal trainer. It worked wonderfully until it didn’t. The injury bug hit me hard, shoulder after shoulder, knee after knee, it was pretty clear that the universe was telling me this wasn’t working for me. I was spending more time at the physio than I was working out. At one point during my treatment the physio ever so delicately suggested that I maybe try some more “age appropriate” programs. Fortunately she had one in mind for me and since I started it I have not looked back.

I Am All In

What a difference a year makes. My days now revolve around my workouts. I’m at it five days a week doing different classes and activities and I am feeling strong and healthy, although I don’t really see any progress on my “batwings” just yet.😂 I’m feeling so good I’ve decided to branch out. I just started Ballet Fit but I must confess that I’m not sure what I’ve gotten myself into when at the first class the instructor smiled ever so sweetly while asking if we “feel the burn yet” after twenty pliés. The jury is still out on this one.

I’ve even started taking Creatine and whether it is a placebo effect or reality, squats and lunges, feel just a bit easier these days and my knees thank me for that. No dramatic improvements to report on the cognitive side just yet although I remain hopeful. I need all the help I can get in this department.😵‍💫

That it took me this long to start figuring all this out, does I guess, qualify me as a slow learner in this department, but I’m sticking to that old truism – better late than never. And what I know for sure is:

Betty Would Love That!