Back in your 30s, 40s, and 50s, you probably thought, “Once the kids are grown, I’ll have more time to work out.” Or, “I’ll have more motivation to exercise when I’m not working such crazy hours.”
But in your 60s and beyond, with the kids out of the house, and retirement on the horizon (if not already behind you), it can still be tough to find the “get up and go” needed to make fitness a priority. Isn’t this supposed to be the phase of life when you can finally put your feet up!?
Trust us, these eight fit women, all ages 60 and up, have had similar thoughts. But they get their bodies moving on the daily, anyway—and they are always thankful they did. So the next time you feel your exercise enthusiasm waning, consider trying one of their tried and tested motivation tips:
Set reminders—electronic or otherwise.
“I have my Fitbit set to remind me every hour to move. When it goes off, I get up, walk around, do some yoga poses and come back to whatever I had been doing feeling refreshed. I have to prioritise movement because I have osteoporosis and need to keep my strength up. I don’t want to fall and break something! It’s really true: If you don't use it, you lose it.”— Lee Lennon, 62, practices yoga two to three times per week
Make fitness social.
“I have kayaked for nearly 30 years. We are surrounded by sparkling, wild waters and, with kayaking, you can access places most cannot reach. It is exhilarating. I love those nature endorphins. It really is my passion and my Zen. Still, I sometimes feel like slacking. But I’ve found that having a regular exercise schedule with others keeps me honest. I have a standing kayak date on Fridays, and I take regular yoga classes, so if I don’t show up, people will know.” — J. Lanell Flager, 69, kayaks and practices yoga
Invest in home fitness tools.
“For decades, I’ve had a cardio machine and some free weights in my house as a way to keep my heart healthy despite high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as well as a family history of heart problems. Years back, I had a gym membership, but I quickly realised I’m more likely to exercise if I do not have to drive to do it. When your treadmill is at home, you have a constant reminder that it’s time to work out, and you eliminate excuses.” —Shirl Jasman, 73, walks five days per week and lifts weights
Consider how you feel when you aren’t working out.
“Not feeling well is a great motivator. When I’m not feeling well, I know that it’s because I need to get moving. And no matter how much I don’t feel like starting my workout some days, I know that the more I exercise, the better I’ll feel.” —Terri Heston, 60, walks and strength trains
“Quality of life and purpose in my day is my motivation. Exercise takes my mind off of worries. It gets me outside and improves both my physical and emotional wellbeing. All of my outside activities give me a sense of accomplishment and social interaction. I enjoy hiking with family and friends and taking walking tours on vacations. It’s a way to spend quality time with others while enjoying nature.” —Joyce Aguiar, 62, golfs, walks and recently went hiking in Patagonia
Get a trainer.
“Get a trainer! Having a trainer gets me to the gym, and she is constantly pushing me once I get there. Even if I wasn’t feeling up the workout originally, once I get started, I feel better and really get into it. It has become a part of my life like washing my face or brushing my teeth.” —Susan Feldman, 60, works out five days per week
Vow to move—even if only for a few minutes.
“I only have one body, and I have the responsibility to keep myself fit and honour the body I have. Plus, I’m a stage 3 breast cancer survivor—and I want to stay alive! Just putting on my sneakers and starting out on a walk or a run is enough for me to keep going. Once I get outside and feel the sun on my shoulders, I’m inspired. Taking the first step is really, really the most important part.” —Peggy Campbell-Rush, 63, runs five kms or walks 10 to 12 every day, lifts weights and practices yoga
Set a goal.
“I have been running most of my adult life, and have finished 24 consecutive marathons! Unfortunately, my training has been inconsistent for the past eight years or so, as life kind of got in the way. As a result, I’ve felt a lack of energy that has really motivated me to get back into training. Also, my marathon times have pushed into the five-hour time zone and, having once run a 3:37:46 marathon, I truly believe there is still a sub four-hour marathon inside me. I am determined to do it!” —Irene Binash, 60, runs 10 kms three days per week
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