2010
Sam Armstrong
I’m 56. My wife and I will have been married 30 years this June. I have two grown children. I originally came to One On One to get in shape to return to playing hockey. I had not played for five years and the league I was joining was full of players in their 30s and 40s. I figured I’d need some specialized help to get into the condition needed to successfully compete.
I come to One On One three times a week. I supplement at home with various exercises to keep my knees healthy and to help with my flexibility. Over the years, my views on fitness have changed. Initially, it was simply a matter of conditioning. Now I view it more in the context of the long-term, and maintaining my energy, strength, and good health as I age.
I have an advantage in that I own my own business. More important, though, I’ve made it a priority. I build my work schedule around my exercise regimen, rather than the other way around. Fitness matters to me. It makes me feel physically better. It makes me better at the sports I continue to play. I enjoy the challenge and the work involved. And I know that it is helping me stave off some of the less pleasant aspects of getting older.
I go back to some of my original motivations. It has helped me not only to keep competing at the sports I play but also to improve and even excel.
That’s pretty gratifying.
My biggest challenge has been a sometimes hectic travel schedule and injuries incurred outside of my fitness regimen. My family and friends have been encouraging.
I prefer to rely on what I believe is a common sense approach to eating. I eat three meals a day, avoid second helpings, don’t snack between meals, except for fruit, and only rarely eat junk food or sweets. My meals are the basics: meat/fish, a starch (pasta/potatoes) and lots of vegetables. My weaknesses are martinis and wine but I limit my intake to Friday and Saturday dinner hours. I don’t fall off track very often. I am a creature of habit and my exercise/eating regimen is now a firm part of my daily routine. When I’m away someplace where circumstances don’t allow for that routine or I have a knee problem, for example, and have to vary or cut back my exercises, I’m not a very happy camper.
I’m pretty happy where I am now, but I’m always trying to get stronger, increase my endurance, etc. My trainer Jay and I are always working to get to heavier weights, more pull-ups, tougher circuits and just generally push past my current limits.
I think I’m fortunate in that I’ve always enjoyed sports, physical activity and testing my physical limits. But, obviously, we aren’t all alike and some people don’t get that kind of easy gratification from a fitness regimen. For someone struggling, I would first mention the benefits, everything from just feeling so much better and having energy and jump to an improved appearance and, most important, good health. And I would say that, ultimately, to get to all of these things, why not just decide to make fitness a priority, a priority right up there with your family, your work, your volunteer activities. And I would add that it’s not a selfish pursuit; your family, your colleagues, your friends all benefit when you feel fit, energetic, healthy, and happy about yourself.
