MY STORY

 Let me tell you my story, I'm now 76 years old. I am now in better shape physically and mentally than I was at 40 or 50 years old. I took a good look at myself at age 60. I was overweight, and not in good physical shape. I wondered if I would live another six or seven years. I would get winded going up a single flight of stairs. I had to take painkillers every morning to get out of bed, because of the aches and pains. I felt I was suddenly going downhill. I felt my deteriorating health would overtake me and I could die or become physically unable to cope. I have two young sons, the youngest being 21 years old and the other son is 28 years old, I'll let you do the math on how old I was when they were born. I wanted to be around not only seeing them grow into manhood. I wanted to be around to see them start their own families, and enjoy their children. I said to myself, there has to be a way to get myself back in a better physical condition. I began to think when I was in my teens, in my 20s and early 30s, I was in great physical shape, I played baseball, basketball, I was also an amateur and professional boxer. To train for fights I had to run 2 to 3 miles a day, and spend hours in the gym working out. I wondered to myself, why couldn’t I be as fit as I was in my 20s, and in my 30s. I vowed to myself, I would give it a try. Mind you, this was on my 60th birthday. You know the old saying, shoot for the moon, you might hit a star. With that thought in mind I began to do stretching, strengthening and cardiovascular exercises.

I began slowly with a daily routine, which lasted for six or seven minutes. I would do this as soon as I got out of bed in the morning. After about 60 days, I began to see some small benefits. The aches and the pains were not as severe. I believed I was on the right track. I made a commitment to myself, I would not miss a day of exercising unless I was so sick, I just physically could not do the exercise. After the first six months, I increased the length of the exercises to 15 minutes, and added more types of exercises. I did these exercises seven days a week. There were days I had the cold or the flu. But even on those days I did some of the exercises. I do these exercises the first thing in the morning, meaning as soon as I get up, and before I had anything to eat or drink. I feel any food or drink before exercising can be an impediment, not allowing you to perform all the exercises most effectively. After 24 months of doing my stretching, strengthening and cardiovascular exercises. The aches and pains in my joints, which I suffered with, for so many years, were gone. Before only painkillers, could get rid of the pain. It was like a miracle, if you have ever suffered with aches and pains in your body and in your joints, for years like I did. The fact I was now pain-free, because of exercising, was truly miraculous. I then increased my exercise routine to 30 minutes a day, and added some more targeted exercises. Targeted meaning, I was using every muscle group and joint in my body. I'm now going into my 17^th year of daily exercising, which I call my “EXERCISE FOR LIFE” program. Remember, I started at 60 years old, because I knew I had to do something to get physically fit, if I wanted to live a long and healthy life. With all of the benefits, for myself, for my family, and, my friends. In my fourth year of doing these exercises, I had a heart scan at a company by the name of, Lifetest Cardiac Imaging. The results of this test were zero plaque, zero calcium. It stated that less than three percent of people my age, and gender, had so little coronary arterial calcium. I have a copy of those results, and will make a copy available to anyone  who would like to see it.

My motto is.

Exercise for a longer life.

Exercise for a healthier life.

Exercise for a more mentally alert life.

Exercise for the rest of your life.