Fran's Fitness Over 50

Why set goals?

At this point in our lives, we’ve probably reached the point where we know pretty much how our day will unfold. We all have routines. We like routine. There aren’t many people in the world who thrive on chaos. Of course, there are some, but the majority of people find comfort in knowing how their days will progress. If that’s the case, then, why set goals at all? If we’re happy in a rut, why not just stay in that rut? Do the same things day in and day out. I certainly love my own rut, but I’m constantly setting goals, wanting to improve, grow stronger, and share my message with more people.

Last week, my topic was about goals needing specificity to be achievable, and cited a study about goal-setting among seniors. The study found that most of us do, in fact, set goals of all sorts. Some are lifestyle goals, others are fitness goals, and others relate to social connections.

Why do we set goals?

An easy answer could be that, for those who don’t have pets or jobs, our goals are our reasons to get up in the morning. Goals give us purpose and optimism. I have dogs who make me get up in the morning. But I have goals involving my dogs, too. Goals help us be resilient. Because if we’re looking to the future, then we’re assured to have a future. And that goes hand-in-hand with healthy aging. In order to be there for our future, we need to be healthy. With no goals, we’re just sitting there and letting the world go by, not being a part of it. And, even worse, it won’t be status quo for us.

Use it or lose it

Unfortunately that old saying is true. If we don’t use what we’ve got then we run the risk of losing it. Our balance is a good example. It’s been shown that as we age, our balance deteriorates unles we actively work to maintain or improve it. That’s what the private Facebook group, Balance for Fitness Balance for Life is all about. Trying to help people improve their balance.

We should set goals for things that are important to us. We could set goals for anything we think of. For example, I could set the goal to learn how to make noodles. The problem with that, though, is that I already like lots of noodles that are easily available at reasonable prices. So I have absolutely no interest in achieving that particular goal.

On the other hand, I have set the goal to run twice a week for 20 minutes. Why? I want to stay fit and mobile, and independent.

Why set goals? Existentially speaking, setting goals are for happiness and independence.

Be specific, but not too specific

The first quarter of the year is mostly done. It’s true – time flies! Time to take stock, reassess and reimagine your future. The first step is to look at the goals you set for yourself at the end of last year. Are they still working for you? I’m kind of stuck. I set a pretty ambitious fitness goal of running at 7.5 mph at 2.5 percent incline for a full 2 minutes. I’m not there yet. I can do one minute and that’s about it. The rule is to be specific, but not too specific, with your goals. And I think that’s where I’m falling short.

The Goal-Setting Process

First off, we’re old. Why even bother with setting goals? According to a study that included people over 65 in English-speaking countries, goal-setting is quite common. The topics of goals that people set were wide-ranging – and included health and well-being, social connections and engagement, finances, activities and experiences, activities and experiences, home and lifestyle, and attitude toward life. Setting goals helps us to look to the future and remain optimistic. When we set goals, we’re increasing our optimism and resilience since we’re planning on sticking around to see those goals to fruition.

When I set my running goal, I thought about where I wanted to be in three months. I create quarterly goals because that length of time seems to be enough to get something done, but not so long that I feel I can push it off. You know that the human condition is sincerely prone to procrastination. Why do something today when you can do it tomorrow, right? But three months, or twelve weeks, is a good amount of time to achieve something meaningful but not so long that there’s time to waste.

I can already run 7.5 mph at 2.5 percent incline on the treadmill. It’s the endurance that I have problems with. I get tired. I get bored. The motivation just isn’t there. In addition, I’m distracted.

Check my own posts

I guess I need to get my head fixed to achieve this particular goal – read my own articles, maybe? Do more meditation and affirmations? I’ll get on that.

In the meantime, for the other goals that I’ve let slide, like keeping my desk clean by putting papers away every day. Perhaps I should reconsider the next part of goal-setting.

Be specific, but not too specific. This one seems to be a case of over-specificity. Things happen. Crises occur. Sudden projects can take over and cause chaos on my desk when I want things to be organized. So I’ll keep the goal of having a clean desk, but limit the filing to Friday afternoon. Every day is too much, but once a week should be about right. Time will tell. I’ll check back in three months.

Rewrite your brain

If you’re having trouble achieving your fitness goals, rewrite your brain

Perhaps you’ve experienced this. At the beginning of the year, or quarter, or whatever cycle you’re using, you’re all excited about your fitness goal. You know that you can hold a plank for a minute (you’re at 30 seconds now), but it’s just not happening. You consistently fail at 45 to 50 seconds. It’s easy to feel frustrated and discouraged with consistent unsuccessful sessions. What to do? Rewrite your brain!

Don’t accept subpar results

No, don’t ever accept results that aren’t up to your standard. But you can adjust your thinking to keep you going and even improve on your performance. Your brain is an incredible thing. It keeps you going, it remembers things for you. It helps you get the rest you need, or keeps you up at night. If you’re not happy with an aspect of your life, your brain can help you figure out how to change it. Your moods are set by your brain, and you have power over your moods. It’s funny that we’re naturally wired to believe the worst. We automatically believe that we can’t do something, that we should drop down from the plank. What were we thinking?

You can rewrite your brain

But the Journal of Neurochemistry has published articles that indicate that our brains are malleable. That our brains can adapt to different environments and conditions. But how can we rewrite our brains ourselves and make ourselves believe in the positive?

Rewriting our brain is not a one-and-done thing. Remember those piano lessons? I certainly do. I was not proficient at a piece on the first reading. Practice was the key. Hours and days of practice. Practice from the beginning, the middle and the end of the piece until eventually I knew it – literally – backwards and forwards. The same holds true with our brain.

Repetition is key

We’re not going to believe anything – even if it’s ourselves telling us so – the first time we hear it. Repetition is key. That’s where those affirmations come in. Now, the same holds true with our affirmations as with the goals we set. We have to tell ourselves things we can readily believe. We might shoot for pie-in-the-sky in the long run. But at first we have to stick to baby steps.

You know that you can hold that plank for a minute. You just have to really believe it, deep down. Tell those shaking arms that there are just a few more seconds. And your quivering core can stay tight for longer. Probably not the first time. Or the second. But by the fifth or sixth session, you’re able to rewrite your brain and hold that plank for 50 seconds – 55 – a minute!

Shiny object syndrome got you?

Shiny object syndrome has you procrastinating? Just start.

Tough day yesterday

Yesterday was a tough one. My younger dogs started brawling. My old one eliminated all over the house. Our stock was short. I couldn’t find a parking place within a block of a delivery I had to make. And I couldn’t find half the stuff on my shopping list. Funny how the smallest irritation just puts you over the top. We use the single-serve applesauce in our dogs’ food – I know, we could use a big jar and just spoon out what we need. But it’s a time-saving thing. The single-serve containers are more efficient in this case. Anyway, when I returned home and it was time to start my workout, the shiny object syndrome took hold. I kept looking at my newsfeed. At my dogs, waiting for them to start in again. Anything to put off starting. But, no. I told myself. Do it. Just start.

Put your mind to a task

So I did and got in a really good workout. Once you put your mind to a task, good things happen.

But if you’re floundering about, trying to figure out a good fitness program to do, shiny object syndrome kicks in and your scheduled workout time can come and go in a flash. If you’ve promised yourself on New Year’s that since you know you need to do it for your healthy aging, you would exercise four times a week at 10:30 in the morning for 35 minutes. But you may have already broken that resolution.

Be specific

Physical Therapist Erik Krol has three tips for setting fitness goals that are completely doable. First – be specific. In our example, the exercise wasn’t specified. It’s important to do your research and find a program that you can see yourself doing for weeks. I have a library of fitness videos that I rotate through. They allow me to get a good workout in and not invent a new program for myself.

But not too specific

Second tip for fitness goals – don’t be too specific. Have some flexibility for unexpected events. If my shopping took longer than usual yesterday, I have the flexibility of switching out a shorter workout.

Enjoy the process

And third, take it one step at a time. Don’t jump ahead of yourself and do exercises you’re not ready for. Accept that fitness is a journey that you’ll be on for life. Enjoy what you can of the ride, and celebrate every small accomplishment. If you’re just starting out and you’ve successfully walked a mile for the first time – that’s definitely worth a celebration. And on days when you feel the shiny object syndrome kicking in? Just start your workout. You’ll be glad you did.

Don’t let that shiny object syndrome rule your life. You’re stronger than your distractions. Just start.

My workout was so hard today

If you do the same exercises every week, you’ve probably experienced this. One day you breeze through your workout and the next time you do that workout it’s so hard! Why are are some days so much harder than others? It happens to me, especially on my running days. I do a run/walk workout a couple of times a week and some days it’s not exactly easy, but other days my workout was so hard!

I’m gasping on the hard days

On the hard days, it’s all I can do to get to the speed I want and then I’m practically gasping for air. (Okay, that might be a slight exaggeration.) But on those days I complain to anyone who will listen, “My workout was so hard today!”

I really like it much more when I push that up button for speed and inclination on the treadmill and just get back into the story that I’m listening to. I don’t have to think about every foot placement. And I’m not watching the time for when I can push it back down.

We know that exercise is crucial for our healthy aging. But why is it so much harder some days?

Several factors at play

So, why are some days of exercise so much harder than others? According to Houston Methodist on Health, there could be several factors. If your nutrition isn’t well-balanced, you could be feeling tired and weak. But if you consume the right combination of nutrients at the right time, you should be well-fueled and have enough energy for your workout.

Your recovery from your last workout could also play a role. If you’re not fully recovered, and if your muscles haven’t rested sufficiently, you could also feel sore and not able to perform at your highest level.

And if you’re not getting enough sleep, then you absolutely will not have the energy to fly through your workout. Your body needs sleep to regenerate. Coffee doesn’t do it.

Nutrition, recovery, sleep, but also mindset

Your mood can also play a factor. If you’re distracted, then you’re not focusing on your workout and it might seem harder. If you’re feeling depressed, then not even the most light-hearted audiobook will make your workout seem effortless.

So when you say, “My workout was so hard today” it might be for one or more of these reasons. As I’ve mentioned before, the keys to success in achieving any fitness goal are having the right nutrition, exercising wisely, and having a positive mindset. Work on those and your workouts will get easier.

Don’t minimize your celebrations

I’ve written about all the noise around us coming from so many sources. The national news here in the US is crazy. The winter weather won’t let up. It’s all too difficult to muster up the motivation to do anything toward any goal – big or little. But it’s important to keep going and don’t minimize your celebrations for any achievement.

This last weekend my Village was without water for days due to a major water main break. It started very early last Friday morning. Our usually exuberant water pressure was gone. And a boil order was put into place. This last may not seem like much, but think about it. We didn’t have bottled water. We depend on our tap water for all our water needs. My family thinks our tap water tastes good! And when I did venture out to the stores, bottled water was hard to find. Hard to wash, hard to brush teeth. And no showers, so no vigorous exercise. No laundry. I couldn’t do my regular cleaning chores. And we had to really think about our meal preparation.

If you're feeling anxious and stressed, meditation can help you focus on health and well-being.

There was no timetable for repairs and temperatures were forecast to plummet in a couple of days. It would have been really easy to let my mood plummet as well. But I knew that there was absolutely nothing we could do about the situation, so I turned off the screaming screens and organized a shelf in the linen closet. The next day I let myself listen to the audiobook I usually reserve for my runs while I did some needlework.

It was the perfect way to pass a quiet hour while not running water. It was a celebration of sorts – for not descending into a really bad, ugly mood. Instead of becoming angry with the world for the situation I found myself in, I took some time to enjoy two pastimes I love. I enjoyed a really good book and did some needlework. Every celebration increases our resilience and our optimism. That’s so good for our mental health and our healthy aging. Don’t minimize your celebrations. Especially now when we all need every bright spot we can find.

When everything else is out of control

Lately it seems like everything is happening so fast that there’s no time to even catch your breath. The news headlines, reactions to them. Even weather systems are coming fast and furious one right after another. It’s easy to sit and keep scrolling your social media looking for the next thing. Needless to say, that’s not healthy long-term behavior. When we’re so busy focusing on the negative we don’t pay attention to what’s going on in front of us. It’s easy to neglect our health and our home. And, again, that’s not good for our healthy aging or our resilience. So, when everything else is out of control, let’s focus on what we can control.

When everything else is out of control, focus on your health

The one thing we can control no matter what else is going on is our health. Focus on Number One. Yourself. Be sure that you eat nutritious meals and exercise. And no matter how bad the news seems to be, try to maintain a positive outlook. Those things will help you get through all of this.

We’re bombarded 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by our screens. It’s easy to forget to shop. And it’s much easier to grab a burger at the drive-through than to cook healthy meals. But the act of cooking in itself is a great way to turn off the noise from outside. When I cook – which is not every day – I’m able to be in my own little world. And when you cook, you have to pay attention to what you’re doing so that the food doesn’t burn or get too tough. So turn off the noise and cook healthy meals!

Your future self needs you to keep moving, eat right and set achievable goals.

Exercise is truly the way to control your health. Every exercise you do is paving the way for your healthy aging. That’s especially true if you truly focus on your moves and make sure you have good form to get every benefit from the exercise. A biceps curl is much more effective when you’re focusing on the muscle that’s supposed to be working.

With the noise bombardment, it’s really easy for our mindset to spiral downward. It is for me, anyway. Bad news on top of distressing happenings sure depresses my mood. I try to catch that downward trend as quickly as I can and turn off the screens. I’ll do something else on my Get Stuff Done Funtime menu. If my brain still won’t turn off, I’ll try a guided meditation. Taking a walk outside – without headphones – is another good option.

If you feel compelled to take action about something that comes up in that noise that’s bombarding you, do it. Take action. You’ll feel accomplished, like you’ve done something positive to put your life on track. Taking action for something you believe in can build your resilience, form connections and generate a positive mindset. Here’s a caveat, though. Unless that action you take directly benefits you or people you care about, put a time limit on it. Don’t go too deeply down that rabbit hole because the rest of your existence could suffer.

You can see that you have options. When everything else is out of control, focus on what you can control.

Affirmations work for self-doubt

I tried pushing it, and then I had doubts

So, you know that my goal this year is to be able to run at 7.8 miles per hour for three minutes straight at 2.5 percent incline on the treadmill. I’ve been doing almost that speed but just for one minute alternating with walking at 4 mph for another minute. And the speed? Just one or two intervals at 7.5 during my workout time. The other day I decided to do 2 minutes straight at speed and incline. I could do it, right? After all, I’ve been doing this for some time. And I’ve been increasing speed and incline regularly. No problem, right? And then I started having doubts. Just one minute is hard. How much harder is 2? Could I do it? Was I crazy? But then I told myself that I could always back off the speed if I needed to. I can go as fast as I can go. But I can do it. This was a test of whether affirmations work for self-doubt.

The perfect pair

Affirmations and self-doubt are a match made in psychological heaven, as it turns out. The knowledge that I could back off the speed whenever I wanted helped me think that it was actually possible to maintain it. The fact that I was at an exciting part of the book I was listening to helped!

How affirmations work

Angele Close, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist, says that affirmations work by “shifting our mental attention towards our intentions.” And that “has the potential to help us steer away from negative thinking patterns and create a positive change in mood, mindset, and energy.” It’s natural to doubt ourselves. On that run, I was thinking that I couldn’t possibly maintain the speed for the duration. An affirmation turned it around and gave me the boost that I needed to try.

That positive change in my mindset gave me energy. I could keep on running, even though I was tired and sweaty. And that’s what we all need to keep us going, That boost of positive mental energy. It increases our resilience and our optimism, and makes for a great workout, too.

When should you use affirmations

Dr. Close says that affirmations are best used to evoke experiences. So, for me, I thought of how it feels for me to run. It’s not comfortable, and it’s not easy. So I thought about pushing that speed and maintaining it, feeling what I feel, and knowing that I would make it through. And I did. That affirmation helped me keep going. I didn’t quit, and I know that’s good for my own healthy aging..

Dr. Close also advises us beginners not to go crazy with too many affirmations. Our brain will be overwhelmed and the affirmations, positive though they may be, won’t do us any good. Keep it simple. If you’re troubled, though, try one. I speak from experience – affirmations work for self-doubt.

Is it possible to lose weight without drugs

Last week’s post defining fitness, struck a chord with many. But people ask if they can get fit while still overweight. And if so, is it possible to lose weight without drugs? I maintain that it’s not only possible, but many people are succeeding, even at our age.

A word about weight-loss drugs

Many researchers, physicians and prescribers consider the newer weight-loss drugs long-term solutions. They see obesity as a chronic disease. Their patients will always have the disease because there’s no cure. The drugs address the symptoms, not the underlying cause. So people can, conceivably, stay on these drugs forever.

Do people have to stay on drugs forever?

But many people, including those over 50, choose another path. I did some looking around, and found out about a lady, let’s call her Angie, who’s been successful without drugs. “I’m 62. Over the last 2 years, I have lost 130 pounds by basically reducing portion sizes to ‘kid’s meal’ at a restaurant and taking my little black cat for walks around the trailer park. First time I’ve been less than 200 pounds at 5’7″ since I was 18.”

And another lady, let’s call her Patricia, who said, “I’m 5’7” and 55 yrs old and am in the process of losing 163 lbs. I have now lost 33 lbs -watching portions and stopping when I’m actually full…. Losing about 1-2 lbs a week (soooo slow but I will take it)….and have 130 lbs to go.”

So, eating right and exercise are the keys to getting fit. Even just taking walks around the trailer park counts as exercise – in a major way! And Angie’s cat is getting the benefits too. This is how you lose weight without drugs. Neither method is good or bad. One is not better than the other. But many people prefer not to take drugs unless it’s absolutely necessary.

A commitment

If you have a lot of weight to lose, the prospect of losing only 1-2 pounds a week is daunting. You see a future of unhappiness and dreary days with boring food. Food is a pleasure we all look forward to every day. We humans need to eat. And adding variety to our meals is one way to add happiness. There are a zillion healthy options when it comes to mealtime. If you’re bored with your usual diet, check out other countries’ cuisines.

That’s not to say that you have to deny yourself. In fact, you know that I’m a proponent of never saying no to a craving.

There’s also a commitment to exercise. There’s nothing I’d like more than to be a sedentary hermit, but all the experts agree that movement is vital. If you’re like me, but have gone the sedentary hermit route for a while, I’ll bet you hurt when you do get up from your comfy armchair. Stairs are probably an issue, too. Get moving! It really does help. And it’s important for your healthy aging. Those experts have that title for a reason.

So, drugs are not required for weight loss. But a positive mindset is. We’ll talk about that next time.

What is Fitness?

Technically, it’s still the beginning of the year, so many of us are still in our goal-setting phase for the quarter or the year. I thought it was appropriate, since I call this site “Fitness Over 50,” to explore exactly what is fitness. What does fitness mean to us, people who are middle-aged or perhaps older.

I did a search and, not surprisingly, there are quite a few meanings for the word. Fitness, according to Cross Fit ”comes through molding men and women that are equal parts gymnast, Olympic weightlifter, and multi-modal sprinter.” Yikes! That definition seems a bit extreme for most of us, entering this stage of life. But if you aspire to these qualities, then definitely go for it.

Physical fitness, according to MIT Medical, “Physical fitness is to the human body what fine tuning is to an engine. It enables us to perform up to our potential. Fitness can be described as a condition that helps us look, feel and do our best.” A definition like this is one I can get behind. Fitness “enables us to perform up to our potential,” so it’s different for everyone. Everyone has a different potential and, it can be argued, it’s something that we can grow and change as our lives change.

Fitness is personal

But the definition I relate to the most comes from Sharecare: Fitness is a very personal term! Fitness is having a healthy mind, body, and spirit to allow you to maximize your potential and help others maximize their potential. Your definition of fitness will be influenced by your interests, physical abilities, and goals.”

Fitness is mind, body and everything in between

To me, fitness combines every aspect of your being. From what’s on the outside to physical organs on the inside, and even to your thoughts and beliefs. Fitness is the ability to live every day with joy and meaning. Those are very personal ideas too: how one person experiences joy can be very different from another. And the meaning of my day can be as simple as playing with my dogs or as deep as writing a (hopefully) well-thought article on fitness.

So, “what is fitness?” is different for everyone, but I think there are some commonalities. Being fit is the ability to do the things you want to do when you want to do them. I exercise so that I have the independence and the mobility to do exactly that – what I want. I set goals to have a path forward. When I have a path forward, I can plan my days and be happy. I’m optimistic that I can achieve my goals, and that makes me even more resilient.

You decide what being fit is for you

Being fit may include looking and feeling good, but it’s much more than that. Everyone has their own definition of fitness, and you can use that definition to maintain your motivation. It’s what can get you up in the morning, ready to lace up your sneakers or dive into a meditation session. The fact that you are fit will help you get through tough times and look forward to the future. You know that even when things feel hard – like lifting a 30-pound weight – you can take a deep breath and do it. When you’re fit, you automatically do things for your healthy aging. It’s not even a conscious thing. When you’re fit, you move – and move forward.