Sunday, March 25, 2007 Paquiao: It’s never too late By Calixto Paquaio Fitness & you
WHO said you’re too late to do something about your aching, ailing body?
How many times have I heard people in their ‘50s say that they’re too old to do some weight-bearing exercises! I can’t count anymore. There are a lot of people whose eyes and mind are already closed, and ignore my advice that they can still do something to bring back their lost strength. And as a result, they’re now suffering from lots of aches and pains in their fast deteriorating body due to their negligence in keeping physically fit.
Most of them are too dependent on vitamins and supplements, and medical drugs, which their doctors prescribe. These supplements are not bad if they really help you, but will you be just contented with these throughout your life?
A lot of people I know are buying and investing a lot of money, even on the most expensive supplements, but most of them miss the most important activity in their life. They have neglected to strengthen the most vital part of their body—the muscles.
Here’s a case of a 53-year-old woman who went to see me. She began to complain that her knees hurt and she was always tired. She found herself napping whenever she could. This is what it feels to age, based on what she said. At 53, it didn’t occur to her that sluggishness could be caused by anything. Her longtime weight between 140 and 150 pounds had now crept to 172. And her blood pressure, never a problem before, had climbed to 152/90, which prompted a warning from her doctor to do something to lower it. But she figured out that it was all part of getting older.
Her lack of energy was easy to explain, too. She said who wouldn’t be tired working full-time as an executive secretary and at the same time doing household chores. Knowing all this, I advised her to start some basic workout to make her feel better.
Her reaction was: “Are you kidding? With my knees? Where am I supposed to find the time? I’m not spending all that money on shoes and going to a gym. I barely have energy to get through the day!”
Finally, I won the battle of argument. I persuaded her to do some basic exercises but on condition that her exercise routine will be for 30 minutes only. Because the routine was so simple she had no trouble sticking to it.
After a few months, her knees were feeling better. I also challenged her to change her diet by making her stop using butter on her morning toast. That was a tall order for her because she was raised in a beef-rice family. She loves burgers and fries, pizza, chocolate, ice cream and toast slathered with butter.
After six months, her jeans became "looser." What impressed her most was that she had more energy, and her knees didn’t bother her anymore. The pain was gone! And she was shocked that she had lost 50 pounds.
Today, most of the clients I train are over 30 to 40 years old and above.
They’re full of “I can’t” when they started. But then I pointed out to them this 53-year-old woman and I said to them, “Yes, you can. If a tired, sickly woman can do it, you can also do anything you set your mind to.” (Coach Paquiao Wellness and Fitness Center, JY Square Discovery Mall, Lahug, and tel. No. 234-2811)
