At 72, He Became a Personal Trainer to Help Other Seniors Stay Fit

Ted Hart spent his career in information technology, retiring from IBM in 2006. But once he and his wife Bobbi moved to a senior adult community in Frisco, he realized he wasn't finished working. How could this longtime sports and fitness enthusiast turn a blind eye to reports that 80 percent of senior citizens don't adhere to a regular fitness program? And that many chronic diseases they have were preventable through staying fit?"I thought that maybe I could make a difference, and through Bobbi's encouragement, I acquired a certification in personal training," says Hart, who is 75 and has competed in Texas Senior Games. He's now a staff member of the fitness facility where he lives, and has been working as a personal trainer with residents for three years.Typical week of workouts:I awake at 5:11 a.m. every weekday and do vigorous intensive sessions that start at 6 a.m. and last 25 to 30 minutes. I use either a stationary bike or an elliptical trainer. After dinner three days a week, I do resistance exercises in which I exercise all major muscle groups.Throughout the day I intersperse my home duties with stretching, balance and more strengthening. For example, a "hand gripper" is usually at my side to strengthen my grip for those many activities of daily living that require a strong grip, like opening those tightly sealed jars. If I had just 20 minutes to work out, I would:The two most important elements of fitness for seniors are cardio and core strength. So, I would spend two minutes to warm up, eight on core exercises, eight more with vigorous cardio and finish with two minutes of stretching.   Continue reading...