Hey folks. Well, it looks like my aging parents have decided to sign up for a membership at a local gym, and hence have consulted me on weight training. However, despite their inquiry honest inquiry, they refuse to listen to my suggestions.
My mother hasn’t done any real physical activity in the last twenty years. I want to get her started on a weight training program, but she refuses to even consider free weight training. I showed her ample documentation concerning the negative effects machines have on muscle development and coordination, and also the benefits of free weights. She refuses to listen to me. I think the problem lies in that she sees weight training as “unfeminine.” Any recommendations?
get her another female training partner of a similar age, if she could do it with another older woman than she will. Her problem lies in not wanting to do it alone, think of females going to the bathroom in flocks… I think this is a similar issue.
My only other idea would be to go with her and do the weights with her to show her what to do. I’ve had to do that with my mom, - she refused to because she didn’t know how and didn’t want to look foolish doing the exercises incorrectly.
The older we get, the more stubborn we tend to get…As much as you want to encourage her on freeweights, at least she’s lifting…Thats more than most americans.
My dad is almost 60 and after a knee replacement, he’s hitting the gym for the 1st time in his life (the original couch potato). I’m just glad he’s trying…if he keeps at it, I’ll try to encourage him to the next level with freeweights.
[quote]zdrax wrote:
Hey folks. Well, it looks like my aging parents have decided to sign up for a membership at a local gym, and hence have consulted me on weight training. However, despite their inquiry honest inquiry, they refuse to listen to my suggestions.
My mother hasn’t done any real physical activity in the last twenty years. I want to get her started on a weight training program, but she refuses to even consider free weight training. I showed her ample documentation concerning the negative effects machines have on muscle development and coordination, and also the benefits of free weights. She refuses to listen to me. I think the problem lies in that she sees weight training as “unfeminine.” Any recommendations?[/quote]
I don’t think machine, circuit-training is a bad way to start. At least it’ll get her in the gym. It’s better than nothing. My girlfriend ususally does Pilates and this stiptease workout (hot!), but she decided she wanted to do some weight work before spring break. She wasn’t comfortable with the free weights either. So I took her through some full-body circuit training. She’s always lean and toned, but in a few weeks she seemed to put on a small amount of mass. Even though they lack the benefits of training stabilizing muscles like free weights and many of the other advantages, machines will still add lean body mass and improve bone density and overall health. I think this is particulary true for older people.
At least it’s a start. I don’t know if they have them in your area, but U.P.M.C. (Home of the Guts article lady) has opened up some health/ fitness/performance places around the Burg, with a very high level of educated people working there.
A concern she may have could be bone related issues that arise in older women. You may not find that level of consideration at your standard franchise gym or fitness place. So what kind of place is it that they are working out at?
I’m 56 and have just short of three years with lifting. I’m always telling guys my age, that it is easy to get back into weights. For a man,get two 25# dumbbells and do farmer’s walks, waiter’s walks, and suitcase carrys. Do them in a relay and when it seems easy, increase the weight. After a few weeks, add dips and chins. After a few months, add deadlifts and presses. They will want to keep going on their own. Keep it simple stupid, and the results are huge.