Workout for When You’re 80

I was flying back from my hometown, and I met this really spunky 80 year old lady on the plane.  I think she was actually 83.  But she didn’t look a day over 60, and had more energy than most people I know at any age.

She told me she’d been working out for about 50 years.  She said it’s what keeps her going, and it’s why she’s still able to go visit her family and hang out with her grandkids.  She told me she’d just taken a trip to Europe.

She said most of her friends are nearly bed-ridden at this point.  It’s crazy to think about – she’s walking all over Europe and chasing her grandkids around, and her friends have trouble getting up out of a chair.

I asked her what kind of workouts she does – she said she mostly lifts weights.  She said she just started taking water aerobics, and I have to quote her here –  "Yeah I’m also taking water aerobics now.  It’s pretty lame, but I meet some cool people."

Then she was almost like lecturing me – "You have to keep up with your workouts if you want to still be active when you’re my age."

By Josh Hillis
Author of How To Lose The Stubborn Seven Pounds: Take Your Body from Good to Rockstar.
National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT) and Performance Enhancement Specialist (NASM-PES)
Russian Kettlebell Challenge Certified Instructor (RKC)* and Combat Applications Specialist (RKC2/CAS)

*RKC certified 2004-2006, registered to recertify 2007

© Joshua Hillis 2007