Is your age making it harder to get to the gym? Or do things like arthritis, bad knees, a bad back, or a 'clicking' noise in a joint prevent you from exercising regularly?
"You're young, you just don't understand what it's like to be old! My knees hurt, my back hurts and there is no way I can do that."
This is one of the most popular phrases I hear about why someone "can't" exercise. The reality is these are the folks that need to exercise the most! This is actually an excuse as to why someone won't exercise, not a reason why they can't.
Exercise does so much good for the body; it simply blows my mind to know that so many people do not do it, or do not do it consistently enough. Personally, I do not consider myself to be an exercise freak, but I do understand and enjoy all the benefits of exercise which motivates me to be consistent with it.
I know that when I take an extended time off of exercising, I feel the effects of not maintaining a regular routine. Overall I have less energy, I feel more fatigued generally, I just feel weak and for lack of a better word, "Blah". The way I feel is not the only thing affected either, I am much more likely to make bad choices when eating and I'll spend more time than usual in front of the TV. Without a routine, it is harder for me to get up in the mornings too.
I also know that when I neglect my resistance training (weight training), my knees hurt more and I develop a 'clicking' inside both my shoulder and my knees. In addition, I dread going back to the gym knowing how much weaker I'll be.
I, as most of you likely do, already have a very busy, hectic lifestyle and I know that having unnecessary aches and pains are not going to enhance my lifestyle. So, I am willing to do what I need to do in order to prevent these aches and pains as well as avoiding all the preventable diseases and health issues associated with not exercising on a regular basis.
The point is this. I know what exercising does for me. It keeps me in shape for life. Yes, I like to challenge myself every so often with a race or an event, but generally, I exercise so I do not get those 'old people pains.' So, maybe I don't understand what those 'old' people are talking about and maybe I don't understand how bad it really is when you have them. But I do know, that I am willing to put the time and effort into NOT experiencing them, are you?
