You're Never Too Old To Start Working Out

One of my most vivid childhood memories is attending my first soccer practice, where the coach asked us to do push-ups. I turned to my dad, who had brought me there, and said, "You don't use your arms in soccer."

That was the last practice I ever attended. To say I wasn't into sports as a child would be an understatement.

My Fitness Journey

I was active and enjoyed riding bikes, rollerblading, jumping on the trampoline, and playing games like tag. However, when it came to sports, I quit every one I tried—except gymnastics.

I was a gymnast for a few years, but looking back, I realize one of the reasons I probably stuck with it was that there wasn’t much running involved at my gymnastics practices—not enough to bother me, at least.

Once I hit my teens, I decided to leave athletics behind and pursue theater arts. While there was some dancing and occasional stage combat, that was pretty much the extent of my physical activity… until my senior year of high school.

When I was a senior, my best friend, who was a cheerleader, convinced me to try out. Though I had no real desire to be a cheerleader, I wanted to do something with my friend, so I auditioned. To my surprise, I made the squad.

I distinctly remember that summer as the most physically demanding period of my life. We had two practices a day where we did calisthenics, held angles (if you know, you know), practiced our routines, and ran a lap around the park (which felt like three miles but was about half a mile at most).

After my brief stint as a cheerleader, I retired from almost all physical activity throughout college—I saw the inside of the gym about 10 times in four years.

 I would decide I needed to work out, keep a routine going for a few weeks, start to see results, and then stop. This cycle repeated all through my 20s and into the first year of my 30s.

When I turned 31, I found myself living alone in a new city in a new state. Other than work, I had nothing to do, so I once again decided it was time to start a workout routine. But this time (spoiler alert) it stuck.

My first step was downloading the Couch to 5K app. Every day, I (very) slowly started to run more. I also lifted weights in my apartment gym a few times a week, and this time when I saw results, I kept going because I wanted to see more.

Being the good millennial that I am, I took pictures of my progress and started sharing them on social media. A few people told me I was inspiring them to start their own fitness journey and that was enough for me to decide I needed to have a career in fitness. At this point, I had been working in radio for almost 10 years.

Suddenly my life became about trying out different fitness classes and apps and spending my free time working out. I saw how being consistent with my workouts changed not only my body but my mental health as well. I truly started to love training and realized that even though I wasn't a lifelong athlete, I could start at the age of 31 and continue to get stronger.

Importance Of Exercise

"It’s never too late to start your fitness journey," says Erin Carvelli, a coach at Orangetheory Fitness in Pompano Beach, Florida. "Beginning a fitness routine later in life can be highly beneficial for both physical and mental health, as it helps promote longevity and vitality as we age."

As a fitness coach myself, I often speak to individuals in their 40s and older who believe it's too late for them to start working out and that it won't make a difference—but that couldn't be further from the truth.

"I started strength training when I was 51," says Liz Hilliard, owner and creator of the Hilliard Studio Method. "I am walking proof that it’s never too late. I'm 70 now, and I strength train four times a week."

In fact, around age 30, everyone starts to lose muscle mass, and muscle is key to health, Hilliard explains. (Harvard Health Publishing supports this claim.)

How To Get Started

If you're unsure where to begin, Carvelli recommends starting with low-impact exercises and gradually increasing the intensity as your fitness level improves. "This approach helps prevent injuries and allows your body to adapt gradually," she says.

"You don't need a big plan," Hilliard adds. "Drop down and see if you can hold a plank. That is resistance training. It uses your body weight and gravity as resistance. Can't do a push-up? Neither could I.

Place your body against a wall, lean toward it, and bend your elbows. Start there. Just start, and begin with the simplest things. It's the most important thing you can do for your body."

If you have the resources, both Carvelli and Hilliard suggest investing in a coach or classes to help guide you, especially if you're new to fitness or returning after a long break. This way, you'll have a qualified trainer to correct your form, ensure you don't injure yourself, and answer any questions you may have.

Bottom Line

At 38 years old, I’m in the best shape of my life. Rather than training for aesthetic reasons, I’m focusing on building strength to ensure I can get up from the toilet unassisted well into my 80s.

The girl who once dreaded running half a mile at cheerleading practice has now completed two half marathons and numerous 5Ks and 10Ks. I’m grateful I didn’t let the imposter syndrome of not being a lifelong athlete deter me from pursuing my wellness goals.

No matter what stage of life you’re in, it’s never too late to start. So get out there and start moving.

Source: wellandgood

The opinions shared in the GymNation blog articles are solely those of the respective authors and may not represent the perspectives of GymNation or any member of the GymNation team