One of my greatest joys as a personal trainer is seeing the more mature folks (65 and older) engage in lifestyle transformation. They may not have grown up exercising and eating plant-based foods, but all of the seniors I work with understand that it’s never too late to get started.
For instance, I started a weightlifting routine with one of my clients, Alyce, who is 72 years old. She’s close to retirement and her kids have been urging her to get in shape and eat better, so she came to me. Now she’s more mindful of eating more plants and she’s working out with me twice a week. She’s made phenomenal progress in a short period of time. Alyce is proof positive that it’s never too late to get started.
That said, we owe it to the health of our families to urge older folks to transition into healthy lifestyles. The ones that I know who are doing exceptionally well in their later years all started when they were much younger. But, for many of them, as they were growing up, meat products were pushed at them. Cigarettes were not considered dangerous (although the tobacco companies knew they were). Mental health was not considered an issue. Exercise was not a priority.
The list goes on and on, but now we know better.
As the younger generation, we must be the inspiration for the seniors to get moving. I know it’s difficult because many of us have demanding lifestyles, but we must make time to put them in a position where they are less subject to physical infirmities and metabolic diseases. Keep in mind, by helping them we help ourselves. Going got the doctor and getting your meds is a reality we all must deal with, but the healing power of exercise and plant-based eating must not be underestimated.
