Beech Tree News Network

After the age of 30, scientists say that we lose approximately 3 to 8% muscle mass per decade. When making exercise recommendations, health professionals usually consider a person’s age. Yet, we shouldn’t make excuses for not exercising, and it’s never too late to start.

In the last couple of months, my daughters and I haven’t exercised much. We’ve let life get in our way. We’ve been talking about how to add action to our routines. Thinking along those lines, I asked friends and family, “How do you schedule your exercise? What exercise(s) do you prefer?” Their responses are listed below:

-I like to exercise alone, and it’s normally when I have a lot of energy that needs to be released. Maybe after a long day of school.

-I’m sorry. I don’t schedule my exercise. I just mow, weed eat, and garden.

-I walk every day to take the dog out - usually 1.5 miles plus and according to the weather. Sometimes we walk in the morning, but mostly in the afternoon.

-Exercise is hard to schedule with family duties, but I walk outside when the weather is nice and try to do yoga a couple times a week. I see what’s on the agenda for the day and then decide from there. Summer means swimming, but that’s done for the year, so I look to the other activities.

-Unfortunately, I do not schedule my exercise, and therefore, I don’t exercise as regularly as I once did. When I did schedule my exercise, I walked outside in the early morning or in the late afternoon. I prefer to walk outside for my exercise program.

-Lord, I wish I could. I don’t have time.

-I walk mostly. I also do yard work. I adjust it around how active my day is and how hot the weather is.

-I enjoy walking for exercise. It doesn’t feel like exercise in the moment.

-I don’t do a good job of exercising in general, so I obviously don’t do a good job scheduling it.

-I haven’t exercised in about three years. I know that’s embarrassing, but with school it went to the wayside.

-Unfortunately, I do not have a schedule for exercise, but I desperately need to start one and make it a priority.

-I am in physical therapy at Vanderbilt. I do their exercises, and I walk and swim a tad.

-I walk three miles daily, but sometimes I have to miss my exercise.

-Chasing and arguing with the twins is my exercise.

-Walking my dog twice a day for 20 to 30 minutes is all I’ve got.

-In the spring and fall, I get up early to walk before work. I also like to run-walk with my mom and sisters after work when we can. In the winter though, I try to exercise at home at night. It’s not as much fun, so it doesn’t happen as often!

Jim Rohn said, “Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” And I’ve read that the best time to start exercising was yesterday – the second-best time is today. That’s true.