By Max Greenberg
E-mail Max Greenberg
About this blog: I developed a special interest in helping seniors with their challenges and transitions when my dad had a stroke and I helped him through all the various stages of downsizing, packing, moving and finding an assisted living communi...
(More)About this blog: I developed a special interest in helping seniors with their challenges and transitions when my dad had a stroke and I helped him through all the various stages of downsizing, packing, moving and finding an assisted living community. I live in Palo Alto with my wife and we have three grown children, one still in college. I have been in the Bay Area since 1977 (except for seven years in Newton MA — just missed all that snow too much.) I've worked in sales and marketing in retirement communities for seven years, and have hired and managed home care workers for family members, and have a pretty good idea of how aging in place, or shopping for and selecting the right retirement community works. I now run my own business, Palo Alto Senior Living, providing real estate and senior transition services. This blog is designed to share my experiences, insight and knowledge with seniors and their baby boomer kids and provide useful information to help develop a roadmap for smooth transitions or aging in place. I welcome readers to share their experiences, both good and not-so-good, in the hope that we all can benefit from each other.
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Over at the Ross Rd YMCA this Monday 12/23 morning and I noticed that there were a lot less folks working out. School's out, so maybe that's the reason. But no, even when school's in, there aren't many kids who work out at 7-8am on weekday mornings. Could be that people are taking some days off of work before or after Christmas and heading out of town. That might account for some of the reduction of folks at the Y. But it brings to mind that it's really easy to skip a workout session, workout day(s) because we are so busy with the holidays. And then there's always the New Year's resolution about how we are really going to do it this year, really going to lose weight and be regulars at the gym. So why not take a few days off between Christmas and New Year's and get off to a fresh start.
Well, Y's and gyms love those New Year's resolutions. They always see a big bump up of people joining up. I would suspect trendy workout clothing boutiques get a surge of new customers too.
How about something different this year? Make the changes, or continue with the great changes you've already made, today, Dec 23, or tomorrow Dec 24, or whatever day you happen to read this post. Even Christmas day. Don't wait for Jan 1st and another New Year's resolution that'll peeter out in a couple of weeks. During the holidays is the best time to give yourself a gift of healthy living, and to unwrap that gift early, and start using it now. Everyone around you will benefit from a healthier you.
BTW - you don't need to go to the Y or a gym to work out. There are plenty of exercises you can do with minimal equipment (ie. medicine ball, exercise ball, dumbells) or no equipment at all. Walking is one of them, but if you are pressed for time, you can replace a half hour of walking with about 10 minutes of exercises that will also increase your strength and flexibility unlike walking will. Search on youtube.com for easy to follow videos for all levels you can follow in your pajamas (if you prefer.)
Not to be a complete killjoy, but the holidays are a great time to watch what you eat. It's so easy to put on 5-10 lbs between Christmas and New Years, especially when you add in all those Christmas parties, and the cake and candy that mysteriously shows up around this time. Beware the popcorn variety tin that's so easy to binge on.
Have a healthy and happy holidays. Why not?
