Posted on: Friday, August 1, 2003

Exercise does not have to be difficult for seniors

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

If we spent as much time exercising as listening to people tell us we should exercise, "sedentary" Americans would be an endangered species.

We all know creative reasons why we can't exercise. That's why AARP has decided to weigh in with its considerable clout that includes nearly 140,000 local members and Shape Up Across Hawai'i.

The "virtual journey" takes participants 400 miles across the state in square-mile increments. "Moderate" exercise and everyday activity — think raking and walking to the store — is enough to complete the 16-week journey, but AARP is encouraging people only to go as far and fast as they feel comfortable.

The goal is to get 2,000 people involved in the inaugural journey, which runs through October, and have 80 percent finish. Analysis of this first year will form a long-term foundation.

"If 20 percent of the people are totally inactive and we can change five percent," associate state director Jackie McCarter said, "it would have a huge impact."

The national organization for those 50 and older has made fitness a national priority. The state office, which is less than 3 years old, quickly realized it was a priority here when health and wellness came up second in every survey of membership concerns. Securing pension benefits and saving for retirement is always first.

Armed with enough research and surveys to provide weight training for the masses, AARP has designed Shape Up Across Hawai'i to break down fitness barriers. The massive effort to get Hawai'i healthier has found that the biggest barriers to fitness here — despite paradise's obvious physical perks — are the same as on the Mainland: Too little time and too much expense.

So, Shape Up costs nothing, is open to everyone, takes little time, is simply structured and includes free group fitness activities every week on every major island. Nearly all the activities are low-impact, including Chi Kung classes (which filled quickly) and a Waikiki scavenger hunt. Many need no registration.

Anything active counts toward the journey. A half hour of sweeping is worth one square. So is a 15-minute nature walk or 10 minutes of paddling. Walking is the activity of choice for nearly two-thirds of the AARP members surveyed, but any activity anyone feels comfortable doing works.

Your heart rate might not rise, but gardening for 30 minutes three times a week is a dramatic improvement for many in a country where 40 percent of the people between the ages of 45 and 64 are considered "sedentary." The percentage is 60 for those 75 and older.

The numbers haven't changed in 10 years. But the number of people living longer, waking up with aches and pains, and feeling their balance, strength and flexibility deteriorate is booming.

AARP wanted a program that was user friendly and excuse proof. It lifted the virtual journey idea from a Colorado program that touched 90,000 people in 10 years. It brought in some 20 partners for its first comprehensive physical fitness effort, from the Arthritis Foundation to the YWCA and Department of Parks and Recreation.

"It's the first time we've had so many organizations collaborate," McCarter says. "We'd have been happy to be a partner, but they all said AARP should run it."

AARP was willing, particularly after the first two phases were enthusiastically received. The research phase was a survey mailed to 4,000 members to assess "attitudes toward physical activity." Within two weeks, 3,000 were returned. The second phase was training, with free activity classes offered for members not meeting minimum requirements. In three days, more than 700 filled all six classes.

This third "activity" phase was kicked off with a mailing to about 44,000 members encouraging them to join the program and bring a friend. The virtual journey is open to everyone from grandchildren to those whose goal is to have energy to play with their grandchildren.

Ultimately, AARP would like to have activities available in every central area of every island for added incentive. For now, even 30 minutes of solitary activity three times a week will do.

"They say we're all living 20 years longer now," McCarter says. "We want it to be a good quality of life."

Participants can log on for information at shapeuphawaii.org or pick it up at:

• O'ahu—AARP Information Center, 1199 Dillingham Blvd., #A106 (843-1906).

• Maui—Kaunoa Senior Center, 401 Alakapa Place, Pa'ia (661-0159).

• Kaua'i—AARP Information Center, 4212 A Rice St., Lihue (246-4500).

• Big Island—AARP Information Center, Royal Kona Resort (334-1212).