There Is Hope
My intent with these statistics is not to preach, lecture or nag so as to shame you into exercising. Rather, it's to make you aware of what is really happening in this country today.
It's clearly evident that Americans need to become more physically active. I recently read an article titled "Countdown to Get Active America!" in a monthly journal called Club Business International, which is put out by the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). It talked about a program IHRSA started to help people in this country get more active. The article started with an eye-opening statement worthy of repeating. It said, "Each day, the need becomes more obvious. The nation seems caught in the deadly grip of increasingly sedentary and self-indulgent lifestyles, which are taking a terrible toll on the public's health and threatening its very longevity."
Our country is truly facing a dilemma. The good news is that you can choose the lifestyle in which to live. You've already made a great choice by purchasing this book. You've made the effort toward getting started with an exercise program. I applaud you for taking the first step.
Regardless of your age or past experience with exercise, it's never too late to start. I want to tell you a story about an individual I admire greatly. He happens to be a client of mine. His name is Dick.
Dick led a very active lifestyle, participating in many physical activities over the years, his most treasured activity being golf. Dick belonged to numerous golf organizations, played a big role in the organization and operation of his local country club, and won a few local golf titles. If Dick wasn't out with his foursome on men's day, he was hitting golf balls on the driving range to improve his game.
It wasn't until later in life that I met him. I was able to connect with him through his son, who was also a personal training client of mine. They decided it would be a good idea to incorporate another type of physical activity into Dick's life, as golfing was becoming more difficult due to age. So, at 86, Dick began strength training for the first time.
What I've admired over the years of training Dick is his desire to exercise. If I have a conflict that requires me to cancel his session, he is quick to find an alternate time. In all the years I've been his trainer, I could count on one hand the number of sessions we've missed.
Remember, Dick was 86 years old when he started! Most people at that age, if still alive, aren't thinking about what strength training exercises they'll do next, but whether or not they will have the strength to get out of bed.
Dick's attitude toward exercise is encouraging and inspiring to anyone contemplating an exercise program, regardless of age. Sure, he's had some setbacks over the years, but none have stopped him from continuing what he started.
Now, as Dick approaches his 90th birthday, he continues to strength train with me three times a week. He is an inspiration to me and has proven that you are never too old to start exercising. Making the choice to incorporate a new type of physical activity in his life has allowed him to spend a little more time on this earth with those he loves.
