by Anne Green
Unlike Matt, I would rather walk/jog in the rain, cold, and/or snow than exercise inside. Even now, I can’t say I jump for joy when lifting weights (yuck), stretching (double yuck), and doing balance exercises (who enjoys this??). But now, at age 63, I’m stronger, more limber, and less likely to fall than I was in my 50s. Why, you ask? Because (after several injuries) I (finally) gave in to my husband’s nagging [hey!] and joined him in his quest to stay healthy as long as possible.
One of the injuries (being pushed into solid objects by a much younger, stronger student) doesn’t really count as preventable, but it did ultimately heal as a result of consistent strengthening via weight lifting. Okay, fine.
An injury to my knee (common in women in my age group) healed fully (such that I am able to squat in the woods again) after stretching and (especially) doing squats with weights. That’s good, I admit. We like hiking and sometimes you need to leave a pee in the woods (no TP, though).
The final nail in the coffin of my complaints about working out inside, though, was when I broke my wrist in a fall while hiking. The ED doctor insisted I see another doctor about my (lack of) balance. Sigh.
Matt and I have been so fortunate to be able to travel pretty extensively (with points and miles, after being fired for the final time) and I very much want to continue to do so. I had to face the truth that I can’t get stronger (more limber, less tippy) just by thinking about it. I don’t need to be obsessed, just consistent. I don’t need to agree with Matt’s enthusiasm [hey!], but I do need to work out inside.
And I suggest that, if you haven’t already, you get on board with strength and balance exercises. It’s likely not too late to get a little stronger. You don’t necessarily need to join a gym. You don’t need to listen to goops and gurus who claim that only their method works. Instead, ask around and find a routine that you can maintain. It might take months to get into a grove. Keep going, but don’t injure yourself by doing too much. Injury prevention is goal #1.
Even if you hate exercising inside, you’ll (eventually) be glad you did.
[Publisher’s note: Since Losing came out, three much younger people named in the book have fallen and suffered serious injuries. A friend of another person named in the book died from a fall, as did the father of someone referenced in the book. This is not a joke. Balance boards such as this or this aren’t fun, but are better than waking up in an ambulance or needing facial reconstruction. Or dying.]
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