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| Silver Sneakers Go for World Record |
I never, say a year ago, would have imagined the amount of time I'm dedicating to fitness. Okay, there was one year when I sweated on the machines every morning and then snarfed fresh bread and a cup of coffee before work. After tearing my rotator cuff I swore off.
Now, thanks to Jesse's encouragement, we show up at the YMCA three times a week at 10 a.m. for a two-hr workout. According to reports, as little as 20 minutes of exercise three times a week will make you healthy, wealthy and wise. Or at least happy.
For 10 years Jesse walked into the gym at 6 a.m. but his bride alas is not an early bird, to the dismay of his former workout and breakfast buddies. After a mile around the track, Jesse hits the machines while I head for the Silver Sneakers, which if you have retired you know about and if not probably imagine a premium detective agency. No, no, it is fitness for the silverhaired set.
During our 45 minutes, in addition to aerobics to get our heart rates up to Intense on the perceived exertion chart, we lift weights (two pounds each hand for me), exercise with bands and "Silver Sneaker balls." Today I progressed from a green band to a red band, one distinction stiffer. We stand on the bands and do pull ups and arm curls and work on our triceps.
Otherwise it's an aerobic workout. It's humbling to struggle to make your feet go one direction and your arms another when little old ladies on either side are breezing along. We have all this fun to rock & roll oldies, especially the Beach Boys and "Wake up, Little Susie!"
I can tell I'm improving. Jesse said he watched me through the window today and was impressed with how when Shannon yelled "March, lift those knees HIGH!" I lifted my knees HIGH. When Shannon shouts, "March 'em wide, march 'em low--STAMPEDE!" is when I'm the most humble. I think of football players running through tires. I can barely get my soles off the floor. Fake jump roping is even worse. "March it out!" We do a lot of marching.
Doing toe taps and rock steps, arms swinging, side steps, I look down the line and see how great we look, like A Chorus Line. Except for the one lady in front of me who is always going to the left when everyone else is going to the right, like I always did the first three weeks and now only do sometimes.
The cool down is signaled by Chopin, New Age or opera. We gracefully sway with our multicolored balls like Ziegfield Girls. "Now give yourselves a hug and now we're done. Good job!" Forty-five minutes on the dot.