Grugger’s Way

Fear of Physical Deterioration must haunt every middle-aged person in the world. I believe I was in my mid-forties when I became physically active beyond the normal sedentary, desk-bound mode that was so common amongst both men and women in middle age. I was in the Navy and assigned as a staff member to the explosive ordnance disposal teams (frogmen), and fitness became almost an obsession in my attempts to “fit in” with these guys (and women).  Eventually, I was as fit as any, and ran a 26-mile marathon to top off my naval career.

Thinking back to childhood, I can recall not being able to run more than one block when I was in 6^th grade.  I improved some by 9^th grade and have to grudgingly credit school Physical Education classes in junior high (7^th to 9^th grades) even though I absolutely HATED those classes.  I remember that I was always the skinniest and weakest kid in every gym class.  I had no knowledge of athletic games and no athletic skills whatsoever.  Gradually, with FORCED phys-ed classes, I became more comfortable with sports activity so long as it did not involve COMPETITION with other boys.  I was not even in the mindset to compete with myself.  My favorite sports were billiards, ping pong, and poker.  I had to acquiesce to certain competitive aspects of those games since, except for billiards, I needed to play against someone.  (I used to role-play up to 16 different players in billiards as I shot 8-ball games in make-believe tournaments against imaginary players.  My God.  How weird that sounds today.)

Anyway, to get back on point, physical fitness needs to be maintained throughout one’s life, and it seems to deteriorate in retirement.  Why? 

1. People are also getting older at the time of retirement and either use this as an excuse, or it does become more difficult to maintain fitness levels.

2.  Our expectations, after a long work-life, are that we will kick back in retirement and fully expect that we will develop a retirement belly, a slouch, and stiffness when we attempt to get up off the couch. (yes, hours of sitting will get to anyone.)

But fitness is one area that we DO have the ability to do something about.  If our other physiological systems are “go” (doctors say “no contraindications”) then we are able to maintain an activity level that will improve our physical endurance and strength, while improving our lungs, heart, and blood circulation. What we often lack is discipline, and without workout partners and goals, there seems to be little incentive to stay in shape.  Oh wait, incentive?  How about staying in shape to stay ALIVE!  The fact is, our fitness level is extremely important to our QUALITY of life.  Nobody wants to be living in a nursing home and be wheeled around to the “tub room” where we are put into a “lift” and lowered like a big whale into the water where some nurses aids wash us.  What a horrible vision that is.  That is all the incentive I need.  I am up and MOVING, by God, and if I will die on the trail or track, that is preferred to almost any other vision that I would care to imagine.

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