Baby Boomer-supreme Jane Fonda started it all with her slinky leotard
and goofy leg warmers. The one-time workout fad soon became a way of
life for a generation
that plans on living longer and better. Aging has its disadvantages,
however, including the inability to perform high-impact aerobics or
scale mountains in
several bounds.
And so was born an entire industry designed to keep Baby Boomers in
shape without eliminating precious cartilage or boring us stiff. As
added advantages, exercise
also reduces our arthritic pain, depression and anxiety.
My personal mantra is "Pain means no gain," so I'm always looking for
low-impact workouts that don't hurt my wallet. Fortunately, there always
seems to be a new
exercise trend designed specifically for my generation. Here are a few
healthy yet money-saving tips I've learned on my journey to physical
fitness (which isn't
by any means complete).
1. Go It Alone
It takes discipline to maintain your own workout schedule, but joining
an expensive health club isn't really a necessity. We tell ourselves
paying for membership
will force us to exercise, but the thinning crowds after January attest
to the fallacy of this concept.
2. Bring It Home
More than 10 million Americans use elliptical trainers as they're a
knee-friendly cross between cross-country skiing and stair climbing. An
equal number prefer a
reclining stationary bike, according to
Charlene Laino of WebMD. Both machines reduce
stress on joints while eliminating the aching-back syndrome.
Fortunately, a lot of people buy such equipment and then use them as
expensive clothes hangers. That means you should never have to buy a new
machine. Craigslist
is just filled with ads for home exercise equipment and some dealers
offer refurbished machines. The key is to give it a whirl before handing
over your cash or
you, too, might end up with a pricey coat rack.
If you don't already have an MP3 player, this should be your second
investment. Nothing impels you through a home workout like hot tunes or
an hour-long podcast
of "Car Talk." You can find free shipping codes for Best Buy and other
retailers on such sites as
FreeShipping.org,
allowing you to skip the stuffy retail outlet and avoid paying for delivery charges.
3. Stay Limber
Stress is not only the province of youth; nor is muscle elasticity. Yoga
helps sooth frayed nerves, improves flexibility and, not incidentally,
provides a great
aerobic workout. Pilates has many of the same advantages, but without
all that Nirvana stuff.
There are countless DVDs and CDs to lead you through these exercises at
home, but it's important to be selective. You want an instructor who
gives detailed
instructions, like "keep your stomach flat," "push away from the floor,"
etc. You don't want to fall into sloppy habits as this can lead to
strained muscles
without the desired impact.
4. Get Outside
Recumbent road bikes are fairly expensive, but you can always pick up a
traditional bike for cheap at garage sales, thrift stores,
FreeCycle.org or the inevitable Craigslist. If you have shoulder or back problems, invest in high-rise handlebars and have a
professional adjust the bike to your body shape and size.
Naturally this is a fair-weather exercise, but there's an added advantage in that you can save on gas by biking to work.
5. Walk It Off
It costs nothing to cruise the neighborhood, checking out houses for
sale while listening to music that moves you. Walking regularly with a
friend is a great
motivator and maintaining a conversation while keeping a steady pace
allows you to monitor the amount of exercise youe actually getting. An
article in AARP reports overweight people who walk 30 minutes per
day, five days per week, can reduce their risk of diabetes by nearly 60 percent.
For bad weather, a second-hand treadmill is a good investment and,
according to the Mayo
Clinic, exerts about the same force as an elliptical machine.
6. Pump It Up
My girlfriends and I used to play a garage sale game to see who could
first spot a set of weights for sale. Even if you just add weights to
your arms and legs
when walking, you'll increase your body strength while getting a good
cardio workout.
7. Mix and Match
Performing just one form of exercise won't ensure you stay fit. A full
regimen combines strength, flexibility and balance training (the latter
provided by yoga
and Pilates). Mixing it up each day also keeps the doldrums away.
###
Kate Forgach is a Baby Boomer consumer specialist for Kinoli
Inc. She has written about senior issues for 11 years as a Cooperative
Extension specialist and for a wide variety of newspapers and magazines.
She has been featured in USA Today, Detroit News, New Orleans
Times-Picayune, New Yorker magazine, "ABC World News," NBC's "TODAY"
show and many other media outlets.
