Untapped Potential and Missed Opportunities

If you have someone in your life that doesn’t work with resistance training equipment at all – I implore you to talk with you about it’s importance or direct him or her to someone who can.  The following blog was inspired by my last week.

Many of you may know that I had a death in the family just this past week.  Because of this I was forced to do some reflection.  This particular family member was around 75 and lived in a really nice community of like-aged folks.  As such, I met a lot of the friends this individual had and was able to spend time talking with them at the “celebration of life” that we held.  Before, during and after this event I reflected on what life must be like at that age and what thoughts people had on exercise in their later years.  Inevitably, at the “party” I would end up talking with these older adults about what they were doing for exercise and fitness.

            The most common thought I had as I listened is that these folks are missing a huge opportunity.  Here they are in the time of their life when often they have nothing but time and they are not seizing that moment as a chance to get and stay fit.  When I asked about what they thought about exercise I hear a lot of comments like “well I walk and that’s enough” or “I don’t want to lift weights because I am not trying to enter any physique contests”!  (Which is what I think is the funniest thing of all!   AS IF!  Do they know how hard you have to work to make your body look like that? … Well, obviously not)

            I just couldn’t believe how many men and women would say things that really showed that they felt like weight training was not for them.  One of the most common “rationales” is that they had an injury or ailment that “keeps them from being able to do much”!  WHAT?!?!  You have an ailment that you most likely got from not taking care of yourself … and your way of dealing with it is to take even less care of yourself?!?!  It just sort of drives me crazy to think about it.

            There was a lot of talk about injuries or physical limitations.  I would say over and over …”because you have an injury or limitation – you have that much more of a reason to make your body stronger and as functional as possible”.  I kept explaining that if there is something that holds you back physically like bad knees or back – then learn how to strengthen the areas around it – safely and with the aid of a trained professional who will push you but also show you the safe and most effective ways to work with your body!

            Now I would like to say that this issue is an issue that is only in the elderly population  - but it’s not!  As I reflected and looked around me, I realized that people young and old alike are not tapping into their true potential because of misconceptions about exercise.  For the last time people (not really) weight training is for everyone!!!  It makes you a stronger more functional healthy version of yourself!!!  Learn how to work with your body and work with weights till the day you die.  IT WILL IMPROVE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE!!!

            My family member who died thought they were doing all the exercise they could or needed (I think).  It wasn’t near enough.  This family member was slumped over and frail for as long as I knew them.  They had no weight training in their life.   Of course I encouraged – but I live far away and didn’t have as much chance to communicate or oversee, as I would have needed to.  I am not saying that if they had that the death could have been avoided but I do think that there may have been more of a fighting chance.   At least I know in my heart that they would have experienced better quality of life in the final months.

            On the way back to home I observed lots of people in the airports and on the plane.  I saw a lot of people that from my naked eye – obviously did little to no exercise and certainly no strength/weight training.  I saw all sorts of mobility issues and postural distortions etc. that I can’t help but know and believe could be alleviated if these people would just embrace the idea that their bodies can be stronger, more functional, more resilient and longer lasting if they would incorporate weight/strength training into their lives.

Thanks for reading,

Andy