Sunday, January 8, 2012

It's Never Too Late To Change

I occasionally encounter people who have the attitude that they are a certain way and will always continue to stay the same. They have the  attitude that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. That mentality can really hold someone back from living a healthy life and getting the results they'd like to achieve.

I have seen people in their 30's, 40's and 50's change old habits and take up new activities and excel at them. If you view yourself as a person who just doesn't do certain sports or physical activities, remember, it is never too late to start.

My wife is a great example of this. She is a professional musician and hasn't cared much for sports or exercise in the past. During high school, her PE classes were waived so she could focus on music. She was healthy for someone who never exercised, but last year something changed. She starting jogging and after several weeks she actually started enjoying it. She ran her first 5 K race and got second place in her age division. A month later she successfully completed the Ragnar relay with some friends. For 40 years she wouldn't entertain the thought of running for fun, but now she looks forward to it.

Ernestine Shepherd is a professional bodybuilder. She is 74 and is in amazing shape, but what I find even more impressive to me is the fact that she didn't start lifting weights until she was 56! Here is a short video clip about her.



With the new year upon us, it is a great time to try new activities . If you don't like to exercise, maybe it's because you haven't found an activity you really enjoy yet. Give yoga, rollerblading, swimming, weight lifting, hiking, or other activities a chance before you decide they are not for you. Finding the right activity and the right workout partners can make all the difference.

It is always wise to get a physician's approval before starting an exercise program, especially if you have health concerns or have been inactive for an extended period of time.

Remember, it's never to late to change!

2 comments:

Lindsay said...

I love Ernestine! She is such an inspiration. And you're right-it is NEVER to late to change!

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