Poll | 11/25/2008 12:00 am

What is your favorite form of exercise?

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I believe walking benefits everything — the mind, the knees, the arthritis, the heart, the stamina, you name it. Even negates a few calories… very few. I try to get two miles in every other day on a treadmill at the local YMCA — an investment of about 35 minutes.

By Marjorie C. on 11/25/2008 6:18 am

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I LOVE Jazzercise, which I’ve been doing for decades! Apparently I have “young” bones, partially as a result of all those years of moderate to high-impact classes. Several doctors, after seeing the results of my bone scans, have asked what I do, exercise-wise, and told me to keep it up. I also LOVE the Cybex (?) arc trainer, which is no-impact. It’s great for getting your heart rate up…and great for thighs and bum.

By Lee Harrison on 11/25/2008 6:20 am

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why do doctors (fact-based people, for the most part) tell somebody their body parts are young? my mother will be 90 in march, and she just gave up her car for “dog power.” it turns out she got new shoes that feel good, so her “dogs” get her around. when i had an acute asthma episode about 20 years ago, after treating me with a nebulizer and taking chest x-rays the doctor told me i had the lungs of an 18 year old. surely the doctors in all cases should be saying you have the —— of someone who lives well.

By mary lou s on 11/28/2008 1:08 pm

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Have only recently started exercising so I can’t say I really like any of it. Just getting used to it. But I am determined that it will become a regular part of my life.

By Sandbee (FB) 54 on 11/25/2008 6:45 am

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Zumba! Not only is it very fun, I leave the class drenched.

By Lucinda Herbert on 11/25/2008 6:47 am

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Sex…lots of sweaty sex.

By thatsoutherngirl k on 11/25/2008 6:59 am

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You beat me to it, southerngirl!

By Jane Cougar Melonhat on 11/25/2008 8:43 am

Hate it, hate all of it.

By Jeannot Kensinger on 11/25/2008 7:15 am

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Jeannot, I agree with you, but I do it anyway. I really have never understood people saying to me, “Don’t you feel just great after hard exercise?” My true answer is, “NO!” I feel tired, sweaty, sore, aching and wanting to go home NOW” A lovely hot shower with smelly soap makes me feel just great, not exercise. But I do it anyway… at least when I can’t find an excuse not to go to the gym.

By Patrice Baldwin on 11/25/2008 6:34 pm

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You look adorable, Patrice, so not to worry. Used to swim with the group at the Y and that I loved but I have psoriasis pretty much all over my body. Nothing clears the pool faster than when I appear, body full of red dots and flaking skin. You would think I came with Moses and he is parting the pool for little old me. I have been embarrassed too many times , people ask if I have Aids, if I will contaminate the pool etc.. not worth it anymore. I walk because I am forced to when I do not have a ride to work.

By Jeannot Kensinger on 11/25/2008 7:59 pm

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I like cobinations of Yoga, wieights and aerobics. I like walking also but do not get much during winter.

By Anita Varma on 11/25/2008 7:44 am

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I joined a gym in April. You’re supposed to feel good after exercising, you’re supposed to have energy, you’re supposed to lose weight………………NOT. I’m exhausted, no more energy, no weight loss and I really hate it all. But, at 66 (did I say that out loud?) I guess I have to do it to keep moving. So as Jeannot Kensinger so aptly put it: “Hate it, hate all of it.” One of the water aerobics instructors … Yep, I even tried that for awhile, but with a profound hearing loss, I kept crashing into other people when I couldn’t hear the instructions so I wisely stopped that before I got beat up….but after a class, she said, actually said these words: “Don’t you just love exercise, I just love it.” Those are words that I can honestly say, unless of course I’m quoting her with real incredulousness (word?) will never pass my lips.

By Andy C on 11/25/2008 7:47 am

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Andrea, Your post simultaneously cracked me up and broke my heart… how NOT fun is it to go to the gym and not see any results!!!? I wish I lived by you as you’re my favorite kind of client! someone whose willing to do the work but needs some help. There is a science to the weight loss and energy part. there really is. I would suggest that if you have the means at all… that you hire a qualified personal trainer and say to them exaclty what you said in your first line of your post. that you’re doing the work and not getting any of the results. Depending on the gym you joined, most of them have trainers. not all of them are good. look for someone who has a certification from ACE or NSCA or ACSM… the latter two tend to be taken by folks with a bit more knowledge than the ACE certified trainers. If you can’t spring any extra bucks… the local YWCA or YMCA will often have trainers on staff who work with more “mature” clients on a regular basis. However…. good for you!!! Stick with it!

By Chrome Toe on 11/25/2008 8:41 am

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Thank you for the advice; I may just take you up on it. I was there today; rode the bike for half an hour— 6 miles at number 7, did some weights, left and had a latte :) Could that be why I’m not losing weight??? There are very good trainers at my gym and I may just do as you suggest. Thanks again.

By Andy C on 11/25/2008 12:49 pm

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there could be any number of reasons you’re not losing weight. to many to go into right now cuz i’m leaving to catch a plane. but here’s a quick low down… you have to burn 3500 calories MORE per week than you eat in order to lose 1 pound of fat per week. that is not as hard as it sounds. It’s a 500 calorie a day “deficit”. Burning 500 calories a day by exercising is a lot more than you or most people do or will do. a nice round number to look at is that jogging at a decent pace for 30 minutes burns roughly 200-250 calories. there’s a lot that goes into how much you as an individual actually burns but that’s a good start. SO… if you started working out at the gym and burn about 200 calories during our workout then go to the coffee shop and order a 250 calorie latte (which is a grande non fat mocha) then you won’t lose any weight! However… if you go to the gym and you burn 200 -250 calories during your workout and you deduct 250 calories from your daily intake you will lose weight! That’s the super quick version. also… if you’ve never been a person who goes to the gym until recentlly there’s probably a lot of little things you could do that you aren’t doing that would help a lot. the most common thing I see women over 50 doing is that they don’t work hard enough. by that i mean enough intensity. they lift really light weights and do very light cardio. Yes.. if you can get a trainer… do!!! But super duper kudos for you for getting in there…. it’s more than half the battle.

By Chrome Toe on 11/25/2008 4:59 pm