Function is the Key

But I don't sit idly by
I'm planning a big surprise
I'm gonna fight for what I wanna be
And I won't make the same mistakes ('cause I know)
Because I know how much time that wastes (and function)
Function is the key

- Waiting Room by Fugazi

Being idle irks me. It didn’t always bother me, but now it’s one of my biggest pet peeves.

Since starting my fitness lifestyle, I have more energy, strength and endurance than I’ve ever had in my entire forty years on Earth. I wake up thirsty for a physical challenge and go to bed thinking about the next day’s activities. Even when I go through a period of stasis, such as an intensive writing project or a road trip, sprinkling in a substantial amount of physical activity is a high priority (see: “Cross Country Cross Training”).

I don't need a gym, or even formal equipment to tone my body. Nature's got me covered. I can walk or run to a nearby park, find a small or medium sized stone (one that will offer some decent weighted resistance), and do a couple of squat thrusts.

Including various forms of movement and fitness throughout the day is a sound investment. It’s paid massive dividends in my current lifestyle. It’s also given me a realistic and humble perspective for the future.

As someone undergoing a significant fitness journey during my midlife, I take the following words by

Janine Agoglia

to heart:

“Your body changes as you age. You might need to warm up/cool down more than you used to. You might need to alter your goals and expectations slightly. You can still find deep fulfillment in whatever you do. It just might look a little different. Let that be okay.”

Shifting goals and expectations is par for the course. Some days I’m able to train like a twenty year old athlete, while other times my age catches up to me and I need to work at a more suitable pace. I don’t accept this as failure, because I know that I am performing at a very high level no matter what.

Most of all, I am passionate about fitness, and do it mainly for functional reasons (i.e. longevity and performing daily tasks with ease). From my perspective, I workout because I want to and think I should. This is very helpful because I’m holding myself accountable, while also enjoying the process.

It’s really important for me to sustain my practice, which means adjusting as necessary. There are indeed specific age-appropriate benchmarks to follow, but most of the time intuition is key.

When my peers ask me for fitness advice, one of the first things I tell them is “listen to your body, and acknowledge that you love the person you are now.” Being in tune with your body and respecting yourself is pivotal in order to make truly healthy improvements to your lifestyle.

We adhere to fitness routines in order to benefit our present and future selves. Numerous studies have revealed how exercise is vital for maintaining good physical and mental health as we age. Therefore it’s critical for us to adopt a reasonable plan to stay fit, but also understand that our goals and abilities will ebb and flow due to the natural course of time.

Me, bathing in the “Fountain of Youth.” Painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder.

There’s no literal fountain of youth that will instantaneously counter the process of aging. However, exercise has been linked to slowing down and even reversals of certain age related conditions. But there are no shortcuts to getting fit. You have to put in the time and energy. The hard work and commitment is worth it. Physical fitness training makes my mind feel young and my body function in a youthful manner.

With OCD I have to be careful not to go overboard. I train every single day, but I’m making a conscious effort and decision to workout because it’s what I enjoy doing. The endorphins I get from it are a form of therapy. In the event that it gets to a point where I’m responding to an irrational thought via a training session, I take a break and gather my thoughts before attempting my workout.

Exercising under mental tension and duress is bad form. I need a clear and sound mind so that I can focus on how my body is moving and feeling in the moment, and ensure that I am giving it the respect it deserves.

Function is the key.

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