#110 Finding fitness

June 6, 2024

            Good morning.

            Many of you have incorporated some kind of exercise routine in your lives for many years or you pursue athletic or quasi-athletic activities or you may do both. Those of my friends who know me well and have known me a long time know that I have been allergic to anything even faintly athletic my entire adult life. (Does bocce ball count as athletic? I suspect not.) The last time I was "in shape" was probably in 9^th grade, when we had to take physical education. I have long understood, and read frequently, that one important way to stay healthy and mobile (and mentally fit) as one ages is to engage in physical activity. The thought makes me tired. I have always admired Hunter Thompson's point of view:

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!" ― Hunter S. Thompson, The Proud Highway: Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman, 1955-1967

I know darn well, of course, that without maintaining a reasonable level of physical activity one will arrive at the grave too early and perhaps after a long period of physical disability of some kind.

            After repeated but friendly badgering from my son Elliott, and after Kathy observed that we have a free membership to Life Time Fitness with our health insurance (the "Silver Sneakers" program), we decided that we'd join. (If I catch all the stoplights right, there is a Life Time club three minutes from our townhouse, so I can't even use inconvenience as an excuse not to go.) I must thus reluctantly set aside my affinity for Thompson and accede to the demands of an aging body. (Elliott has taught himself much about physical fitness and read widely and exercises regularly and he's been on my case for years to do something.)

            So we scheduled a time for a tour and introduction. I assume we were randomly assigned one of the staff trainers, whoever was available. We were assigned to Mena Youssef, a lively young woman of 26 (I learned that later).

            As we walked around, we realized that we had no idea how to use all the equipment we were seeing, we had no idea what kinds of activities or exercise we should do, and little idea of what we expected to accomplish. So we decided we better engage the services of a trainer, and since we liked Mena, we signed up right then and there: once per week for 12 weeks. (Sure, the Life Time membership is free; a trainer is decidedly not.)

            As we talked, I asked Mena if she was from the area. She told us that no, she was not, originally; she was born and raised in Egypt and came, with her mother and siblings, to Eden Prairie in 2006 when she was 8 years old. I was astonished. What I found amazing is that she sounds like she grew up in Eden Prairie. I asked her what language she spoke growing up; she said Arabic (naturally) and British English. I know that if one learns a new language young, it comes easily, and American English is not exactly a "new" language for someone who speaks British English, but I was nonetheless startled at her utter lack of an accent. (I'm no linguist but over the years I've discovered I do have an amateur's ear for languages and accents. When we first visited Life Time and were waiting for our tour and introduction, I told one of the young women working at the front desk that she had a Scottish brogue; Kathy agreed. The young woman was startled; she had no idea.)

            We have now had seven sessions with Mena and could not be more pleased. I guess we're pleased. I come home after our 9:00 a.m. hour-long sessions and I can feel it. We get a workout. I guess that's how this is supposed to work. Mena told us that if we follow the exercise regimens she prescribes, and do them 3-5 times per week, we'll gain one pound of muscle mass every five weeks. I am so excited by that prospect. No, not really. Excited or not, Kathy and I go in four times per week. I enjoy the three mornings per week when we don't go in. (Elliott says he enjoys his workouts on their equipment at home. Good for him.)

            As is often the case for me, the technology associated with exercising was a surprise. Mena prescribes a set of exercises—different each day—that we follow on the three days per week that we do not see her. I learned quickly why all these people at Life Time are walking around with their cell phones in hand, looking intently at the screen. I'm doing it as well, since the exercises are on the Life Time app on my phone. Of course the app also keeps track of what I've done and what weights I've achieved on each machine.

            Another way the technology surprised me is in the seemingly infinite variety of exercise machines that are made. There are dozens and dozens! Sometimes Mena assigns an exercise on a machine she hasn't shown us how to use. Some are easy to figure out; some I can't even find and have to ask one of the trainers where it is, and some I can't figure out how I should use it even when I do find it.

            Since I've never belonged to a fitness club before, I don't know what the difference is between a high-end and not-so-high-end club. This place seems higher-end to me: lots of machines and weights and classes, a pleasant and large training/exercise room, huge and well-appointed locker rooms, generally a classy place. Is Life Time high end? What's lower-end? What's even more high-end?

            I have been impressed with Mena's knowledge of exercise physiology. She told us that after graduating from Eden Prairie High School, she went to the University of Minnesota and earned a degree in Kinesiology. She learned her stuff; for example, she points out the muscles that we're working on with each exercise. Because I have a shoulder that's a little painful sometimes, she tested my range of motion and then told me to go to an orthopedic physician. I have an appointment in the next couple of weeks.

            When we started this program of exercises, Mena told us to be sure we eat enough protein because muscles need protein. When I informed Elliott about this Life Time venture, one of the first things he said was to be sure we eat enough protein. Apart from occasional curious glances at dietary information on almost every food item one purchases these days, I've never paid much attention to it. Now I have to check for protein content.

            I find interesting the social interactions at Life Time: there aren't any. No one talks to anyone else (except on the rare occasions when it's apparent that two guys or two women know each other outside the club setting). I would have thought that there might be some chatter, talk about the equipment, what exercises one is doing, whatever. Nope.

            I suppose that now I have to buy some spiffy gym clothes so I look good while I'm working out. Or maybe not.

            I grudgingly concede that the four hours per week are probably doing me good, although I can't tell it (yet), other than by stiff arms and legs from time to time.

            If you're of a certain vintage (i.e., old enough to be retired), I'd be curious to learn what you do to keep fit and what your experiences have been at places like Life Time Fitness.

            I hope your life is going well. Please stay in touch.

            Gary