The ladies have become an encouragement for others who come early to work out at the Isshin Ryu facility, and in many cases serve as a challenge for younger members who are determined to not let the group of ladies out work them. The ladies actually hope that their determination to anchor their health in a workout routine will also encourage family members and friends to follow in their footsteps and begin to establish a healthier lifestyle.
The ladies have not only taken to heart the exercise part of the commitment to being healthy, but they have also adopted healthy eating habits. The ladies have changed their eating habits and eating desires to accommodate the healthy lifestyle they are chasing. In changing their diets they also have changed the diets and eating habits of their families. They have changed the portions of food they eat and have also changed the types of food that they eat. In changing their cooking habits, they are baking, broiling and grilling more than frying.
The ladies have been encouraged by the constant notice of change in appearance and their increased energy levels, by family members and friends. "My family constantly tells me that they are amazed at how healthy I look these days, they say mama you look good, and I actually believe it made them feel a lot more secure to know that their mom is taking care of herself ,” shared Ms. Carol. Pastor Betty added, “My family hadn't seen me for a while and they were amazed at the weight that I had lost. They began to call me skinny and that made me feel so good."
Wanda, who is the baby of the bunch, says that she benefits greatly from the group activities. “The ladies have been my inspiration because they keep me going and keep me coming back to accomplish my goals. If it weren't for these ladies, I probably would have fallen off and backslid on my commitment to better my life.”
Regular exercise is important for everyone, but it may be especially critical as we get into our later years. Men and women who work out consistently through their 50s, 60s, 70s and even 80s and 90s look amazing, while their counterparts who don't exercise appear to have an accelerated aging pattern.
All the symptoms of a sedentary life, like poor muscle tone, bad posture, hunched shoulders, lower back pain, excess weight, and "spare tires," worsen significantly in older age. Individuals who don't work out regularly are often plagued with aches and pains, poor sleep, bad circulation, stiff necks, loss of bone density, and a lack of energy.
The good news is that exercise can dramatically reverse these ills. Maybe we can all take lessons from these ‘Golden Girls'.
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