Your Daily Routine Adds Up I’m Barrie. I’m 87 and I warmly welcome you to my monthly blog Over50andfit.ca My blog is adapted from an article by Camille DePutter, who presents a novel and creative perspective on exercise. Aversion to exercise If you have an aversion to exercise, your fitness memories may include being chosen last for your softball team. You may hold an image of clammy bodies gyrating to blasting music in a gym. You might recall being body-shamed at school. You might be turned off by the fitness culture. If so, you would naturally not wish to exercise. Then stop trying to exerc ..read more

Infusing Your Life with Passion and Purpose I’m Barrie, I’m 87 and I warmly welcome you to my monthly blog Over50andfit.ca Ikigai (eeki-guy) is a captivating Japanese philosophy that encapsulates the profound essence of a purposeful life. Derived from the fusion of “iki”, meaning life, and “gai”, signifying value or worth, ikigai offers a timeless guide to living a life of purpose, meaning and fulfillment. You can find your ikigai by asking: what drives you, brings you fulfillment, excites you, and fills you with passion. Finding your ikigai involves introspection, self-discovery, and sometim ..read more

The Crucial Importance of Balance Photographs by rejuvfitness.ca I’m Barrie, I’m 87 and I warmly welcome you to my monthly blog Over50andfit.ca Balance becomes a crucial component as we grow older. Falling is one of the most serious medical problems. The muscles we use to stand tall weaken ever so gradually after we hit 30 (yes, only 30). Alas, improving balance is often just an afterthought for many seniors. Though it may not cross our mind, we require good balance for most movements. My purpose is to affirm the crucial importance of balance as we age, and to present a selection of exercises ..read more

But Not while Reading My Blog!  Who’s Counting Sheep? Question:  Apart from health and money, what do we most crave? The answer could well be: SLEEP. It is generally accepted that a healthy adult requires on average 7-9 hours of sleep each night. My purpose is to explore the requirements for sleeping soundly, and to emphasize the compelling need of sleep. A good night’s sleep can be characterized as when you fall asleep quite easily, do not fully wake up during the night, do not wake up too early, and feel refreshed in the morning. Trouble Sleeping? Do you have trouble sleeping, wak ..read more

Immense Benefits of Pilates I’m Barrie, I’m 87 and I warmly welcome you to my monthly blog Over50andfit.ca Question: When was Pilates introduced in North America? Answer: In 1926 by the charismatic Joseph Pilates (1880-1967) for the purpose of rehabilitating soldiers returning from war. His body was so remarkably well-proportioned at the age of 14 that it was illustrated on anatomy charts. My purpose is to document one of the most popular exercise modalities, and also to attest to its compelling benefits. It might just become your favourite workout. Pilates is a system of low-impact controlle ..read more

Your Smartphone can be a Pain in the Neck! Hello, I’m Barrie, I’m 86 and I warmly welcome you to my monthly blog Over50andfit.ca Question: When was the first cell phone invented? Answer: In 1984 by Motorola, and it weighed more than one kilogram. No one could have predicted the exponential growth of its technology, nor its world-wide popularity. It’s estimated that 90% of the world’s population is now within reach of a communication network. Also, no one could have foreseen the damaging health risks that “text neck” poses. Our parents used to remind us to sit up straight and not slouch. Such ..read more

Anatomy of an Octogenarian’s Chronic Pain I’m Barrie, and I warmly welcome you to my monthly blog Over50andfit.ca Question: Are there methods of managing chronic physical pain without taking medication? Answer: Unequivocally yes. In February 2020, I was taking my daily 10 km walk when a car reversed from a side path, knocked me unconscious, breaking 12 bones. A compressed vertebra has generated chronic back pain. My purpose is to document some of the myriad of methods available for managing pain with the most comfort possible. As my title – an ancient Buddhist proverb – claims: Suffering is O ..read more

Taking Care of Your Mental Health I’m Barrie, and I warmly welcome you to my monthly blog Over50andfit.ca Question: In addition to physical fitness, what are we seniors most concerned about? Answer: In all probability, it’s cognitive fitness. Just as you may not run as fast or jump as high as you did as a teenager, your brain’s cognitive power – that is, your ability to learn, remember, and solve problems – also slows down with age. Mainly, seniors notice that over time they gradually become more forgetful, can lose their train of thought, take longer to think of words, have difficu ..read more

One piece of equipment will give you strength, cardio and mobility I’m Barrie, and I warmly welcome you to my monthly blog Over50andfit.ca. I have a question for you: Where did the kettlebell originate? Answer: it is thought to be of Russian origin, yet there is some evidence to suggest that it was used as far back as the Olympic games in 776 B.C. My purpose is to introduce this versatile and unique piece of equipment to those who have never used it, and to affirm its innumerable benefits. Let’s assume you have a good foundation of physical fitness. You can check your level of fitness at this ..read more

A Love/Ate Relationship! I’m Barrie, and I warmly welcome you to my monthly blog: Over50andfit I have a question for you: When was Canada’s first food guide introduced to the public. Answer: in 1942. To acknowledge wartime food-rationing, while endeavouring to prevent nutritional deficiencies and to improve the health of Canadians. My purpose is to encourage eating a balanced diet as an essential part of maintaining good health, and to allude to the compelling evidence which suggests that your diet may affect your mental health and well-being. New Canadian Food Guide If you want to read about ..read more