Over the last few years, I have sought inspiration from inspirational people. Logan Franklin is one of those people and I thank him for allowing me to reproduce his article. I hope that you might relate to it as I did.
Don’t let the Old Man (or Woman) in
I heard an interview with Clint Eastwood, who is 91-years old and still making wonderful movies. The interviewer asked how at his age he remained so active and creative. Eastwood answered, “You can’t let the old man in.”
For most of us, researchers say, there is an “inner-geezer” hormone that starts to creep in as early as age 50. Of course, at that young age we don’t notice its presence because it is so sneaky and gradual. Yet with each passing year, its boldness grows. And if we don’t watch out, in a decade or two it rules.
A total inner-geezer takeover can succeed only because it is nearly invisible, and we really don’t realize it is happening while it’s happening. It’s sneaky. Then one day we take stock of ourselves and realize we don’t get around nearly as well as we used to. Our belt size probably has expanded, and we droop. Or reality may suddenly smack us in the face when the doctor doesn’t like the look of things at an annual physical.
We may then ask ourselves: Is inner-geezer prevention even possible? Of course most of us will never be as creative as Clint Eastwood, but yes, prevention, to a great extent, is possible.
When we get up in the morning there must be something we look forward to? If there isn’t, that inner-geezer hormone is gaining on us.
Resistance training, for one thing, suppresses the nasty hormone, keeping our inner-geezer at bay. What you’ve heard is true. Resistance exercise — barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance bands — makes us feel good and makes us look good. Thus we spend more time looking forward, not backward. We retain or may even reclaim many of the positive aspects of youth. It’s never too late to set age-appropriate goals and to look ahead.
The picture at the top of the page: That’s me entering my 70s. I was never a big-time athlete. Yet regardless of some wrinkles and gray hair, I was still in pretty good shape. I didn’t get that way by accident. I exercised regularly in a smart way and followed a common sense diet. Years of experience and training taught me how to go about it.
Today, I’m 85. I can’t do nearly as much as I could at 70, and certainly not what I could do at 60 or at 50. And I’ve had a few health bumps along the way.
My own personal training today isn’t very complicated: daily walks with my dog and resistance bands exercises. I want to remain as fit and healthy as possible for as long as nature allows. The information I’ve acquired over the years can be found at the Senior Exercise Central website. It is 100% free.
Please . . . Stay healthy. Stay fit.
Logan