To the editor:
Do you hate to exercise? I do and most people I know say they don’t exercise because it is very boring. I agree with them to a certain extent. If one reads or listens to experts in the field, they will tell you that you should exercise every day for approximately 30 minutes and also you should do some strengthening exercises such as lifting weights. This advice becomes very threatening to someone who is thinking of starting an exercise program because of the suggested length of time one should exercise each day.
This was a problem I was confronted with when I became quite overweight and I knew that I had to lose weight in order to get my blood pressure and cholesterol back to normal. I placed myself on an aerobic program using a treadmill for three days for 20 minutes and then lifting weights (5 and 10 pounds) to strengthen my muscles and bones. To minimize feelings of boredom, a TV was placed at the head of the treadmill so I could watch the eight o’clock morning news while I ran on the treadmill. After the treadmill, I did 25 arm curls with 10 pound weights, 15 arm lifts extended to my sides with 5 pound weights, then 30 waist bends touching my toes and finally lifting the 10 pound weights over my head for 15 repetitions.
I found this program of exercise fits well in my schedule and I have lost nearly 30 pounds, bringing my blood pressure way down (110/64) and my cholesterol level is 146 (below 200 is good), and my LDL (bad cholesterol) is 78 (under 100 is good). I don’t find exercising boring, the amount of time I am on the treadmill passes quickly and my health is in excellent condition, which is very important for an elderly person.
Whether you are 20 or 90, research has proven that exercising and moving about improves your bodily functions, may build up your skeletal structure and provide extra energy in a molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
In the final analysis, by exercising, you will feel better physically and mentally, your perspective on living will be enhanced and you will be a happier person.
Ed Boyer
Billerica, Mass.
