If you do an internet search on strength and mobility for aging, you will get many recommendations for exercises, and explanations about the importance of maintaining muscle mass or preventing falls, get up off the floor or reach objects that are stored up high.
Then there are all the social media “influencers” pushing “seniors” (often defined as people in their 40s and 50s) to lift heavy. They rarely define what they mean by heavy.
Personally, I just want to be fit enough to keep up with my grandson. I have had the pleasure of babysitting him for extended periods twice in the last month.
He weighs about 35 lb (14 kg). It’s not super heavy, but it is a wiggly, unstable weight to lift, carry upstairs or in and out of the tub, onto the change table, or just up onto my lap for a big hug and a story.
Then there are the aerobics: chasing after him in the playground, pushing him on the swings, climbing play structures.
Plus I have to work on mobility to get down on the floor to play cars and clean up all the messes- and be able to stand up quickly when he dashes away.
And walking! So much walking and pushing the stroller! I don’t even know what kind of fitness goes into wrestling a child-filled stroller on and off the bus without stumbling, but I felt like I used almost every muscle in my body (kneeling buses are great).
I can’t wait to go back to Toronto and be that tired again.
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