senior fitness – Weight Loss and Leadership

Two recent events forced me to accept something that I have been putting off for two years. I am now officially a “Senior”, and, as such, there are certain things I need to adjust.

The first event’s linkage to my advancing age is apparent. My youngest of four children Kendall graduated from college recently. She may not have been able to walk across the stage due to the current pandemic. However, her name flashing across the scoreboard at Texas A&M’s Kyle field signified that my wife and I were officially empty nesters (Gig’em!)!

The second event, our dog Boots’ reaction to the loud rainstorm in Austin last night may not be so apparent (more in Part 2 of this blog!) A Daughter, A Dog, and A Not So Old Man (Part 2 of 2). But both conspired to make me finally accept my new season in life.

I did not embrace my age two years ago! When I turned 55, I staged a ritualistic burning of my AARP card application on YouTube (see video below).

I was trying to show that I had no intention of slowing down in what I then thought was a humorous way. It was not! The part not captured on the video could have caused me to miss my next birthday, but in hindsight was funnier. The part I cut out is the AARP card caught fire rapidly and I had to drop it. I asked for someone to give me some water to dash the flames. Unfortunately, the pan with the water had been in the sink with some oil that had not been removed. The pan lit up like a torch until someone gave me a lid to snuff it out. Almost lit the house on fire! Not good for my health and those around me (although that video would have gone viral!). How did I finally embrace my age and adapt to stay fit? Read the second part of the blog series on the event that was the final tipping point – Boot’s whimpering at the rain here link A Daughter, A Dog, and A Not So Old Man (Part 2 of 2)

In the first part of this blog series here A Daughter, A Dog, and A Not So Old Man (Part 1 of 2 Part Series) , I showed I was ready to risk life, limb, and house instead of embracing my age. So how did the dog and the rain change my disposition

Boots and my attempt to calm him reminded me that I no longer had the stamina that I once had. At 3 AM, with the lightening striking, thunder rolling, and Boots barking, I decided to sing him a lullaby like I did when the recently graduated Kendall and her three older siblings were scared. It worked for a bit. I sang the following to the tune of Bing Crosby’s Little Man Your Crying while petting Boots. Like Kendall’s lullaby I changed the lyrics but this time for a dog, not a girl.

Little dog you’re crying,
I know why your blue,
the rain is loud and took
Your time to walk away.
Better go to sleep now,
because little dog you had a busy day.
Lacy took your dog bones,
now I’ll tell you what I’ll do,
I’ll go out and get you new ones right away,
better go to sleep now
because little dog you had a busy day.

Lacy is my oldest daughter’s Pit bull. The song worked! But I had to keep singing it or Boots would cry. So, I decided to get up and do the next logical thing. Do aerobics!

What? That does not sound logical. Well I was not going to come up with multiple Boots lullabies. Unlike my kids, the dog did not fall soundly sleep. Each flash of lightening made him howl anew. Since I had to stay up with my frightened dog and it was my weigh-in day for WW, I decided to do some exercise to music earlier than usual. But unlike other Saturdays, I was feeling all my 50+ years and was not ready for High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) or something like that. So, I did what I never said I would do. I did an exercise video for Seniors.

And boy was I glad I did. I had avoided Senior based videos since I thought that such videos would be boring and not much of a workout. Instead the videos by Paul Eugene (see here) were energizing, fun and just the right level to get a great workout.

I liked the first one on Latin Dance for Seniors so much; I did a second Aerobics one! If I had done HIIT or something more strenuous in my dog induced, sleep deprived coma, I would have ended up with a pulled muscle or on the floor. Instead, I was ready for the day and more.

When the videos ended, the rain had stopped, and Boots was finally asleep. Lucky for me he feared rain but loved Paul Eugene! The sun had started to come out and I decided to take a walk. And then the biggest surprise happened. On the path to my park, I saw a Doe that looks to be ready to give birth!

It took me back to the days of Kendall and lullabies, but not depressed with my advancing years. And hopefully in a few years as I stay healthy Sweating to and with the Oldies, I may have the chance to rock a grandchild instead of a dog! Embrace your age! Stay Healthy!