by Judy Zabriskie

Created on: May 25, 2008   Last Updated: February 09, 2011

As we age we are told we need to exercise more – REALLY?  I was never motivated when I was younger nor was I coordinated enough to actually join a gym and feel comfortable, so now that I am older (I like to call it middle aged) why would I want to put myself through this grueling activity at this stage? Why – because as I aged not only did my skin begin to sag, wrinkles begin to find their way onto my face and hands and now, how frightful, my thighs, but overall I think I am beginning to shrink!  So off I go to exercise these horrific changes away – well at least I will try.

First things first – I am NOT joining a gym where the tightly toned, newly botoxed and body and face lifted hang out as I am not one of them nor will I ever be one of them and I certainly do not want to compete with the 20 somethings, so at home I will stay with my trust VCR (yes you heard it here I still own one of them) and my DVD player along with my not so flat screen TV in a once was my child’s bedroom , now full of exercise videos, DVD’s and equipment.  Am I ready for this? Nah, but I am going to give it the old college try.

I have already purchased and sold on Craig’s List two treadmills (one motorized and another not), a Pilates Machine (one can only fall off of this lovely creation but so many times and you know it is time to give up the ghost) and the trust stretch bands and bouncy ball used in Pilates floor exercises. So now that these are out of the way and “failed” I am off to redo Richard Simmons and his trust Sweatin to the Oldies. Do I look ridiculous – YES INDEED, but I am alone in that room with curtains drawn, singing my little heart out and bouncing, jumping, walking, grape vining with all the fatties and, of course, my beloved mop headed but older (like me) Richard Simmons egging me on to thinness and better health. 

When I fail at that, as I certainly will if past experience is any indicator of the present, I have other tapes and DVD’s to try.  My collection consists of everything from Ab busters  (when I am feeling youthful and exuberant – now don’t wait for that one too long) to Tai Chi and low impact aerobics (for the old person in me) and if I find myself somewhere  in the middle (ah those lovely 30’s and 40’s) I have many yoga tapes and DVD’s – everyone from Rodney Yee to a low impact MS tape from the makers of Copaxone (my wonder drug of choice as I have the dreaded MS) so I should find something that I can easily do on any given day.

So what’s missing – motivation!  But it is a new year and a new me and I am ready!   Ready for what you ask – well ready to begin exercise ALONE in the confines of my own home in a room without mirrors but nicely carpeted, replete with mats, dumbbells , my audio and video equipment and of course a softly padded chair in which to relax after my grueling workout routine is over. Now to just begin….

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