In May of 2025, I signed up for a gym. I had discovered that my new managed care health plan would pay for the membership, so, since my goal was to get stronger, I thought that I would give it a try. At the same time, I paid for a year of training – small group, 5 people per trainer, focused exercise with weights and straps, twice a week (M & W).
In May of 2026, I renewed my small group training even though the cost had increased. And I am looking for other ways of increasing my physical being to bridge the gap between Wednesday and Monday.
So over the course of the past year, I have noted that my leg strength has improved and is equalizing. Before I started this plan, I would get up in the morning and literally stumble to the bathroom. I couldn’t stand and put on pants without losing my balance.
Some would say that is normal for someone in her 70s. I reject that. I think it was a symptom of sitting too much and losing muscle tone. I think age does not automatically mean incapacity. Joining a gym was my attempt to change that.
In addition to becoming more equal in my leg strength, my balance has improved. No more stumbling.
My body core is also stronger. I have noticed that I stand up straighter than before with spine straight, shoulders back, head up, and balanced. That surprised me…the standing up straighter bit. I didn’t realize that I wasn’t. I still have to mentally remind myself, but I am finding that I do it more often without consciously thinking of the need to do so.
My belly is flatter and hip bones/ankle bones are more prominent. That is a reflection also of the stronger core muscles and loss of weight. Before, I had a chronic rounded belly from a hysterectomy at age 40. Those muscles never recovered. Nor did my sedentary lifestyle help. Exercising just twice a week resulted in a tightening of those abdominal muscles. It also sped up my metabolism, causing a weight loss of 10+ pounds. Today I am at a weight that I never dreamed I would achieve. All due to twice a week exercise and trying to eat more healthily.
My arm muscles are still not as strong as I would like, but I am improving. However, the best part is that my non-dominant left side is improving. And, the left shoulder that was getting arthritic and limited has strengthened, is much less often painful or sore, has better range of motion (reaching behind is still a bit limited) and the left arm is nearly equal in strength to the right one.
I’ve also noted that my shoulders are moving back and down, when I stand up straighter. Before I always loaded my stress in my shoulders. Now it is markedly less.
My skin is healthier, too. I did get a back cloth for the shower, but overall I think the health of my skin is due to my overall health. My psoriasis is barely present anymore…just the scalp. That in itself is a reflection of less stress held in my body’s container (skin).
None of this was magical or sudden. Well, maybe the observation was. Anyway, it is reflective of attending the class regularly. And continually trying over and over, even with tears and feelings of giving up…still going.
I am proud of myself for keeping at it, despite the days of discouragement. I kept at it.
Additional thoughts:
It seems as I continue to mull over the changes in my life due to exercise that more changes come to mind. Recently I have remembered how getting up in the morning was not only accompanied by balance issues but also by dizziness. I even experienced that when rolling over in the bed as well as changing position from prone to sitting or standing.
It dawned on me this morning that I no longer have that issue. Whether it is solely related to the exercise changes or also related to the pescatarian diet that I have been following is unclear to me. Still, it is in the exercise that I have noted that I can now get down to the floor and up again without dizziness. And, there was a time when I did not do any floor exercises. Now, I don’t even think about it.
Additionally, there was a time that I could not squat without losing my balance and landing on my keister. Now I squat without thinking about balance. My squats are not deep ones, but rather ones that I can do without thought.
Overall, I am amazed at what I am accomplishing.
Feathers of My Mind 