by Jonathan A. Ward

Why did Charles Darwin start working out? He believed in the survival of the fittest.  

YES, exercise your rights (and everything else), or at least take all your senior advantages. For instance a benefit of Medicare Advantage is membership in Silver Sneakers, Silver & Fit, or One Pass; this boon includes membership at most gyms, YMCA’s, and other fitness studios at no additional cost. And before you say you’d feel out of place at a gym, my 90+ years-young neighbor Charlie is a regular at my local gym. Yes, there are all shapes, sizes, ages, and everyone is welcomed and encouraged. The environment is motivating — it’s easier to exercise when everyone else in the room is too.

Did you hear about the priests who worked out every day? They had a great muscle mass.

Quote from our fearless editor, Barb Dove: “I have traditional Medicare and a supplemental plan. I wasn’t aware my supplemental insurance also covered a gym membership. I had been with the same plan for 8 years before a neighbor told me about it! I don’t know why more insurance companies don’t tout this benefit. My fitness plan, Silver & Fit, also covers home fitness kits annually including weights, stretch bands, yoga mats, pedometers, etc. If I go to the Silver & Fit website, it displays a list of gyms that I can join. To take advantage of this, neighbors should call their medical insurer to find out what fitness plan it covers, and get their membership number to join a gym.”

Yesterday at the gym I heard someone trying to convince a bodybuilder that yoga is a workout. He thought it was a stretch.

My wife’s an inspiration; I’m a perspiration. She goes to yoga classes 4 days a week, loves the EGYM program at the YMCA, and belongs to a local gym. In my early years I developed the exercise habit, but I can’t keep up with my wife. She tells me that within a 7-mile radius of LSM there are over two dozen gyms, fitness centers, and yoga studios — truly, something for everybody. We’re also blessed in this area with many beautiful hiking trails, which I described in the January Quail Call.

I went to the gym to work out. A group of buff guys walked past me and called me a fat loser. I said “thank you” because I did lose a lot of fat.

Our exercise options right here at Lake San Marcos are many. The Lodge at San Marcos has a great new Fitness Center in the space formerly occupied by the card (meeting) and the billiard/game rooms (which have moved). The center has 15 exercise apparatuses as well as free weights. It’s a wonderful new addition to our facilities. The Lodge also has pickleball and tennis courts, two swimming pools, paddle boats and kayaks for our use. 

Even at home one can get in a good workout. For instance, on youtube.com there are a wide variety of standing and sitting workouts specifically for seniors, and they are free. Just search for “senior workouts at home.” 

I wanted to get buns of steel, but decided I’d settle for some cinnamon.

For those 65 and older, the Mayo Clinic suggests at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week. Or get at least 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week. As we get older, exercise becomes more important just to stay ambulatory and above ground. Regular exercise has many  benefits:

* Helps control weight.

* Releases mood enhancing chemicals.

* Promotes general cognitive health – 

   reduces stress and maintains memory.

* Fights diseases like stroke, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, arthritis, and metabolic syndrome. 

* Develops greater muscle mass and bone density.

* Improves cardiovascular health.

* Better sleep.

* Greater energy.

* Improved balance—can reduce falls.

* It’s social and fun.

* Promotes brain health,

* And better romance.

Need I say more?