SHAPE UP
Anybody, of any age, can achieve fitness

By Dave Patania
Gannett News Service

Q. I am a 58-year-old female who doesn't think you take people of my age into consideration when you speak of how far people can go with their fitness. What can I "realistically" expect to achieve with exercise?

A. With an attitude like that, don't expect to achieve too much. I am not trying to be mean by saying if you don't expect much, you won't attain much.

Instead of preaching to you, I will tell you about a client who is 60. Between Aug. 2 and Oct. 10, she lost 13 pounds, lost 12.4 pounds of body fat and gained 4.4 pounds of lean muscle mass.

She is not a former pro athlete but a mother of six who has spunk and was determined to get results. She stuck to a healthy meal plan, did her weight training, her aerobic training and consistently stretched to increase her flexibility.

You can do the same if you adopt the mindset that it is possible. Ninety percent of my clientele is older than 50, and my older clients can hold their own with anybody.

I have a 61-year-old client who brought her 26-year-old daughter-in-law to work out with us, and she handed the young whippersnapper a severe blow to the ego by kicking her butt in every exercise.

Start slowly by building a foundation of health based on consistent activity and healthy eating. Once that is established, slowly start raising the intensity, duration and frequency of exercise.

Pair that higher level of exercise with corresponding amounts of quality nutrition, and you are on your way to creating your own story of success.

Set goals, using easily attainable goals as steps toward ultimate goals. Then, make a plan, and let nothing stop you from achieving. I work with people who are doing that every day, so it is definitely possible. Good luck!

Dave Patania, a certified personal trainer, writes for the Cincinnati Enquirer. Send questions to davpatania@aol.com.