Well, time passes. We start out very tiny and then grow to full size. All this takes place in the first 26 years or so. Then, after the age of 26, life catches up to us. Family, work etc.

Now personally, I’ve never been a very active person. I was more of the great indoors type than the great outdoors. Thus, when great outdoors skill and stamina were required, I was lacking. Let me give you an example:

When I was in high school many decades ago, Physical Education was a required course at least for one semester. So you asked yourself, how hard could it be? Well…. if you had normal outside activities, not so much but for myself, it was a problem.

At the end of the semester, we were suppose to pass tests that required a LOT of strength, for instance, climbing up a very long rope and working to the top of a peg board basically by holding on to large wooden dowels and moving them and oneself to the top. Needless to say, I had a major problem; failing PE was not an option.

Fortunately, final exam was after the two week Christmas vacation and I was determined to pass. I had received a barbell set as a gift (back in those days, people were into fitness) so I started a crash strength training program. Every day, I lifted to build my strength enough to pass the test.

It worked! I was able to get strong enough to pass the course in those two weeks. I didn’t make an A but I passed. And I learned that I actually enjoyed the weight lifting.

So throughout high school and college, I did weight lifting. I really didn’t approach it as a bodybuilding program but I did get pretty strong.

Then college was over and the daily grind set in. Thus, my weight lifting fell by the wayside. Now, I had built up enough muscle where it was 15 years or so before I needed to get serious again. This time, I hit the gym with all it’s special equipment and built up some pretty good muscles.

But again the daily grind finally ground me to a halt with my exercise program. So, 20 years passed and one day, I noticed I was losing my strength AND muscle mass. I had been too sedentary for too long. Getting weaker was the last proverbial straw.

So, as my New Year’s Resolution for 2018, I decided to go on the Stillman Protein diet AND exercise.

I dragged out my barbells and plates. It was rather distressing because weights that had been easy were now tough. I was worse off than I’d ever been in the strength department.

So, I started slow and very, very light. At 65 years of age, I wondered how far I was going to get.

I designed a program that I split into legs, shoulders and arms. I used a light enough weight to get the muscles use to working properly and keep a good form.

I cannot say how gratified it was to see that my muscles were again growing!

Having lifted earlier in my life, I knew how to do a program and how to pace myself. I started slow and light. Now, about 3 months later, I’ve added more exercises and more weight to the lifts. Needless to say, I have a ways to go but already I see major improvements.

For instance, I was having problems with being stiff all the time. That has pretty much gone away. It is easier to get up and down out of chairs and of course, to pick things up. Problems I was having with my back have been greatly reduced. I anticipate, as I continue the weight lifting program, to see major progress.

In body building, there is a saying: Use it or Lose it! It never occurred to me that without some weight lifting, the loss would be just simply everyday actions such as trouble getting up and down or back pain. Or being stiff all the time.

I can tell you, it is never too late to start. If you have never lifted weights, seek some expert help to design a program for you. The local gym or spa have people you can consult. If you can, get a workout partner. When you are lifting with a friend, you tend to work harder which is better for you.

Be sure to take whatever supplements your expert recommends. They do make a difference.

If you have too much fat, like I did, consider the Stillman diet along with your weight program. You will see results quickly in both categories.

The choice is yours. Be a weak, shriveled up person who wastes away or a strong person who can walk up stairs, get up and down easily and carry the grocery bag without assistance.

For me? I’m not going to waste away. I will continue my weight lifting program. That few hours a week is time well spent.