Growing Stronger with Age: Fitness in Retirement

“You never feel better than when you start feeling good after you’ve been feeling bad.”
– William Least Heat-Moon

Through careful planning and a minimalist lifestyle, my husband and I retired early and moved to the beach. We’ve created a home we love and are happily settling into this new stage of life.

Early retirement promises the gift of “bonus years” away from structured employment while we’re still relatively young. The transition has been a process of discovery.

It took time to adjust to the fact that work no longer defines my identify. I am not bound by a schedule of appointments, meetings, projects and training. There is no commute, no need to pack a lunch or figure out what to wear.

At first this was a struggle, but now I embrace the freshness and freedom of each day. I appreciate the relaxed pace and the broad range of choice on how to spend time.

Now that my mind is less cluttered and stressed with work related demands, I strive to listen and seek to understand those I’ve often taken for granted.

My husband, parents, children and friends offer different lessons from varied perspectives. I feel more open, relaxed and connected during conversations. I appreciate having more time to be with people I love.

Retirement provides an opportunity to redefine and expand personal goals and priorities. Developing plans to reach those goals provides daily structure. These may be reading, writing, travel or volunteer projects, home improvement or the exploration of new interests.

Early in retirement after the extended vacation mindset began to wane, I recognized the need to make changes in order to improve my health. I had gained weight, was sluggish, moody and achy.

The reality check came at my annual wellness visit when I saw my cholesterol results creeping higher along with my weight. I told the physician’s assistant (and myself) that next year I would be in better shape.

Health and fitness have become top priorities as I navigate the aging process and recognize the fragility of life. Especially in midlife, I’ve learned painful lessons about the impermanence of life and relationships.

Improving wellness requires self-reflection, commitment, effort and patience. It is never too late to begin.

I’ve met several 90-year-olds at the gym. In fact, they’re regulars. One of them said that the secret is to never stop moving.

I chat occasionally with an outgoing man in his 60s who described how he lost 100 pounds and drastically improved his health. He enjoys sharing tips on healthy foods and his fitness activities.

He said that he began his wellness journey shortly after he realized he was constantly thinking about how he would die. Now he spends his time thinking about how he can enjoy his life.

Through daily food and fitness journaling for about six months, I gained an understanding of my patterns and challenges. The journals helped me to recognize the unhelpful and negative thoughts that lead to unhealthy behavior. Journaling also provided documentation of my slow and steady progress.

I developed healthier eating habits and better sleep patterns. I gained muscle and the pounds came off. I maintain a healthy weight today and continue tracking fitness accomplishments.

My husband and I plan meals a week at a time and reserve dinners out for special occasions. We’ve settled into a rotation of simple, healthy meals we enjoy. It may sound boring, but I like the structure.

We’ve participated in sober and dry months as we each make decisions about if and how much we choose to drink. Limiting or eliminating alcohol is an obvious way to improve physical, mental and financial health.

Exercising together strengthens our marriage. We’ve been steadily improving our fitness for more than two years. We go to the gym or out for a run almost every morning.

We began to run last year after more than five years away form the sport. We’ve been participating in local races and meeting other fitness focused people. It’s fun, and the runner’s high is real.

Running helps me to maintain a positive perspective and sense of agency. I thrive on the rhythmic pace and quiet, losing track of time as my mind wanders freely.

Exercise restores not only my energy level but also my overall hopefulness and confidence. When I run I feel the strength of my body soothe my heart and mind.

It feels great to be outdoors early in the morning, breathing fresh cool air and listening to the birdsong. I am reminded that I am a small yet significant part of the larger, beautiful world.

Growth continues throughout the lifespan, and retirement does not equate to stagnancy, inactivity and declining health. It is a new chapter, and I hope to write many more pages.

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About the Author: Jennifer Tritt enjoys writing about her minimalist lifestyle and insights about simplicity. You can find out more about her on her Facebook.