Ti
ik
Whether they are recapturing their
youthful physiques or battling late-
onset diseases, people in their 50s
are returning to the gym in force.
ody aches, sore
muscles, shortness
of breath and a
body that resembles
the Michelin Man.
Not a pretty pic-
ture, but it's an im-
age that more men
and women in their
50s are reshaping.
And while some
seek cures for stiff
backs and other
health ailments re-
lated to a middle-
aged body, there is
no question that
more people are re-
turning to the gym than in gen-
erations past.
Adam Schlecter, fitness direc-
tor at CMI Health and Tennis
Club in Southfield, said a major-
ity of people for whom he devel-
ops training programs have one
goal in mind.
"The major trend of middle-
aged people is to look or recap-
Mr. Schlecter said most peo-
ple's outlook on life, self-image
and physical well-being improve
after one or two months on a fit-
ness program that includes car-
diovascular, weight and flexibility
training, and a nutritional diet.
Rachel Galazan is a 55-year-
old West Bloomfield resident
who has been on an active fit-
ness program for three years.
She agrees with Mr. Schlecter
that a regular workout improves
a person's mental and physical
well-being.
"I have more muscle tone and
I don't feel as flimsy or get as
tired as quickly as I used to. I feel
good after my exercise," she said.
Ms. Galazan, who is a mem-
ber of the Jewish Community
Center's health club, works out
twice a week. Her routine in-
cludes a weight class for one
hour, a one- or two-mile walk on
a treadmill, 10 minutes on a row-
ing machine or 15 minutes on a
stationary bike. She also takes
ture their body's physique from
when they were either in high
school or college," said Mr.
Schlecter, the 1995 USA Body
Building champion. "People tell
me they're tired of not being able
part in a weekly stretch and tone
class the Center offers.
"This whole routine began
when I was diagnosed with high
cholesterol. I decided I didn't
want to be old but wanted to keep
up with the younger generation,"
said Ms. Galazan, whose doctor
recommended the exercise.
"Thanks to the exercise, I don't
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Ron Goldberg, who recently won Masters Mr.
Michigan, works out at CMI Health and Tennis Club
in Southfield. Others in their fourth or fifth decade of
life also trudge to the gym in an effort to recapture
youth or battle late-onset diseases.
to see their toes over their guts,
or they're tired of their bodies
hurting every day when they get
up."
,
.
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have to take medication for my
cholesterol."
Lee Weiss, a 53-year-old reg-
istered nurse from West Bloom-
field, often works out with Ms.
Galazan. She doesn't maintain
the same routine as her friend,
but she does feel that her regu-
lar walking schedule and im-
proved conditioning have helped
her combat the effects of diabetes.
`Tye been a regular walker for
years, but I now use the ma-
chines, take yoga and lift
weights," said Ms. Weiss, adding
that she maintains a diet low in
sugar. "I've lost 20 pounds in
three years, and I don't feel as
tired as I once did."
"Exercise would not have pre-
vented me from having diabetes,
but it may have delayed the dia-
betes if I had started to exercise
sooner," Ms. Weiss said.
West Bloomfield resident Mag-
gie Feldman, a 55-year-old re-
cently retired kindergarten
teacher, decided to begin an ex-
ercise program now that she has
more time. Unlike the others, Ms.
Feldman, who will begin her ex-
ercise regimen at CMI, doesn't
have any health issues prompt-
ing her to get fit.
"I used to play golf and tennis
in the summer. I walk at least
three or four miles every day, but
I decided I needed something
more because I plan on being
around for another 40 years," Ms.
Feldman said.
Whatever the reason, more
people in their 50s are finding
time in their schedules to come
to the gym and work out. Yet
Mr. Schlecter warns that every
fitness program isn't for every-
body.
Before Mr. Schlecter puts to-
gether a fitness program, he looks
at an individual's body strength,
percentage of body fat, blood pres-
sure, heart rate and flexibility.
He also asks people to tabulate
during a week what and when
they are eating.
The information from this pro-
file allows Mr. Schlecter to put
together a nutrition guide and
develop a fitness training pro-
gram that will meet and build
upon the existing cardiovascular
fitness and flexibility of the inch-
vidual.
Larry Coe, 53, of Franklin did
just that. He approached a per-
sonal trainer at the Jewish Com-
munity Center to develop a
regimen that built upon his ex-
isting routine.
"I wanted to work with a train-
er because I began to feel slug-
gish and I wanted to build more
body strength. I was also having
some nerve problems with my
back and shoulders. My trainer
put together a weight-lifting pro-
gram that has improved my mo-
FIT page 64