When it comes to your health and fitness………”Begin with the end in mind” ~ Stephen Covey
Hi…..I’m John Falkinder – as an Active Ageing Mentor and Coach, I’m an inspirational pied piper of health and fitness who believes we’re all over-medicated and under-trained.
During the early part of my retirement, I studied and became a personal trainer for people who want to be young again – one who understands the problems that stem from ageing. I am also an energetic, fit and healthy baby boomer who has embarked on a journey of reinvention…….both yours and mine.
I have dedicated my time in retirement to inspiring people of all ages to live fulfilling and adventurous lives. My goal these days is to spread the word far and wide about ‘active ageing’ for anyone who would like to maintain the same level of fitness I have attained at three score and ten (plus another six years).
I have discovered and proven beyond doubt that Active Ageing is the solution to Anti-Aging.
Be reminded of what Peter Fitzsimons said in his recent weight-loss blockbuster “The Great Aussie Bloke Slim-Down“……”You’ll never regret exercising; but you’ll always regret not exercising”. How true.
Associate Professor Bamini Gopinath and colleagues defined successful ageing as reaching old age disease-free and fully functional – without “disability, depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment, respiratory symptoms, and chronic diseases”. I couldn’t agree more.
And that’s why I often wonder……..who really wants to be like this: “Many people treat their bodies as if they were rented from Hertz……something they are using to get around in but nothing they genuinely care about understanding.” – Chungliang Al Huang
Since retiring from full-time work in Property Valuation and Real Estate and prior to that farming, I studied and became an empathetic senior personal fitness trainer by gaining my Certificates III & IV in Personal Training. I have the life experience and training skills, care, and understanding to help inject some real life and enjoyment into your latter years and would love you to join me on this journey.
This quote from the Harvard article by Nilofer Merchant really personifies what I am about; “My goal is to be someone who socializes the idea that physical activity matters, and that we each matter enough to take care of our health.” That really nails it for me.
As living proof, this photo of me body-surfing over a shallow reef was taken a couple of years ago, during a trip for my son’s wedding at Mick’s Place, Bingin, Indonesia and I’m still searching the beaches for those elusive waves.
Some may say after having been semi-retired for a few years it is a bit late now to be starting a new career but the reason I am reinventing myself and going down this track is twofold.
Over the years I have always been very active whether through my work or my sporting endeavours which started in the swimming pool at a young age teaching me how to handle the drudgery of full-on high-level training.
I still love to surf and hope to do so until I’m at least 80. My son Jake and I still chase waves in great locations such as the Maldives and Indonesia so the thought of teaching my grandkids some of the skills I have passed onto my own kids is a powerful motivation to keep my body in good shape.
Secondly, at my local Jett’s Gym, there are numerous members of a similar vintage. Mostly they go to try and rid themselves of a good few years of neglect which has left them in the unenviable position of not being able to enjoy their retirement as much as they had hoped.
Swinging a golf club, casting a line, or even doing a spot of gardening is now more like a chore for many baby boomers rather than something that was once looked upon as enjoyment. But, with a little bit of effort, much of this can be reversed; with a few lifestyle changes and some regular moderate exercise, you will be amazed at how you can improve your health, wellness, and independence in later life.
Chatting as we often do led me to realize there was a huge opening for fitness training for seniors from someone of their own age who understands and has experienced all the aches and pains and restricted movements we get as we clock up a few miles up on the old speedo of life.
Being able to share, and pass on to others, the benefits of my ever-growing knowledge about “active ageing and fitness for the long haul” is what has driven me down this path. If I can help just one person to have a better life in their retirement years then I am happy.
It is really all about the quality of life, which is something you treasure greatly in your latter years – all of a sudden your health is the most important part of your being; it can also be the most restricting. But fortunately, it is never too late to do something about it.
“The key to aging is not to mourn what’s lost but to celebrate what remains; to not identify with limitation but rather with possibility.” – Marc Middleton
Related: Why Strength Training is SO Important as You Start Ageing.
I know the fitness industry is generally thought of as being a younger persons domain but we baby boomers are more than interested in having a good lifestyle and enjoying the fruits of our many years of hard work. But without a good level of fitness, it is often difficult to achieve.
“What seems impossible today will one day be your warm-up.”
This is the end I have in mind – to be ‘forever young’ and to provide fitness and nutrition programs and advice for seniors as well as those who are a little (or a lot) younger and are wanting to be fit and active when they become seniors and are searching for similar goals as myself.
Starting on your fitness, as well as a nutrition program, a little earlier in life is a much better idea than leaving it until it is almost too late. Although it is never too late to start it is just a little harder once the aging process takes hold.
Having the gift and desire of being fit and healthy myself enables me to enjoy all the things I love doing – surfing, travelling, the company of my kids plus being able to actively enjoy the growth and the all-important early learning years of our grandkids.
I feel it is now time for me to share this gift and knowledge of fitness and good health I have built up over the past 50-odd years with other boomers of a similar mindset – it is not about becoming an elite athlete (especially at our age) but it is all about feeling energized and being able to enjoy life to the fullest and being able to wring as much enjoyment as possible out of every living moment.
So would you like to improve your fitness, diet, and overall well-being?
If so, then come and join the Active Ageing Movement on this exciting journey toward a new life.
Active Ageing isn’t about holding onto your youth — it is about maximizing the opportunities of ageing and maintaining your independence.
Unfortunately, Frank A. Carter hits the nail on the head when he says, “We’ve put more effort into helping folks reach old age than into helping them enjoy it.”
That’s why I found it so refreshing to read this TIME magazine article confirming that Scientists are learning exercise is, actually, medicine.
“There is no pill that comes close to what exercise can do,” says Claude Bouchard, director of the human genomics laboratory at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana. “And if there was one, it would be extremely expensive.”
And I’m here to help you enjoy the ageing process.
Cheers – John – your Active Ageing Mentor and Coach.
P.S. Just remember – “Eat less, move more and you’ll live longer and be happier.”
P.P.S. “Aging is out of your control. How you handle it though, is in your hands.” – Diane von Furstenburg