Silver Sneakers ... and other myths of aging

I'm giving up exercise due to illness and fatigue ...I'm sick and tired of it!!!

My many loyal followers ... all seven of them ... are painfully aware of my health 'issues' over the past few years. Three rotator cuff surgeries on my right shoulder in ONE year ... another rotator cuff surgery on my weakened left shoulder and then spinal fusion two weeks before Christmas a year ago. Five surgeries in just a tad over two years. It's taken a toll on me as could be expected. I used to do aerobic exercises three or four times a week at the Y. Following each surgery I followed up with physical therapy ... working diligently on the specific surgical area. Suffice to say, other areas were not exercised ... I put on quite a bit of weight during those two years.

The Duck encouraged me ... "you'll get it off once you are healed ... you need to start off slowly, though." I joined our local recreation center since it was much closer than the Y. I started off with an aerobic class but quickly found I could not get up and down on the mats thus aggravating both my shoulders and back.

So, at the suggestion of my physical therapist I was 'reintroduced' to water aerobics. I had done water aerobics at another rec center; deep water where you wear flotation 'boots' forcing you to work harder to keep the feet below you! I dunked myself unceremoniously more than once; the feet float up the head goes back and under ... scary stuff for one who doesn't really swim well.

Anywho ... during my 'surgical years' I walked for exercise and did some water aerobics. I forgot to mention that I have Fibromyalgia ... never had heard of it until about fifteen years ago when I was diagnosed. For those unfamiliar ... it can be sheer torture ... muscles, connective tissue, collagen tissue ... causing unbelievable widespread pain over your body. I had done water aerobics back in those days until I got a 'handle' on the pain and was able to advance back to cardio- aerobics.

Okay ... fast-forward to a few weeks ago ... I've finished all the physical therapy, I'm disgusted with my 'slug' physique and lack of energy. A friend (who just had turned 81 years old!) suggested I join her at Silver Sneakers. I was a bit insulted ... after all I'm almost 18 years younger than my friend! Besides, I had seen the ... uh, ... older folks at the Y doing their 'Silver Sneakers' exercises ... in a CHAIR!!!

BUTT <--- not a typo! I did have to do something, even walking was painful due to plantar fasciitis of one foot. So I strolled into the large gymnasium to discover about 60 'seniors' waiting for the instructor. Some were walking around the gym talking .. not to themselves, others were doing warm-up exercises, still others were sitting in the aforementioned chairs.

The young instructor turned out to be the 30-something cardio-aerobic instructor. Lisa 'takes no prisoners!' Everyone got weights appropriate to their abilities, a small rubber ball and an elastic band. We were to place all the equipment under the chairs. "Sit on the front of the chair, spine straight, stomach sucked in, feet flat on the floor, chest out ... and MARCH" March??? Okay ... I can do that ... wow, picking your feet up while your sitting in a chair ... whew, not a piece of cake ... hey, how much longer?

We were told to move our feet out and in, front and back, stand, sit, walk around the gym twice, up the stairs and back down into the room. We stood and performed balancing 'tricks' holding one foot up, using the weights in our hands above our heads ... SIXTY minutes ... we stretched, we moved, every part of your body was included. I had entered that room confident that I would whip some ... well, that I would find 'chair exercises' easy .... NOT ... I left feeling exhausted and more than a little humbled. You see, the gentleman next to me ... dressed in Dockers, street shoes, long sleeve flannel shirt ... leaned over and told me "you'll get the hang of it ... I've been coming for three years ... oh, and I'm 93 years old."

I've been back for more 'torture' a few times now ... these are amazing people ... there's no talk about aches and pains ... it's upbeat and fun. One lady is 95 years old... she pats my back and asks me 'how are you doing, honey?' as she passes me doing our laps. Growing old isn't for sissies!

I ATE the whole thing ....

I am going on the record by saying that I do not care for fish in general ... it's too darn fishy tasting for my liking. Now if you fried it and threw in some Hush Puppies ... No, I just have never cared for fish. At the same time, I know how good the Omega-3 fatty acids are for us. Being overweight, having a high cholesterol level (under control with medication that may now being affecting my liver functions) having had both parents die due to heart attacks and/or strokes ... the point being I NEED those little ole Omega-3's.

For the past several years, The Duck and I have been eating fish, usually salmon on Tuesdays. The smelly garbage is picked up on Wednesdays. My daughter has been telling me that I shouldn't buy the farm raised salmon ... "but, I think it tastes less 'fishy' than the 'wild' salmon." Soooo ... I start the 30 Day Throw Down and I decide to 'go to the wild side.' I bought a Wild Fresh Alaskan Coho Salmon for dinner tonight. I choked only slightly over the price per pound, but I bought it. The Duck scored it, drizzled olive oil over the fillet and 'baked' it outside on the grill. (NO FISH SMELL!) I had stir-fired several different peppers, zucchini and sweet onions to accompany our green salad ... and our salmon.

Now the Duck is a sweetheart ... he will eat anything I put before him and he LOVES salmon ... only peanut butter ranks over the fish. I asked for a itty, bitty, piece of salmon "I'm not going to like it, it's going to taste WILD ... look it even looks different." I had forgotten the lemon wedges (and Tartar Sauce) to cover it up with, when I took my first bite. It DID taste different ... it tasted better than any salmon I have ever eaten. I even asked for more ... and ate the whole thing!

What the Experts Say about the Health Benefits of Wild Alaskan Salmon

Researchers at Harvard found that people who eat one to two servings of fish per week -- especially varieties higher in fatty oils, such as wild salmon -- may reduce their risk of death from heart attacks by 36 percent and the rate of death in general by 17 percent.
According to the American Heart Association research has shown that Omega-3 fatty acids decrease the risk of arrhythmias, which can lead to sudden cardiac death. Omega 3's also slightly lower blood pressure.
The American Heart Association reports that omega-3 fatty acids help prevent plaque buildup in arteries and also drive down triclycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol.

What's the deal with farmed fish that I keep hearing about?

While farmed fish contain high concentrations of Omega Fatty Acids, it comes at a price:

• Thousands of salmon are kept in pens with netting, their waste contaminates their environment and surrounding waters
  
  
• The orange color you see in markets is the result of added dye, otherwise farmed fish would be grey (yummy!)
  
  
• Farmed salmon may be up to ten times higher in PCBs than a wild one, due to contaminates in their feed
  
  
• These fish are administered antibiotics as the risk of disease in pens is very high.
  

Day Three ... a revelation

The 'Fast Food' thing isn't the problem for me. It's the snacking between meals ... and not exercising. I did water aerobics again this morning. Using my ankle floats I stay in deep water, no bouncing, easier on my joints. IF I keep moving ... bicycling my legs and using my arms like I'm doing the breast stroke ... I burn calories. I never want to go ... (the water) "it's too cold" "I have so much to do at home" "I'm too tired/sore/sleepy ... " But I think the camaraderie gives me energy and I just plain feel better. I am tempted to munch on all the samples at the grocery store after the pool. But I've discovered something ... it might be called 'willpower' but I prefer to call it "Power." It is empowering to make a conscious decision to NOT eat something I really shouldn't. It is empowering to half your dinner (we ate out at the Thai restaurant last night) before you even take the first bite. I do not feel I'm being deprived (maybe a little depraved, but that's another posting) And sharing these thoughts with others, laughing with them, gritching with them "walking the walk and talking the talk" is empowering. Thank you again, Robynn, for this opportunity.

To go ... or not to go ... that is the question?

I'm supposed to be getting ready to go to water aerobics ... but I'm sitting in here reading and writing ... oh, BTW ... I'm drinking a little coffee with my half and half and listening to some great country music on CMT. The Duck has gone to fly and golf .. won't be home until late .. so no 'conscience' to ask me about water aerobics or if I've done my physical therapy. Ooooh, I'd rather go back to bed ... I could even do some chores around here, if push came to shove ... but as much as I dread getting ready (sorry, but I won't go out of the house without eyebrows and lipstick!) I'm always so glad that I've gone to the pool. The DI (as in Drill Instructor who 'teaches' deep water aerobics) is relentless ... picture that scene in Cocoon, all the 'old' folks cavorting in the swimming pool ... or the scene in Titanic, all the bodies bobbing around in the icy water ... that pretty much tells you what we look and feel like. DI has us 'jogging' back and forth until we're actually perspiring (Ladies do not sweat!) We do push-ups, squats, jumping-jacks ... we work ..... and I always feel better afterward. But that's only the beginning of my workout ... in the locker room ... you scramble for a shower (you can forget about modesty here) you try to dry yourself without bumping the tush of other damp, worn out comrades, all while attempting not to fall on the slick floor because you forgot your shower shoes and THEN ... what should be an Olympic event ... try putting a bra on a damp body while maintaining your 'dignity' ... gotta run, don't want to be late!!!!