Finding Your Perfect Exercise for Midlife and Beyond

Have you ever had the feeling where you found an exercise or activity that just fit you? You feel awesome every time you do it? Then you wonder why you don’t do it more often?

When I was in high school and college, we, of course, had to take physical education class. And, we always had to run. Even if I just did a simple body conditioning class like I did in college, we ended up running.

I hate running. I was never a good runner. For some people you see, it’s just so effortless. For me, I felt like a lumberjack. No grace. Just pounding the pavement, huffing and puffing, wondering if I’ll ever get to the end. Of if I’ll freaking die.

I do love physical activity, however. I’d ride my bike continually even through my high school years. I love playing sports and have been on many teams. And I truly love swimming.

Finding Your Perfect Exercise for Midlife and Beyond

It dawned on me a couple of weeks ago when I finally was able to stand the cold water enough to actually get in my first swim. I felt good in the pool. I mean, I feel great in the pool.

I can run for long periods of time, believe it or not. I can jump and squat and be active for an hour or better without getting tired.

Working out in the pool is truly when I feel my best. So I thought – why do I beat myself up about not being active enough, like taking a walk every single day when I can simply get in the pool and run my tail off?

I have no excuse to not be in there almost every day. I can schedule my time. It’s summer and hot! The only time I haven’t been in in the last two weeks has been when the weather took a turn for cold and for three days the temps were extremely chilly and the wind was fierce.

The bad news is my heater has died. The good news is I usually don’t need it right now anyway.

I am truly blessed to have my own pool and I definitely take advantage of it especially now that I’ve made it my activity of choice. It does an old body good.

Regardless of age, swimming and doing water aerobics is so easy and it’s very gentle on the body. I’ve linked several articles here that I’ve written over the years about the benefits of water aerobics, especially for a middle-age and above person. I hope you read them and then go find a pool that you can use five times a week.

But if swimming is not your thing, truly think about what is your thing and do that. Maybe it’s dance or trampolining (I do like that too!) Maybe it’s gardening, or yoga. Maybe it’s lifting weights.

Whatever your activity of choice is, just do that and enjoy it. In middle age and beyond, we have to keep moving and I, for one, refuse to feel guilty any more about not doing what others expect I should be doing or enjoy. Heck with it!

Life’s too short!