Grateful4Burpees

Hello and thank you so much for stopping by!  You can skip to my blog here.

This blog is a Toastmasters project. I joined Toastmasters because exercise changed my life and I knew it could change yours too.  While my intention when I joined Toastmasters was to “check it out for a year,” I’ve been a member since September 2014.  I am excited to create this blog for my Level 4 award and further spread the benefits of fitness, expecially to the over 50 crowd.  

When I grew up, my mom told me to pick an activity I liked so I could stick with it.  I chose swimming because I always loved it. I started with so many lengths and worked my way toward a solid 40 lengths 3x a week.  I was toned, and I also had back pain.  At 39, my weight went up to an unacceptable number and I joined Weight Watchers, needing to lose 50 pounds.  All I could think of was what would my skin look like after losing that many pounds? I was glad I was a swimmer.  When I lost the weight the following year, no one could tell that I was ever overweight and my skin, especially my arms, were toned, but I still had back pain. However, I kept my exercise of choice, swimming, in place for almost 30 years.

I found out that while swimming is a great activity, it doesn't help your bones so I went to the other side of the gym and began strength training.  I was bored and by the grace of God, I went to a boutique gym when I was over 50 and I couldn’t even do a sit-up. I left feeling the best I had felt in a long time!  I knew I'd be back.  I started at the very bottom of the strength training scale to be able to do the sit-up and now, I’m amazed with what my body can do.  I was amazed that within a short few months, my back pain was gone!  With consistency, exercise works. You just have to give it a chance and challenge only yourself.  The one exercise I hated and always tried to get out of was the Burpee.  When I quit that gym after 4 years, I started embracing the burpee because I felt I was in shape if I could do them.  I noticed a huge change in my body when I incorporated them, mainly, that midriff that started expanding in my 40s.  

I promise you, exercise has no discrimmination and unless you have a medical issue that doesn't allow it, it will change your life.  You will feel younger and be stronger and more flexible.  It doesn't matter your age, weight, gender, preferred gender, social status, ethnicity or any other excuse, if you challenge yourself for 30 minutes a day, you will be amazed.  It is so important to do it for your body, especially when you are over 50, over 60, 70 and more.  Studies have shown that even in the 90s, we can improve our strength and balance, just by exercise. 

Please know that I am writing this from my experience and not as a professional.  I would encourage you to get a personal trainer or help if you are unsure of the exercise.  For years people told me to lift with my legs, but I was always standing on them so how could I lift?  Once I went to the boutique gym, I learned to lift with my butt the proper way.  Another reason for the loss of my back pain.  Good form in exercise is mandatory!  Without good form, you can hurt yourself.  After a while, you will know which muscles to use while exercising.

If you are new to exercise or want to get back in it or just need a little encouragement, this blog is for you.  I hope you can benefit from this.  Please leave a comment or question. My goal is to help you find and stick to an exercise routine.  How can I do that for you in this blog?

Shirley Tracey