It's the Life in Your Years...

I spent Labor Day weekend driving up to Pittsburgh, PA, to meet my Mom, visit the area she grew up in, and visit with her 2 aunts and an uncle, who have lived in Pittsburgh their entire lives. They are in their mid-80s and although they can still get around, it has become increasingly difficult to walk without assistance, they have issues getting up from any seated position, and generally lack any sort of mobility.  Spending the weekend with them reminded me of a recent conversation I had with my friend Kim about lifelong fitness.

Why do I workout CrossFit style?

Kim was recently asked why she works out so much. They asked what she was training for, at what point will she reach her goal, when will it end? She told him she wasn’t training, but striving for lifelong fitness. So, that when she is 80 she can still carry a bag of groceries up a flight of stairs or get up out of a chair with no problem. Or warding off depression, or minimizing the aches and pains that come with getting older and not maintaining your body? The very real life scenario I witnessed this past weekend.

It boggles my mind that people don’t get that it’s not about training for a race or marathon. Crossfit and this type of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is about living fit. Fit and Sore!

Focusing on core functional movements – natural, effective and efficient, this type of training incorporates cardio, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance and accuracy.  Just this morning, I was tasked with cartwheels, handstands, 100m sprints, kettlebell swings and sit ups – all in one workout session!  Talk about functional movements!  I am training to be fit, overall, because you never know what life will throw at you.

I refuse to become one of those old ladies who can’t move around without help.  I know there are things that happen that are completely out of my control, but I am committed to doing whatever I can do to live the best life I can.

My heart breaks for seniors I see who are the shell of the people they once were.  As Abe Lincoln said:

“And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.”

Visit my blog Live Fit and Sore! to find support and general information about getting fit. My hope is that you find the right information to inspire you to head out on your own fit and healthy journey.