WASHINGTON  -  I’m pumping iron now. 

There’s no wrong age to exercise, but after the age of 50 it does become an important
part of a woman’s health to stay in shape.  So I am lifting weights, working out, and improving my cardiovascular fitness. 

So far this Spring, most of the exercise I had occurred when I mowed the yard, took a walk, or underwent the ordeal of helping my daughter move out of her college dorm.  Sometimes just being a parent or a homeowner is exercise enough.

The real value of getting the blood pumping on a regular basis, however, isn’t just in
accomplishing the chores of everyday life.  According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 25 percent of women don’t exercise at all, and 60 percent don’t get the exercise they need to stay healthy.  Man are particularly likely to die as a result of heart disease – and overweight men are especially at risk.  Still, only one-fifth of men who say they would like to lose weight are exercising at recommended levels.

Around our district, communities are taking the same view.  Community centers across
our district offer area residents a place to work out indoors and programs to meet their wellness needs.  But you don’t need a gym membership to lower your heart rate. 

Just 30 minutes of brisk walking each day can have great health benefits.  During the hot summer months, if my day’s exercise is walking, I will choose the evening hours to take a walk around my neighborhood.  Trails, indoor malls, the high school track, or a quiet country road are just as good as the same old neighborhood sidewalks, too.

Fitness is important to our community on a number of levels.  For starters, exercise is
preventative medicine for everything from child obesity to heart disease.  For women, the benefits of physical activity include healthy bones, muscles and joints; control of joint swelling and pain associated with arthritis, reduction in blood pressure, and building muscle while controlling weight.

Two other personal benefits I have found:  I feel good after a 30-minute workout, and I don’t get tired doing things that used to leave me a little short of breath – such as climb several flights of stairs or bring in heavy bags of groceries from the truck.

 Just a reminder – women and men over the age of 50 should consult a physician before beginning a regimen of vigorous physical activity.  You can learn more about fitness for every American at www.fitness.gov, the website of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

But there is one more benefit of regular exercise to mention – the benefit to our  American society.

Aside from added longevity, a fit population keeps their healthcare costs down. A
healthier America has fewer serious health problems, and that ounce of prevention equals a big savings to taxpayers.  As a nation, we spend billions of dollars every year on catastrophic illness.  In the House of Representatives, we also pass funding for disease research and pharmaceutical development studies.  When we do, however, I find myself thinking about the people who will benefit from these programs – I wish this was research we didn’t need.  Fitness is one of our best defenses against the health
problems waiting to plague us when we should be enjoying our senior years. 

Not to mention that, by getting healthy and staying that way, you save some hard-earned
money of your own.  You are taking out insurance on a healthy retirement.  You are doing a favor for yourself and your whole family.

 

 My colleagues and I would prefer it that way.  So next time you put on your tennis shoes
and hit the pavement, the track, or the trail and someone asks you what you’re up to – tell them you are running... for Congress.