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Seniors who work out says it’s never too late to get in shape, keep healthy |
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Written by Katherine Hudson, Corner Brook Western Star
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Thursday, February 04 2010, 8:34 PM |
DEER LAKE, N.L. — Harry Osmond expertly pulls himself up to the ceiling of the fitness centre. He does his repetitions and finishes hardly out of breath.
Osmond is 72 years old and loves every crunch, pump and pull of his workout.
“I do back, shoulders, legs, biceps and triceps mainly,” he said.
Osmond said he routinely gets to the Deer Lake Fitness Centre at about 7:45 a.m. and does a two-hour workout. But this lifestyle has not always been the way for Osmond. He started attending the gym and being active when he was 66.
“It’s never too late. It’s a wonderful thing, especially for me. It gives me a chance to get out and meet some people, get some exercise. It’s good physically and mentally,” he said.
He said a friend told him about the gym, which Osmond didn’t know was in town. He tried it out once and was hooked.
“I really enjoy all the different exercises. It keeps you in shape. It’s definitely easier to come now and the exercises are easier. Once you get to know what you like, you pick up different routines and tips,” said Osmond.
He said that age should not be seen as a barrier from a fit and active lifestyle.
“When you get older, people think ‘Oh, I’m too old to do that.’ You got to just set your own pace. You come in, and don’t expect to do something that someone 20 years old would do. You just set your own pace and once you get used to the different types of exercises, you use your own way to get fit.”
Another senior, 63-year-old Audrey Feltham of Deer Lake, attends the fitness centre as well and has been working out for about three years. She said she had been overweight, came down with a severe case of pneumonia and realized it was imperative to get a healthier body.
“It’s really important that I do this ... You look at it like, I’m at this age. I can feel my body deteriorating, am I going to let it slide or am I going to do something about it and hold on to the lifestyle and keep myself healthy for as long as I possibly can?”
“I never realized until I started exercising how I had lost my flexibility. I wasn’t moving the way I should have been moving. And it doesn’t take you very long to get it. But you know the longer you don’t do it, the harder it is. You’re never going to be 20 again, but you can hang onto 60,” she said.
Rob Garnier started the Deer Lake Fitness Centre about 13 years ago. He said he is in awe when he sees seniors like Feltham and Osmond come to the facility multiple times a week for their workouts.
“It’s amazing to see. It’s amazing to see anyone, but when you get to be a senior, that’s amazing to see,” he said.
Garnier echoed Osmond’s reasons for entering into the health-conscious lifestyle.
“It’s never too late to start a program. The benefits are not just physical. It’s the mental aspect. This place is not your average gym. Sometimes it can be almost like a social club and it’s very special with the older crowd.”
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