Posted on: Monday, July 19, 2004

FITNESS PROFILE
Woman finds exercise keeps her bones dense

By Paula Rath
Advertiser Staff Writer

Mary Ann Knerr, 75, paddles outrigger canoes, does Pilates and goes to the YMCA for aerobics and Butts & Guts classes. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

Name: Mary Ann Knerr.

Age: 75.

Profession: Retired school librarian. Volunteer guardian for abused children. Active in Reading is Fundamental in the schools; helps prepare food at Institute for Human Services once a month.

Height: 4-feet-11 ("I was formerly 5'2" but amazingly, my bones are still very dense according to a recent bone-density test. I am sure this is largely because of all the exercise I do.")

Workout habits: "I have paddled outrigger canoes with two different groups for many years, three times a week. I do Pilates two times a week and go to the YMCA for aerobics and Butts & Guts classes two or three times a week. I do water aerobics once a week (in the summer only); play lousy tennis with my great, forgiving partners once a week; take qigong two times a week and tai chi on Saturdays. On Sundays, I am not athletic unless my husband and I go to the beach to swim or I go hiking with a friend."

When and why I started working out: "I've always been active, but after I was diagnosed with a form of blood cancer seven years ago, I changed some of my eating habits and added some new exercises to my weekly regimen, such as tai chi, qigong and Pilates."

My good foods/bad foods: "We eat a diet that includes lots of vegetables and fruits, as well as some fish and chicken. My biggest temptation, besides chocolate, is (Ben & Jerry's) Cherry Garcia Low Fat Frozen Yogurt; I could eat a whole carton of that in one sitting. I take a shot of wheat grass and a drink made from carrots, beets, apple, celery and ginger from Lanikai Juice three times a week."

My biggest motivator: "My husband, who is very athletic, and the desire to keep feeling well and being able to do all the things I enjoy doing. I found after I had my hip replaced that keeping active helped me to heal faster. So when I had my spleen removed last September, again I resumed my exercise regimen as soon as possible. And as a result I got back to full activity in a few weeks. I've been blessed to have excellent health providers, including ... my naturopath and primary-care physicians, who all gave me encouragement and moral support. Prayer and meditation have always been an important part of my life."

My biggest roadblock to fitness: "There is no real roadblock, but sometimes it is hard to find time to fit everything into a busy schedule."

What saves my sanity: "Fun times with my husband and friends, paddling, hiking, trips to unusual places, reading."

My next challenge: "I hope to take up hula again (I took it 40 years ago) in September.

Advice for those in the same boat: "Keep active, keep a positive attitude and do things that you love to do!"