The one thing I never stopped doing throughout all of the worst times in my life was activities. It helped me stay focused and sane, and it helped calm me, but most importantly, it gave me inner and outer strength to weather the storms in my life.
Ironically, I hardly exercised much when I was younger, say in my twenties and thirties. I was lazy. Plus at that age, we all think we are invincible, don’t we?
It was when I turned 40 that I realised that turning back the clock was a very alluring thought for me. The prospect of discovering the fountain of youth became an all consuming thought. More valuable than prospecting for gold, in fact.
I started on a strength training regime — three times a week, and this was very painful and tiring in the beginning. I knew if I tried exercising on my own, it would be very short-lived, so I got the services of a personal trainer. I only woke up early on the days she would turn up at 7am at my house. The days she didn’t come I would sleep in with so much glee.
Strength training is amazing though. You start feeling strong from inside, and you walk with the perfect posture naturally because all your muscles are firmly held in place. It even changes your body. Women need to know that they don’t need to get breast enhancements or inject silicones — they just do chest inclines and chest presses and other chest exercise. The breasts are just lifted so naturally and even look bigger because the muscles beneath them do all the job of lifting, holding and enhancing!
And the way the bum fills the jeans so well when you do your squats and lunges and leg exercises — oh my, no surgery or anything artificial can come close. The skin is also clearer and fresher, and becomes more taut and firm because of the extreme blood circulation, which also ensures a stronger heart. Hair fall also reduces. Best of all, you worry less about osteoporosis because strength training increases bone density and makes the bones stronger.
Of late though, I have taken up running. I never used to run before. I was afraid that it would trigger my sciatica nerves which creates pain along my left leg and hips if I ever put pressure the wrong way in my left leg.
But I found the perfect running partner a few houses away from mine a few months ago. He told me it’s all about the shoes and running techniques and most importantly, breathing.
So I went and bought a pair of Hoka shoes with maximum cushioning which has allowed me to slowly walk and eventually run consistently for 5km minimum every day for five days a week over the last five months. Oooh 555 — reminds me of a Benson & Hedges advertisement or that tiny notebook with 555 on it where we used to write down how much we owed the roti-man every time we bought bread from him. All things of the past though, and it sort of shows my era. I am glad to be of that era though — we were tough as nails, real as hell and as gritty as they come.
Today, at 50 years of age, I have never looked or felt better. People get taken aback when they realise I am even over the age of 40. They cannot believe I have two kids who are in their twenties. They wonder where I get all my energy from. They ask how I manage multiple roles and can still dance like a teenager on the dance floor.
My go-to answer most of the time is — exercise, the elixir of life.
I am beginning to believe that there is more to reversing age than just exercise however.
I believe every element of ageing springs from the mind. When we start thinking we are old, we become old. When we impose limitations on ourselves the body believes you and starts acting the way you think.
I purposefully forget what my age is and just live according to how I want to. I eat whatever I want, gobble rice as much as I want — sometimes even three times a day, gorge on chocolates and cake when I feel like it, down the occasional alcohol… I have never dieted, as dieting makes me miserable. The last time I went for a medical checkup was three years ago.
I have a very full schedule — I start work at 9am most days and I come home almost always at 9pm. Weekends are full too with various activities.
To some that might be stressful. But to me, having very little to do is stressful.
I am going to take martial arts classes next…
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
