Accomplishing Goals: Part 3 (Health)
Our third goal in retirement was to get in better shape. For me this goal had two parts. First, I wanted to lose weight. A couple of years before I retired, I had reached a new high of 210 pounds. I knew I was overweight and it was beginning to cause me some health problems including acid reflux, trouble breathing at night, and just not liking the way I looked. Second, I knew I was out of shape and wanted to start exercising on a regular basis.
About a year before my retirement, I started losing weight and began walking. Currently, I’ve lost and kept off about 30 pounds and weigh between 175-180 pounds. If I find I’m gaining weight, I’ll stop eating breakfast and that tends to stop any gain.
According to John Hopkins Medicine, there are many benefits to older people being active and exercising. These benefits include increasing flexibility, toning muscles, building stronger bones, improving mobility and balance, boosting self-image, reducing insomnia, relieving stress, reducing depression, staying at a healthy weight, enhancing cardiovascular fitness, and reducing joint and muscle pain.
I decided that exercise would be one of my Core Pursuits during retirement. While my exercise routine has changed during my first three years of retirement, here is what I’m currently doing:
Ride a stationary bike for 30-45 minutes every day.
Walk 5 miles on the treadmill or in the neighborhood every day.
Lift dumbbells two or three times a week.
Use a weight/pulley machine two or three times a week.
Play pickleball at least once a week.
Dance with my wife two to five times a week.
I usually start my day between 5 and 6 am with a cup of coffee and reading my Bible. After that I make my way to our home fitness center. I typically take a break from exercise after an hour to make the bed and eat breakfast. I then return to the fitness center to complete my exercise regime. Generally, I spend between 2 1/2 to 3 hours for my morning exercise routine. Along with my walking every morning, I also track my steps and have been averaging approximately 14,500 to 15,000 steps a day for the last 18 months.
My wife has a similar exercise routine although she does less walking and more yoga. Added to our morning exercise, we try to play pickleball at least once a week in the afternoon and dance 2 to 5 times a week in the evening. So far we have been keeping active and physically fit in our retirement.
Dancing at a 50s Theme Night