HEALTH AND FITNESS continued
Old Man Winter’s a
Knockin’, But You Don’t
Have To Let Him In
by Mark C. Ford, CPT
Ask any qualified Meteorologist, and he will
confirm that unfortunately just like death and
taxes, winter will find its way to the Sandhills of
North Carolina at some point. Approaching age
63, it sure feels like the winter months are a lot
harsher than they were at 33 or even 43. Actually
they’re not, it just seems that way. My wife and
I even briefly considered joining the hoards of
“Snowbirds” December 26th on I95 South, but
have settled for a few days on coastal Georgia
mid-winter when realizing that some people do
“Winter” here. What we consider brutally-cold,
many people above the Mason-Dixon would be
more than happy with.
As a Personal Trainer, my calls seem to pick
up around late February early March with
prospective clients wanting to “Get back in
shape for spring.” This is much easier to do
if you haven’t let yourself get too out of shape
over the winter in the first place. I know it’s a
lot harder dragging yourself out for that walk
or even driving to the gym when the conditions
outside are unpleasant, but a lot of people are
surprised at the amount of activity that can be
generated indoors with a little preparation and
ingenuity.
We are blessed with a fairly mild winter
climate here compared to a large section of
the country, so total isolation is not usually
necessary, and we can keep up some outdoor
activity throughout most of the year. But for
those days when the temperature and wind chill
just won’t allow it I have a few suggestions.
One would be to stretch regularly. Especially
for you golfers out there, keeping your back and
HEALTH AND FITNESS con't. next column
upper torso subtle is very important. As you age
one of the first things to go is your flexibility.
Most of us think our tee shots are becoming
shorter over time because we lose muscle
strength; however, loss of flexibility and not
making as full of a turn is actually the culprit. You
can remain fairly-flexible well into your senior
years by developing a good stretching regimen
and sticking with it. Also muscles that have been
stretched and “warmed up” are much less likely
to sustain a sprain or even worse a tear.
There has always been the question as to
whether it is best to stretch before or after a
workout. I personally believe the answer is both.
You should allow enough time to adequately
stretch before your work out and afterward with
a proper “cool down.”
Another recommendation would be to be
more cognizant of your diet during the winter.
With less outdoor activity, calories are not being
expended quite as fast, and the pounds can
add up rather quickly. It’s very easy to spend
Saturday and Sunday afternoon watching your
favorite teams with a cold beverage and bag of
chips. Which is fine as long as you compensate
with some calorie burning activity as well.
Finally, I have found that people are very
surprised at how easy and inexpensive a small
home gym can be arranged. A few mats, some
small weights, and an area for some aerobic
exercises is really all you need. Also, you don’t
need to spend all night working out to keep in
shape. Even just 30 minutes per day will make a
difference over time.
So when Old Man Winter comes a knockin’ to
your door, tell him move on, you’ve decided not
to participate.
Mark Ford is an ACE (American Council on
Exercise) Certified Personal Trainer who
specializes in working with people age 50
and over in the comfort of their home. He
Live fitness Strong can be reached at
No. 129 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. p.35
(910) 975-2572 • mford42@nc.rr.com.
PACK UP con't from p. 7
Carolina Beach State Park for a day of adventure.
For exotic aquatic and wildlife sightings on
land, head to the North Carolina Aquarium at
Fort Fisher. The renowned aquarium is home to
a two-story open ocean exhibit featuring sharks,
rays and eels, as well as Luna, a rare albino
alligator.
Wilmington Riverwalk.
Stay Active
Whether it’s on the water or your own two
feet, the Wilmington area offers plenty of
activities to stay active. Get moving by taking a
morning adventure on one of the many hiking
and fitness trails at Wilmington’s nearby beaches
including Carolina Beach State Park at Carolina
Beach, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area at Kure
Beach, or The Loop at Wrightsville Beach.
If time on the water is more your style,
grab a surfboard or paddleboard and head to
Wrightsville Beach, named one of the world’s
top surf towns and the birthplace of surfing in
North Carolina for endless waves.
Fort Fisher State Recreation Area.
Experience the Arts
Wilmington is lucky to be home to a vibrant
arts and culture scene that offers stirring
performances and numerous museums
spanning all sorts of topics. Experience the
depth of live theater at one of the oldest and
most beautiful theaters in America, Thalian Hall
Center for Performing Arts. If museums are more
to your liking, step into the state’s oldest history
museum, the Cape Fear Museum of History &
Science, for an in-depth look at the science and
cultures of the Lower Cape Fear region.
Leah King
CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER
CERTIFIED CONDITIONING SPECIALIST
(910) 691.2639
CALL FOR APPOINTMENT
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