If there’s a phrase that embodies my self-care practice, it’s “age is just a number.” As a 60-year-old fitness enthusiast, my life-long love affair with weightlifting doesn’t show signs of wavering anytime soon. Although time has etched wisdom lines on my face and my joints whisper reminders of my age, my passion for the gym remains as robust as ever. And the secret to my sustained fitness journey? Volume training.
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Volume training is the unsung hero in the world of bodybuilding. It’s the method that trades in heavy weights for lighter ones, swaps a few intense reps for a higher number, and replaces long rests with brief pauses. The goal isn’t to hoist the heaviest barbell or to boast the briefest recovery time. No, the goal is far more poetic. It’s about welcoming as much blood as possible into the muscle, like a host inviting guests to a party. It’s about feeling the rush, the vitality, and the life force that pulsates through your veins.
My typical day is an ode to this philosophy. Each morning, while the world is still shaking off the remnants of sleep, I’m at the gym. There’s something about the early morning workout session that sets the tone for the day. With each lift and each rep, the sleepy fog lifts, replaced by the clarity that only a good workout can bring. I’ve always believed that a day that starts with exercise is a day that starts right.
But wait, there’s more! After a day’s work, I round off my routine with a cardio session. Sometimes it’s a brisk walk up the rolling hills that surround my neighborhood, their gentle slopes providing just the right amount of resistance. Other times, it’s a leisurely ride on an exercise bike, the steady rhythm of the pedals syncing with the beat of my heart.
Now you might wonder, why this twice-daily commitment to the gym? Isn’t that too much? The answer is simple – my mind loves it. Yes, my muscles are grateful for the workout, but it’s my mind that truly reaps the benefits. Exercise, for me, is as much a mental activity as it is a physical one. The focus that lifting requires clears my mind of its clutter. The discipline that regular gym visits demand strengthens my mental resolve. The satisfaction that a good workout brings infuses my mind with positivity.
In truth, I set out to hit the gym every day. Do I always make it? Not quite. Life, with its surprises and commitments, sometimes alters my plans. But that’s okay. Because self-care is not about perfection. It’s about dedication, about showing up for yourself as often as you can, about doing what feels right for your body.
So here I am, a 60-year-old bodybuilder, continuing my life-long journey of fitness, one rep at a time. My joints may be a bit more delicate, my recovery time a little longer, but my enthusiasm for the gym remains unscathed. I’ve traded in the heavy weights of my youth for the volume training of my golden years, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
This journey is my self-care anthem. It’s a testament that taking care of oneself has no age limit, that the gym is a sanctuary for both the body and the mind, and that staying fit is not just about physical strength, but mental resilience too.
To all you fitness enthusiasts out there, no matter what your age, remember this – your self-care journey is unique, just like mine. Embrace it, celebrate it, and most importantly, enjoy it. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about the heaviest weights or the highest reps; it’s about feeling good, staying healthy, and embracing the journey with all its highs and lows. Stay fit, stay happy, and remember, age is just a number when it comes to taking care of yourself. Happy lifting!
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