Hi
Barbells were
the Berries
I was a skinny kid when I first saw a barbell. It was the early 1950s and my teenage goal was to gain weight and put on muscle. I read Iron Man and Strength & Health magazines, where you’d often see John Grimek or Steve Reeves on their covers. They were fuel in my quest for bigger muscles and strength.
I wasn’t alone. There were always young workout buddies around. We’d go on a fundamental bodybuilding program, stick with it for a month, pumping iron like crazy, then change the routine and go another month. Diet? You’d eat anything put in front of you, lots of it, with an emphasis, of course, on protein. And it worked. We all got bigger and stronger.
Of course that was a long time ago. Maybe you were once a skinny teenager too and you
know the familiar story. But this is now, and our goals today are most likely very different. As seniors, our goals should be to stay as fit as possible, for as long as possible. Pure and simple. Ravenous eating and pounding away, workout-after-workout, doing the same routines, and eating like a horse is probably a bad idea. Portion control eating is a must.
We eat too much, and sit too much.
I like the bagel illustration from the Food Network, which explains a big reason that we as a nation eat too much. In 1990, an average bagel was 3 inches in diameter and 140 calories. In 20 years, the size of a bagel has doubled, while calories have increased to 350. They weren’t picking on bagels, in particular. But they illustrate the problem.
Look at the TV food commercials. Portion sizes are huge, yet consumers seem to clamor for even more.
Conversely, I’m reminded of what the
architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe liked to say about architecture: “Less is more.” It wouldn’t hurt if van der Rohe’s thoughts about art and architecture were also applied to food portions.
Stay Healthy. Stay Fit.
Logan
Senior Exercise Central
Spread the word. If you like the newsletter, please forward it to a senior friend or acquaintance.
Photographs: Subscribers have asked when the newsletter photo at the top of the page and my website pictures were taken. Well, I was a mere 70 years old then. I’m 88 now. Though I remain active, I am no longer nearly as strong or muscular as I was 18 years ago. —LF
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Newsletter Policy
The Gray Iron Fitness Newsletter is a free publication sent twice monthly to subscribers. The purpose is to provide honest and realistic fitness information for people age 50 and above.
I have never been paid or received compensation of any kind to write a positive review or endorse a product. If I say that I personally use a product or service, it is because I find value in it and have paid for it with my own money.
Like newspapers, magazines, and television, this newsletter and my website contain advertising and marketing links. Naturally, I am compensated for these.
The newsletter and website provide information to help users establish and maintain a fitness lifestyle. But fitness information is not the same as fitness advice, which is the application of exercise and dietary practices to an individual's specific circumstances. Therefore, always consult with your physician for assurance that fitness information, and
your interpretation of it, is appropriate for you.Your comments and questions are always appreciated. Simply click on the "Reply" bottom.
Sincerely,
Logan Franklin
The Gray Iron Fitness Newsletter
www.senior-exercise-central.com
