Perhaps it's because I didn't really start trying to get in shape until I was in my mid-30s, and maybe it's because I ran my fastest half-marathon just a few weeks ago, at the age of 51 (and my fastest 10K earlier in the year, when I was 50), but I really enjoyed this article about people who got in the best shape of their lives in their fifties. While the first example is a bit extreme, the rest of the article is quite good about reminding us that we don't have to run marathons or go to gyms where people will (definitely will) judge us when we go in them, as we supposedly don't look like we belong there. It reminds us not only that it's not too late to make a change in life to improve one's health, but also that we don't have to measure ourselves against anybody else. That definitely makes me look forward to the coming years, as I might have an even faster race in me yet.
I liked both of the following articles about exercise, as they remind us that what we do and when we do it are largely contingent on who we are and what works for us, as opposed to trying to shoehorn us into something that doesn't fit for our lives. I'm a strong proponent of such an approach, as I used to exercise around midnight when I was in graduate school, given that I taught night classes and took classes/worked during the day, so that was the best time for me. Then, early in my career, I exercised in the afternoons when I had finished teaching, but before I went home. I wasn't a morning person, and I was single, so I didn't need to rush home to my family, so that slot worked out the best. I now get up around 6 (or earlier, if the day calls for it) because that works best for me, and I really like working out in the morning. None of those schedules were inherently better than the other. I could also talk about how my workouts have changed over the years, but you get the point.
So, that said, here's an article that certainly talks about the benefits of exercising at 5 a.m., but it also clearly reminds us that when we exercise is completely up to us and our lives and schedules. And here's an article about just getting up and moving, especially if we're working from home. It reminds us that even a five-minute workout every hour or so will help offset all of the sitting we're doing these days. I'm all for such approaches. Whenever people think about being healthier, they usually think they have to drop a significant amount of weight or start running 5 or 10Ks (or more). Of course, such an approach actually keeps them from doing anything, as they get overwhelmed by the prospect of either of those approaches. However, as this article from the New York Times reminds us, exercise, in general, is better for us than weight loss.
So, rather than worrying about whether we can drop those extra pounds (which is still good, of course) or run under a ten-minute mile, we should all just do what we can to improve our fitness, knowing that will make us healthier in the long run. |
AuthorI'm a reader, runner, writer, and movie lover; here's where I write about those things I love Archives
July 2023
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