Lynn Glenn: Young at 62
Don’t Let Age Keep You From Achieving Your Fitness Goals
I started weight training at the age 48. I have always been interested weight lifting and what you could look like when you are tone and fit. I had always admired both men and women bodybuilders as well as all others in the fitness industry and their dedication to fitness. I was married at a very young age, right out of high school, with that came the responsibility of supporting and raising a family. I didn’t have the time or energy to dedicate to weight training and didn’t realize what I was missing until later in life. I was divorced at the age of 42 and my kids were now grown up with lives of their own. Now at 44 I started to have an interest in weight training again.
I always had been active in construction, which kept me in shape, but, I still wanted to lift weights. In 1990 I started my own business and became a pencil pusher. After a few years I realized that I was gaining weight and out of shape. I decided if I was going to be successful in business, I wanted to be healthy and around long enough to enjoy it. At 46, I started to get back into shape by walking and jogging around the neighborhood, parks and hills. With weather and time always being an issue, I decided to join a gym.
When I first joined a gym I started out by doing a lot of cardio and watching people weight train. After time I started to lift weights not knowing exactly what I was doing but still saw some of the benefits that came from it. From that point on I was hooked!
I started watching and studying people as they worked out, I read books, magazines and everything that I could get my hands on in order to gain the knowledge that I needed to build muscle. I was now 48 and on my way to being a new me!
As I gained size I watched others who were weight training. It became apparent to me, after a while, that most of them did not know what they were doing! As time went by I noticed that they had very little or no muscle gains. With the knowledge that I had gained I continued to put on size and muscle. Soon people who I use to watch and try to learn from were now watching me, following my routine and asking me questions! Remember I was no spring chicken, by now I was pushing 50!
Anyone that asks for advice, I enjoy giving them tips on training and diets along with setting up a workout program for what they want to accomplish. I receive a great deal of satisfaction and have a good feeling inside as I see their bodies and attitude change as they see their accomplishments. God has given me this gift of health and fitness, so I have the desire to share my knowledge and to be an inspiration for others.
Weight training is a hobby of mine I very much enjoy, but with work and other things going on in my life, I only had so much time to devote to it. What I eventually had to do was to incorporate my gym time in as part of my daily work schedule, i.e. work 5 hours, eat lunch, go to the gym, workout and go back to the office. That’s the same schedule I still keep to this day.
In the next few years I am still going to push myself and see how far that I can go, both with building muscle and in fitness. There is a possibility I may not gain much in size, but I do not want to believe that. I should at least be able to maintain my 230 pounds, 6'-4" frame for the rest of my life.
At age 62, besides working out, I enjoy water and snow skiing, walking, hiking, and bicycle riding. My newest interest is riding my Harley, which I learned how to ride just little over two years ago. As new friends come into my life and want me to try new things, I will not limit myself from doing them because of my age. I also know at my age if I’m not going to like doing something, or it’s too dangerous, I don’t do it. I really do not have anything to prove to myself or anyone else anymore!
Pride
I am very proud of my mind set and what I have achieved in fitness and health. It feels great to be able to walk around feeling good and feeling good about yourself. Others do notice when you have that kind of confidence in yourself. It is also very nice to be able to go to the beach or pool not having to hide under a shirt because of being overweight. I get a kick out of people when they do a double take while I am at the beach. I believe that’s because they first notice the shape I’m in, then they notice my age. Even just recently I attended a fitness expo here in California and my achievement and dedication was acknowledged by the people that I admire most in fitness. I love it and I never want to stop training!
Age Matters
Anyone who starts exercising later in life, remember that you are not a kid anymore and are more prone to injuries. Do not go in there thinking that you can lift heavy weights and build large muscles overnight. I know the enthusiasm and adrenaline rush is great but wisdom and knowledge will keep you from injuries! I know from by my own past experience when I injured my shoulder by lifting heavy without using proper form. My Doctor says that my shoulder will never get better it will need to be replaced eventually. Now I live in pain most of the time. So study up on weight training exercises, ask questions and most of all be smart about it!
Do not try to learn everything before you start, it will just get confusing. Learn as you go and use the first few weeks gaining knowledge and experience. Work all your body parts equally, if you don’t you may end up with a non-reversible injury as I did!
When I was bench pressing about 235 my shoulder gave out. The reason, my chest was strong but my shoulders were lagging. For me I learned to late, for now the damage had already been done. From that day on I trained all body parts equally and it has kept me from any further injuries.
Although, I have found ways to work around my injury, I still cannot develop my shoulders enough in order to compete in fitness or bodybuilding contest. But, that doesn’t stop my enthusiasm for staying in shape. With the combination of my enthusiasm and muscle gains over the past few months, I'm still going to keep on pushing myself to see how far I can go for as long as I can!
Muscles will grow at any age; I have put on over 5 pounds of muscle in the past 5 months. Being consistent is the secret. In the 14 years I have been weight training I never have missed more than 2 weeks at any one time. Even when I was gone on vacation I would sneak a workout in a couple of times. This was mostly done so when I started working out again I wouldn’t be sore.
Motivation
I’m so interested in the fitness industry because what I’ve seen what it has done for me. I hope to become an inspiration for others showing that age doesn’t matter or even becomes a factor in getting in shape and staying healthy. All you need is the desire!
About the Author Lynn Glenn
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is a popular health, and fitness, author regularly writing for several top health and fitness websites. Lynn's expertise includes writing about the latest health, fitness, disease prevention, diet, nutrition, natural healing, and anti aging issues being discussed today. Lynn is also a senior writer and editor at including but not limited to www.MuscleMagFitness.com, www.MyBesthealthPortal.com , and www.MyBesthealthPortal.net.