Moving & Grooving For the Rest of My Years

I was talking with someone today about dieting vs. a healthy lifestyle. I asked is what you are doing today going to be something you can continue to do the rest of your life with positive consequences? If the answer is yes, you are on the right track.

If not, I'd ask what are your long term goals.

I don't mean the number of pounds you want to lose, or the number of miles you can run. I mean really long term. What state of health and fitness do you want to be in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years?

Living off protein bars might make you skinny now, but it will not make you a vibrant and healthy 70 year old. Pounding your joints and over stressing your muscles in the gym now might give you a nice sculpted body, but it won't make you an active 80 year old.

Why am I so concerned with what my life will be like as a senior? A few reasons:

1. I teach senior fitness classes and seeing 70, 80 and even 90 years olds lifting weights and moving around the aerobic room inspires me. Their stories of how strong and healthy they are make me realize that my now 42 year old body may not always be able to rock an advanced yoga pose, but it can - if I take care of it - still move me and let me chase after my one day ( in the very, very far future ) keep up with my grandchildren.

2. I've sadly, seen the opposite as well. People as young as me whose bad habits and unhealthy lifestyle have brought them nothing but illness and pain.

3. Life is full of fun opportunities! I don't want to be sitting on the sidelines watching - I want to be out there living it!

So what is my long term health and fitness goal? I mean like really long term?

To be a Grizzly Granny!

The Grizzly Grannies & Grandpas are a dance team that perform at the halftime show of the Memphis Grizzlies basketball team. They are so fun to watch! Today in the gym I noticed a silver haired woman wearing a Grizzly Grannies t-shirt. I asked her if she was part of the dance team and she said yes she was.

We talked for quite a while. I was surprised how intense their rehearsal schedule is! These seniors have to be fit and able to move at a fast pace.  In fact, the whole time I was talking to this woman she was running on the treadmill. Not walking, running.

No matter how much money I spend on magic potions now to keep me looking young, the truth is someday I will be a senior citizen. But I am determined to be the kind of senior that is never home because I'm too busy at the gym, participating in a local 5K or dancing during the half time show.

(The video quality isn't that great. All the YouTube videos I could find were shot on someones cell phone. But it's definitely worth watching. I guarantee it will make you smile.)