I’ve always loved exercise, you name it, I’ve done it: Downhill skiing [even expert slopes], water skiing, tennis, golf, long distance jogging/walking, ocean swimming, have captained ocean sail races, pilates, aerobics, weights. When a kid played football/softball with the boys, was always team captain or first picked at school, and the queen of four-square and teetherball. Also rode horses/jumped for 7 years including in shows. Even did the firewalk barefoot over 2,000 degree coals. Now with vertigo not inclined to ski etc, but still love long distance walking and a exercise routine I made up with weights. The combination is a good balance and keeps me fit. Weights are very good for bones and are the secret to a defined/cut look….and if have that feel good, have energy, and look good in plain black/fitted clothes.

Swimming!

Most of my exercize comes from hoisting my own petard & throwing my weight around. Sorry……….couldn’t resist. I walk when the knees let me, or I use a stationary bike (parked in front of the TV). Recently, I resumed learning to belly dance, which is great fun as well as good exercize. There are several different styles, I’m starting with American Tribal, & will probably try Egyptian/cabaret next. The Uzbeck style looks interesting, too.

Uechi-ryu (WAY’-chee roo), one of the main Okinawan styles of karate. Ryu translates to “style”. It’s a more flowing style of karate than most, in that its roots come from Fuchow, China, so it has a lot of circular blocks, as opposed to linear. It’s similar to Wing Chun kung fu, also of the Fukien Province, but is more mid-range distance between opponents. Wing Chun is great, too, because it’s an in-close system that relies upon sensitivity reflexes (it was Bruce Lee’s base style). My second favorite behind the martial arts might be swimming, although I love to play any sport.

Water polo is my favorite form of exercise. I’m 51 and playing on a club team at Emory University with young women half my age. I’m about half their speed and agility, but love practicing with them. I even played for a few minutes in a scrimmage against our alumni. I love being in the water.

Favorite exercise: lifting dark chocolate into my mouth. 1,2,3..yum Sex is second favorite. Cleaning house is third. I’ve done the gym route, balance ball, pilates, etc.( my son is a personal trainer), but discipline to maintain a routine is not there. Fortunately, weight is not an issue, but I know as I age that agility and a healthy cardio system are. Hey, because of this question, I’ll start again tomorrow!

I don’t mean to brag, but at age 65, my body looks better than it looked when I was in my 40s. It looks better than it looked AFTER I had liposuction. And I have Pilates to thank for my fabulous body! I didn’t start Pilates until I was in my 50s. Within 3 months, I could see the difference. Now, from my personal experience, it’s not just Pilates. It’s finding an instructor who follows the Joseph Pilates “school” of Pilates (vs. Stott, for example). I also recommend combining it with yoga (my yoga teacher is in her late 80s). Then, you’ll not only have a fabulous body, but you’ll have a flexible body, too! I am more flexible than I was when I was 16 years old. I’m not kidding!

Southerngirl: You got THAT right!!! Even the eye lashes get a workout!!!

Ok, Sex is my favoriate. You know that just touching his chest that makes your body zing with electricity kind…That kind that just his kiss makes your heart beat faster and feel like it is running a race…. Ok, now for the exercise part of this. I love Spinning! But, when the class is hard to get to! I walk about 3 miles with hand weights or ride my bike for 15 to the coast or swim about 30 minutes. Yea, I know! but I do it in rotation and take my days off! I keep hoping that by keeping in shape that some man will recognize the good person within after checking out my butt? It is a nice dream…..

Tennis.

I invested in a high energy active dog who loves to go for really long walks or play pretty intensely indoors. She stares at me for the workout. Otherwise, I may be lax and surf the web. There is no peace until we do our 2 or 3 mile walk.

Swimming, running and tennis. Can’t get enough. I do like spin (cycle) classes as well.

3 times a week with a personal trainer. We do weights, lots of abs in a variety of ways, cardio on the bike (bad knees), and plenty of stretching. It’s a daily treat to see those muscles in the mirror! My 75 y.o. body is flexible and strong. I also enjoy the camaraderie of the gym - it’s a great social leveler. Breakfast, before the gym, is a Standard Process shake with additions of L-Glutamine, fresh ginger, tsp of turmeric, tbs of Chyawanprash (for the Amla), 1/2 banana, flax seed oil and pomegranite juice.

Hands down…. walking. Whether it be on a treadmill or along the lake, nothing beats working up a sweat by walking.