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SALT LAKE CITY -- Out of all the people registering for marathons and triathlons, USA Today says Baby Boomers make up the largest portion. They report Boomers account for almost one-fourth of all members of USA Triathlon and more than a quarter of USA Cycling members.
Baby Boomers account for almost one-fourth of all members of USA Triathlon and more than a quarter of USA Cycling members.
Senior fitness trainers in Utah say many people over 55 don't just want to get fit. Many of them are seeing how they stack up against the younger guys.
Fitnessesities training and consulting owner Carey Fraley said, "I think it's the awareness, the zest for life [and] the desire to take on either what they have done in the past or they've got that urgency to say, ‘Hey, I can do this.'"
Fraley says people over 55 make up the biggest portion of gym members. She says Boomers were exposed to exercise and fitness when they were younger and they don't want to let that slip away.
I think ... they've got that urgency to say, ‘Hey, I can do this.'
–Carey Fraley
"Years ago, there was not tennis, there were not triathlons or cycling [competitions] for the senior only group," she explained.
Along with more gyms and recreation centers helping Baby Boomers to stay fit, medical advances and knowledge about staying healthy have people over 55 more confident in their abilities. Fraley says things were different when she was a kid. Back then, she says people who were 50 or older were perceived as having one foot in the grave. But, she says the 60 year old of today isn't the 60 year old of yesterday.
But many overdo it when they first start out.
"Our connective tissues are not as strong as they used to be. We've lost bone density. We've lost muscle mass," she pointed out.
It's recommended older people get at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise five times a week. She says seniors may need to start with maybe only 10 minutes at first. When things get easier, then they can increase the intensity.
As for strength training, Fraley says many older people don't do it right, then wonder why they're not seeing progress. Some Boomers lift heavier weight but she says they don't have proper form. This adds more wear and tear on their muscles than they would have had if they lifted lighter weights with the right form, then steadily increased how much they lift.
But the most important thing older people need to re-establish when they restart their exercise is balance and core strength. She uses the sport of golf as an example of why those things are so important. If someone has a lot of strength in their arms or legs, what good will that strength do if they can't swing the club without falling?
"One out of every three, after the age of 65, fall annually. That's scary. Why do they fall? Lack of balance. The problem is they don't know they don't have balance," she said.
Balance can be restored, as long as someone exercises the right way. Instead of using strictly Nautilus styled machines that hold most of the person's body in place so they can target a specific muscle, Fraley says Baby Boomers may want to use free weights while standing or sitting on a balance ball. After this type of exercise becomes easier, Fraley says they can lift one leg while sitting on the ball, or stand on a balance board.
E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com
