Proud of My Parents

[Marius_Ursus]

My mom and dad have been lifting for a little over a year. After they came to visit in September of '11, they started lifting on my advice because my dad had so much trouble getting in and out of my Jeep, and my mom's Parkinson's had her using a walker to get around. I'm really happy they listened to me because my dad doesn't use a walking stick anymore, and my mom only needs her walker sometimes. She's also dropped 8 dress sizes.

They listened to me about their diet, too...lots and lots of green leafies, diverse colorful fruits and vegetables, lots of fish, and grass-fed beef. Their health has improved remarkably.

I'm more than a little proud.

One thing, though...I don't know what they're talking about when they tell me about their training. They love to talk with me about it because lifting has been such a big part of my life for so many years, but there's always a breakdown in communication when Mom says, "Dad's doing really good. He's up to seven plates, and last week he could only do six."

When I tell her that I don't know what the means, she says, "On the...I don't know what the machine is called, but you sit on it, and it has handles."

LOL

G-d love 'em.

[x-trainer ben]

My mom and dad have been lifting for a little over a year. After they came to visit in September of '11, they started lifting on my advice because my dad had so much trouble getting in and out of my Jeep, and my mom's Parkinson's had her using a walker to get around. I'm really happy they listened to me because my dad doesn't use a walking stick anymore, and my mom only needs her walker sometimes. She's also dropped 8 dress sizes.

They listened to me about their diet, too...lots and lots of green leafies, diverse colorful fruits and vegetables, lots of fish, and grass-fed beef. Their health has improved remarkably.

I'm more than a little proud.

One thing, though...I don't know what they're talking about when they tell me about their training. They love to talk with me about it because lifting has been such a big part of my life for so many years, but there's always a breakdown in communication when Mom says, "Dad's doing really good. He's up to seven plates, and last week he could only do six."

When I tell her that I don't know what the means, she says, "On the...I don't know what the machine is called, but you sit on it, and it has handles."

LOL

G-d love 'em.

Great story, i love it when a plan works .....because so many family health and fitness efforts fall upon deaf ears. reps, 8 dress sizes, Dayum!

[Jtbny]

That's awesome! I'll give you my parents number so you can convince them for me

[emp1acur]

This is a really nice post to read. Great to hear how your parents made such positive changes, and kudos to you for giving them the advice to live a healthier lifestyle.

[Marius_Ursus]

Thanks, guys. I want to add not to give up. I was trying to convince them for years to start going to a gym. For some reason they finally listened.

[beachguy498]

You should be very proud of them. All anyone has to do is keep moving, so they don't seize up. I was down in Florida a few weeks ago and was apalled at the condition of the majority of seniors I saw. And some weren't much older than I am, but accepting of that slide into oblivion.

I saw people with canes, walkers, carts, you name it. I think any one of them would do better with regular exercise.

People I work with... more and more show up with canes every week. Some temporary, some are permanent. We lost a few in recent years to Lou Gehrig's disease, MS and other diseases. But the majority of people walking around like they are crippled really should be doing something about it.

Rob

[ironwill2008]

My mom and dad have been lifting for a little over a year.

[highiso]

7 plates, LOL! Awesome!

[Brad805]

Pretty cool indeed. I convinced my 75yr old mother to change up her breakfast to smoothies and is trying to cut out somethings to improve how she feels. I had to buy her the protein powder (fibbed about the cost when asked) because I knew she would never spring for a 2lb container. She walks a lot (for her age) and even goes to a seniors class once a week where they use weights. I took her to NY a few months ago and I was pretty darn impressed how well she kept up.

[Marius_Ursus]

Pretty cool indeed. I convinced my 75yr old mother to change up her breakfast to smoothies and is trying to cut out somethings to improve how she feels. I had to buy her the protein powder (fibbed about the cost when asked) because I knew she would never spring for a 2lb container. She walks a lot (for her age) and even goes to a seniors class once a week where they use weights. I took her to NY a few months ago and I was pretty darn impressed how well she kept up.

That's really cool. My folks have switched to drinking Macro Greens with whey in the mornings, and they're using coconut oil and olive oil instead of butter for almost everything now.

[thepainter5]

Congrats on getting your parents on a healthy life style change. It's good to know that you ave been a good example for them to follow.

[clive]

Great story.
I’m proud of my parents too, both in their seventies.
I don’t think I’ll ever get them weight training but they look great for their age due to years of good diet and keeping physically active.
I think they’ll outlive their similar aged friends.

[frozensparky]

That's really cool that your parents are lifting. My parents are in their sixties, mom is extremely active. She does 45 min of cardio a day, weighs all her food and lifts light weights 3 times a week. Dad is diabetic, pretty sedentary, and sneaks sweets pretty often. Hoping dad can pull it together, he has dropped some weight but I would love to see him healthier

[DocHoss]

That is fantastic - I am very happy for you and for them. Repped for persisting long enough for them to actually start going to the gym.

[tryintorebuild]

Glad to hear the success stories with parents.

I've been trying to get mine to go to the gym for several months now. Dad has always been naturally strong, but I've never seen him lift weights. I remember in high school, my friends would often comment about how his biceps looked like they were going to rip through his suit jackets at church. Mom's never been into any kind of athletics. Well, she's the biggest football fan in our family, but that's just to watch. They both do enjoy walking. Dad jogs some. And they watch their weight. I haven't given up on the gym yet, now they have a couple of friends who are working on them to go to.
Congrats on getting your parents to workout. And kudos for being the example.

[Marius_Ursus]

That's really cool that your parents are lifting. My parents are in their sixties, mom is extremely active. She does 45 min of cardio a day, weighs all her food and lifts light weights 3 times a week. Dad is diabetic, pretty sedentary, and sneaks sweets pretty often. Hoping dad can pull it together, he has dropped some weight but I would love to see him healthier

Good luck getting him under the bar. Hopefully with some steady gentle pressure from you and encouragement from your mom, you'll get him there.

Glad to hear the success stories with parents.

I've been trying to get mine to go to the gym for several months now. Dad has always been naturally strong, but I've never seen him lift weights. I remember in high school, my friends would often comment about how his biceps looked like they were going to rip through his suit jackets at church. Mom's never been into any kind of athletics. Well, she's the biggest football fan in our family, but that's just to watch. They both do enjoy walking. Dad jogs some. And they watch their weight. I haven't given up on the gym yet, now they have a couple of friends who are working on them to go to.
Congrats on getting your parents to workout. And kudos for being the example.

How does your dad respond to being a champion? If he's the naturally strong type, he might be a champion master's powerlifter.

[drudixon]

My mom and dad have been lifting for a little over a year. After they came to visit in September of '11, they started lifting on my advice because my dad had so much trouble getting in and out of my Jeep, and my mom's Parkinson's had her using a walker to get around. I'm really happy they listened to me because my dad doesn't use a walking stick anymore, and my mom only needs her walker sometimes. She's also dropped 8 dress sizes.

They listened to me about their diet, too...lots and lots of green leafies, diverse colorful fruits and vegetables, lots of fish, and grass-fed beef. Their health has improved remarkably.

I'm more than a little proud.

One thing, though...I don't know what they're talking about when they tell me about their training. They love to talk with me about it because lifting has been such a big part of my life for so many years, but there's always a breakdown in communication when Mom says, "Dad's doing really good. He's up to seven plates, and last week he could only do six."

When I tell her that I don't know what the means, she says, "On the...I don't know what the machine is called, but you sit on it, and it has handles."

LOL

G-d love 'em.

Simply amazing. You should be proud and so should they. On spread.

[69cam]

Cool story.
Still trying to get my parents to go to the gym.

[Dutchman]

Great story, even greater success! You have given them a present that they now enjoy every minute of their lives and added a bunch of minutes thereto as well. I spend every day of my life trying to encourage my fellow seniors to take the plunge and take care of themselves so I know all to well the difficulty and frustration one can face. There is no finer gift you could have given them, WOW, simply WOW! Congratulations.

[RetBodyBuilder]

Great story and congrats on the new set of parents.

[Nikonguy]

That is great to hear.

[kh971]

Awesome to hear Marius!!! My mother has her knee swelling really bad now and all the orthopedic wants to do is just give her an Advil. He won't even have her get an xray or CT scan. She was walking fine before and bam it just swelled up and started hurting her really bad overnight.