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Programs > Never to Old to Get into Shape
Seniors on Muscle Beach? You're Never Too
Old to Get Fit
(ARA) - If you think you're too old to benefit from a fitness regimen that
includes weight training, think again.
Seven years ago, Beatrice Maullin read about the Crown Valley Senior
Olympics competition in her hometown of Pasadena, Calif. She had been
working out at a local gym doing aerobics, machine weights and free
weights. Thinking that there was no sport in which she could compete, she
called to volunteer for the Senior Olympics. But when she saw that one of
the events was powerlifting, an exercise in which she had become
interested, she decided to enter the competition, despite having only two
weeks to practice the proper form.
In April 1995, Beatrice won her first powerlifting gold medal. By the way,
at the time she was 74.
Today, at 80, Beatrice has won 25 gold medals, holds the powerlifting
world record for her age group (82.5 pounds), and is the oldest woman in
the United States to compete in the bench press. She has won the "best
overall" title in weight lifting for the past six years and has been
featured locally and nationally in newspapers, magazines and television,
advocating weight training for women of all ages.
Beatrice was not a fitness enthusiast all her life. "I took dance as a
young girl, raised two boys, and ran my own businesses, but it's not the
same as working out," she said. "I don't know why I waited this long to
finally do something just for myself. There must have been some magic plan
waiting for me to take that first step. I can't believe all this
excitement and fuss started when I was in my 70s," she says. "I've never
had so much fun."
Studies consistently show that weight training for seniors is beneficial
in many ways. Increased strength can help improve balance, reduce blood
pressure, stabilize blood sugar levels and lower cholesterol. A separate
study also shows that women who take up weight training increase their
metabolism for a longer period of time -- and therefore burn more calories
-- by training with weights, as compared to jogging or other aerobic
exercise.
And increasingly, fitness clubs are catering to seniors, who often are
their most committed members and are by far the fastest growing segment of
the health club market. For example, Gold's Gym offers discounts to
seniors, including 25 to 50 percent off enrollment fees, and many
instructors take special training to accommodate the needs of the older
fitness club members, says Derek Barton, vice president of Public
Relations and Communications for Gold's Gym International.
"Our mission at Gold's is to help all of our members fulfill their human
potential," Barton says, "and that includes seniors. We want them to go
for it. We not only have a growing number of seniors enrolling in our
clubs, but also a growing number of seniors doing great things, like
Beatrice."
Beatrice says that although the recognition and gold medals are nice,
those aren't what keep her coming back to the weight room.
"I feel healthier, more exuberant, happier about the time I spend in the
gym," she says. "I love meeting people of all ages at the gym, because
they understand the dedication it takes to stay in good health. Of course,
going to the gym to work out, you must allow extra time to exercise your
jaw muscles, too!"
Beatrice has no plans to retire any time soon. In fact, she tries to get
out and speak to women's groups as much as possible to spread the word
about the benefits of weight training, even though she realizes it may
create some competition in her age bracket.
"These new baby boomers are in for a big surprise when it comes to getting
older if they have not been keeping fit by exercising," she says. "If they
have not, the fit seniors will beat them mile for mile."
Courtesy of ARA Content, www.ARAcontent.com, e-mail: info@ARAcontent.com
EDITOR'S NOTE: For more information, contact Connie St. John, The St. John
Group, (415) 454-2243, e-mail: constjohn@aol.com
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