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I HAD A REVELATION while shoveling snow earlier this year. When I was age 40 or so, digging out after a snowstorm was always an ordeal for me, even with the aid of a snowblower. I’d need to take frequent breaks and would be wiped out for the rest of the day. Multiple body aches would appear over the next 24 hours, and full recovery might take a few days.
But in January, at age 61, digging out from two snowstorms within four days was no big deal. I didn’t even bother to fire up the snowblower for the first storm, which dropped about four inches on our area. I was a bit tired immediately after shoveling, but recovered within a few hours. The only pains I felt the next day were mild aches in my right hand and forearm, presumably from exercising lesser used muscles while handling the shovel.
After college, I joined the local YMCA and would work out occasionally. A couple of years later, I decided I wasn’t using the membership enough to justify the cost and canceled it. Through my late 20s, 30s and most of my 40s, I engaged in very little intentional exercise.
This changed in my late 40s, when my athletic son, Dan, convinced me to join the YMCA with him. My first workout there harkened back to my earlier snow removal experiences: I was sore for a week afterwards. Still, I continued to work out regularly because I was my son’s transportation to the gym. After a year, I looked back at the paltry weights and minuscule number of repetitions recorded on my initial workout card and marveled at the progress I’d made.
Dan eventually started doing his workouts at home and I canceled our memberships. I joined the gym at my place of work and used their limited set of equipment. My workouts there weren’t as intense—a significant step backward from the YMCA workouts. I typically did a few different upper-body weight exercises, and my sessions rarely lasted more than 15 minutes. I needed to record 20 visits a quarter to get reimbursed by my company for the gym fee, so I made sure I did at least that.
More than 10 years ago, I read a book titled Younger Next Year. Its key message: consistently engage in vigorous exercise to combat the inevitable effects of aging. Although not everything in the book was my cup of tea, it was an entertaining read and made me think more about the importance of changing my largely sedentary lifestyle. Reading the book should have motivated me to take action, but it didn’t. Still, I absorbed many of the book’s concepts.
My son was never shy about giving fitness feedback to me. A few years ago, his persistent message—that I was neglecting my leg muscles—sunk in. I’ve read that a person’s typical walking speed correlates with longevity—faster walkers tend to live longer. More important, it just makes sense that, if I want to stay mobile for as long as possible, I need to keep my legs in good shape.
In summer 2021, my wife Lisa and I joined a Planet Fitness gym a mile or so from our home. This has turned out to be one of our best investments. My membership only costs $10 a month, plus a modest annual fee. The facility is amply equipped, clean and well managed, with a super-friendly staff.
I regularly use 11 different weight machines. Exercises that strengthen my core and legs are emphasized equally with my upper-body workouts. Readers won’t be surprised to learn that I monitor my progress using a spreadsheet. I’ve never been as disciplined and consistent at exercising as I have been these past few years.
Lisa is even more of a gym enthusiast. She takes fitness classes and has upgraded her membership so she can enjoy more perks. The money she’s saved by avoiding chiropractic visits for her back issues easily covers the cost of both our memberships. A virtuous cycle has been created.
Why am I writing a HumbleDollar article about my exercise history? I understand more than ever that a key component of a satisfying retirement is maintaining our fitness and health. It’s a store of wealth that can’t be quantified in dollars, yet it’s essential to enjoying our golden years.
I’m inspired by my recent snow removal experience. It confirms that I can make significant improvements to my physical condition despite the advancing years. I know I have much work ahead to climb to the top of the fitness ladder. Still, it’s gratifying to know I’m no longer stuck on the lowest rung.
Ken Cutler lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and has worked as an electrical engineer in the nuclear power industry for more than 38 years. There, he has become an informal financial advisor for many of his coworkers. Ken is involved in his church, enjoys traveling and hiking with his wife Lisa, is a shortwave radio hobbyist, and has a soft spot for cats and dogs. Follow Ken on X @Nuke_Ken and check out his earlier articles.
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Great article! It reminds me of something a friend mentioned years ago: no wonder people retire – you need to spend all your time exercising.
Wonderful. Health is wealth, at least a huge part of it. Keep working out, Ken!
I’ll try your book recommendation. Maybe I’ll “level up!”
WooHOO go Ken!
We are the biggest influence on our health and longevity by our actions and you have found that out.
You can be a beacon to those in your life with all this wisdom.
You can’t make a person change, but you can plant a seed. Good going!
After decades of going to the gym and randomly using various machines I signed up for a personal trainer/nutrition coach who has a small space and no machines. It’s been a revelation. He teaches functional strength and strict form with what I once would have thought were totally inadequate weights. I’m rapidly gaining strength and functional capacity and the constant nutrition focus has also been eye opening. I always assumed I was just fine with my protein intake and was shocked to find it was at about 1/3 of what I need to be fit at age 73. If you have a functional strength/nutrition coach in your area, I’d highly recommend at least going in for an evaluation and several classes which in my case were free until I signed up.
For anyone not sure what exercises to do, I would recommend a personal trainer. I started using one at the Y in mid-2021. It was great. We agreed I’d see her once a week, then I’d squeeze in workouts on my own twice a week. I probably could have stopped using her after a few months, but I stuck with her for two years because it was fun and kept me accountable. In fact, I’d still be seeing her now if she hadn’t moved out of the country. I printed out about 10 past workouts and rotate through them now.
I started going to the gym regularly once my son was born 35 years ago. I was 30 sitting at a traffic light and my leg was too tired to keep the clutch in until the light turned green. My immediate thought was if I’m like this at 30, I’d hate to think about what my health would be like at retirement. Also the grandfather that I am named after and inherited his physique from had his first heart attack before he was fifty and didn’t live to seventy.
Luckily I had a job that allowed me to take two hour lunch breaks to go to the gym.
I always figured when I retired part of my daily routine would be to work out for an hour each day, which I have done religiously.
Since I bought a stationary bicycle when COVID hit I have ridden 4,700 miles, and last year I lifted weights 110 times at our local Planet Fitness.
Unfortunately due to my eating habits I don’t look like Adonis, but believe I am a relatively healthy overweight senior.
I’m hoping a research study that I read about years ago still applies that those who are overweight but exercise regularly live longer than those who are of healthy weight who don’t exercise.
No heart issues at 66. 🤞
This is great. I’ve never been successful with gym memberships over my adult life—typical excuses (1) not enough time (2) feeling like I’m wasting money because I’m not going and (3) not really knowing what to do when I got there and feeling silly.
We pivoted to home exercise equipment. We’ve had an elliptical for many years and in recent years have added a Peloton bike and then a rower. Being on the Peloton platform has also inspired me to take strength (core, dumbbells) and stretching classes. I also do a private Pilates session once a week in a studio and walk as much as I can, time and weather permitting.
But I feel like my regime, while it works for now, could level up. I’d enjoy the different weight machines to work on different body parts if I knew what I was doing. I’d probably also enjoy group classes for the social element.
All of this is definitely on the “after July 2025” list—or perhaps a bit earlier if I can manage it!
Great post. My wife and I started going to a local gym more after retirement and alternated workouts on our own with a personal trainer there. When the pandemic hit the personal trainer got laid off and we had her come to our home both to support her and to keep ourselves on a program. She still comes to our house, in fact she will be here in an hour!
All Medicare recipients should check their Medigap or Medicare Advantage plans to see if gym fees are covered. My YMCA fees were covered by my Medigap Plan F and then Plan G.
I started working out on weight machines back in my 40s (in the ’80s) and kept it up, except when traveling, until Covid. Now I’ve moved to a CCRC I’ve started again – I’m gradually increasing the weights – and I do think it helps. But you need some kind of cardio as well, even if it’s “just” walking. I alternate the weight machines with the treadmill, and I’ve been eyeing the elliptical…
The elliptical is great. I used to do the treadmill at a hotel gym or at the small gym associated with our former HOA. But my feet and legs don’t like the repetitive pounding on a treadmill. (I have foot issues and am seeing a podiatrist next week, but that’s another story.) So I switched to ellipticals and really love them. You get a good workout without as much wear-and-tear on your joints.
Health as a store of wealth. Love it. Keep it up!
What a great, important post, Ken. I’m a Planet Fitness guy too — my Medicare Advantage plan pays for a premium membership, so I can even use those massage chairs in the back if my back tightens up.
I’m a jock more than a fitness buff — I played soccer until I was 62 and my Achilles tore for the third time — and I don’t particularly enjoy pumping iron, but I love what it does for me. Strength and balance are two casualties of aging, and gym workouts build both. I don’t think there’s anything more important than exercise (we walk every day also) to preserve quality of life.
For me, however, there are two extra benefits. One is life affirmation. I was in the best shape of my life when stage 4 cancer hit, and even my doctors believe my fitness helped me survive. Now I celebrate each birthday by bench-pressing my weight, just to prove to myself I’m still alive.
The other benefit is… well… I’m married to a much younger woman, and we have lots of neighbors who are active-duty Navy. Those guys can really fill out a t-shirt. I try to give her something to look at right here at home.
You are a wise man, Mike…
Great post, Ken. Exercise can be had in many ways and if you’re going to stick with it, it needs to be enjoyable and fit your personality. My wife, who is much more social than me, makes lots of friends at the gym and is motivated by the group classes.
For many years I went to a gym, but finally realized that, introvert that I am, I was much happier walking a treadmill at home while enjoying Netflix, and using my Walmart dumbells 3x a week while watching the PBS NewsHour. About the time David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart do their thing on Friday, I’m ready to call it a week and have a Modelo Negra!
Andrew, “intentional exercise” is the subject (and object) here. My ‘staying active’ was just that: not enough to get real benefits. I finally got back on our weight machine and make an effort to walk miles; those 2 things have helped my body AND my head, I think.
I’ve been a member at Planet Fitness for 6 or 7 years now. Earlier this year PF teamed up with Silver Sneakers, which is a program available thru my Medicare supplement insurance that pays my membership fee, including the yearly fee.
As I always include in my posts … “A healthy person has a thousand wishes and a sick person only one” … Great to see that many on here have realized that truth … Don’t neglect some hard workouts … they have been proven to add to longevity
A very important topic Ken and you did an excellent job with it. As a long time gym member, I’ve observed a few things I thought I’d share. First, for me the hardest “set” of a workout is getting off the couch and walking through the front door of the gym. As with saving and investing, working out needs to be automatic and not something you occasionally do. Second, a common mistake I’ve seen is people trying too hard at the gym. While injury is certainly a concern if someone tries too hard, another effect of working out too hard is few people can persist going to the gym day after day if they make every gym workout a really hard one. It’s better to do a more moderate workout that you can maintain for the long term. Third (counter intuitively) I believe the biggest benefits result from regular workouts as you get older. Generally speaking, I believe the strength and fitness benefits I realize now that I’m in my 70’s are much more important (to staying fit and mobile) than those workouts back in my 30’s. Finally, while I think it’s entirely possible to get a good workout at home, I find going to the gym can also be a social activity and it helps keep me working out.
Great point about moderation. Injury prevention is of supreme importance. At our age any injury can be a major setback.
These are all great points, OITG-thanks for chiming in!
Keep going Ken keep up the good work.
i used to do all that in my sixties and first half of 70s and then I walked, but no matter what, time catches up.
Now that I’m 80 motivation has waned, but I like to think my past activities such as your has a modest lasting impact.
I just have to get out more and walk.
Dogs help…they need walking.
Dick, I’m sure you’ve built up a fitness reserve by your past activities. Now that the weather is getting nicer, take more walks in between writing HumbleDollar articles.
Good for you, Ken, for pledging in print your commitment to exercise!
Among the most satisfying parts of retirement so far, two years in, has been daily exercise. Even without gyms it’s quite possible to create a substantial and varied exercise routine. Plus, work deadlines no longer take priority.
For those who can, exercise should be a cornerstone of responsible aging. Were society as a whole more fit, health care costs would moderate.
“A cornerstone of responsible aging.” Love this!!
Thanks Jo. It’s inspiring to me to see the many seniors at my gym who are killing it on the machines.
You’re talkin’ my language Ken. Just stay safe and avoid a trip to the physical therapist.
Actually, as a retired PT, I might add that the primary job of a good physical therapist is to teach you how to move so that you don’t get injured in the first place – then to teach you how to stay fit so that you don’t have to come back again! Unfortunately, we are human and we often lose sight of our fitness goals like we lose sight of our financial goals.
Thanks Ed. Thus far in my life, I’ve never required the services of a member of your profession. My wife, on the other hand, has had many PT encounters. Y’all do some needed and important work.