FITNESS WAKE UP CALL FOR SENIORS

HELLO AND WELCOME EVERYONE! This is an urgent call applicable to anyone over age 50. Start your healthy lifestyle today! I began my fitness journey 10 years ago at age 60. First walking, then running, then formulating an exercise program. My new lifestyle included a healthy food plan along with exercising. Yes, I was out of shape...not even close to where I wanted to be. I postponed THE BEGINNING several times before I got mad at myself for procrastinating. I wanted to start getting fit, but kept holding back. There is an old saying, "if I am comfortable, I do not move." Two keys to my getting started...1) give up my "comfort zone." 2) my mental state had to change. So to begin, I had to replace my inactive way of life with a goal, ACTIVITY GOAL. Physical activity is driven by our mental state of mind. If we want to achieve something worthwhile in life, we have to give up something...have a goal in mind and then visualize ourselves as already being there. We begin to act and behave as though we were already there. For me the journey began. And the journey is never ending. Every exercise gives me a feeling of accomplishment...a feeling I do not want to let go. "To get there, start here...begin now."

Have a great and meaningfull life everyone! Jimmy O
Reference: http://www.secondwindfitnessfilm.com/

FIGHT VS CANCER MOTIVATES SENIOR OLYMPIAN

HELLO AND WELCOME EVERYONE! For those of you who are new to my blog...a few thoughts to bring you up to date. I workout 6 days a week...approximately 90 minutes of high impact each. My training is more intense than a competitive event. I compete in track and field (5 events), tennis, racquetball and martial arts and play on a local softball team. As a survivor of prostate cancer, I dedicated my training for the Senior Olympics to cancer victims and survivors. That was and will continue to be my incentive.
THIS WEEK'S WORKOUT consists of 11 drills with emphasis on 1) fast twitch, 2) explosion, 3) speed burst. The three are consistant with every workout 3 days a week. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Monday and Friday on the track and Wednesday up hill. Every exercise I do on the track, I do up hill. I call it bunker hill. 30 yards long with a 10 yard rise from the foot of the hill to the top. Bunker hill helps me develope the power I need in sprinting. These are the drills: plyometrics, running up stairs(50 steps), speed bursts, 50% speed for 10m, then full speed for 40m. Ladder, lateral jumps, kangaroo jumps (10 yards), ball toss (toss the ball back over my head, turn and sprint to the ball and catch it on the first bounce.Squat jump( holding soccer ball in my hands, squat, bend knees and touch ball to the ground and jump and stretch arms overhead). Sprinting forward and backward, 10 yards each way, 10x. Barefoot grass sprinting, (50m). This helps your feet and for explosive sprinting.
Developing "start quickness" I sprint up a 10 yard incline of 3 feet and then another 10 yards. This exercise forces me to develope proper form in my starts.
SPECIAL NOTE: In order to develope "fast twitch muscle fiber" your feet cannot land and "stay" on the ground. As soon as your foot hits the ground , UP. It's POP, POP, POP. 5 REPITITIONS to each set. Bunker Hill helps develope power in my sprinting. On Tuesday and Thursday I do yoga and pilates and hit the weight room. Saturday is a mix of the drills for the week. That's it for this week.

Have a great and meaningfull life everyone! Jimmy O
Reference: http://www.secondwindfitnessfilm.com/

SENIOR FITNESS FEVER -CATCH IT!!!

HELLO AND WELCOME EVERYONE! WOW! It's great to be alive, fit and healthy. Today I will cover two subjects: 1) Senior Olympics (from a different perspective) 2) breaking down my workouts, (part 1)
1) Senior Olympic perspective. All Olympic competitors have their sights set on winning. I know I did. That has to be the mind set of any competitor. By now most of you know I dedicated the '08 Senior Olympics to cancer victims and survivors. I am a prostate cancer survivor. I believe that many of us have something that drives us besides being on the medal stand. For me, it was fighting for all of us against cancer. For me the Senior Olympics means more than appearing on the medal stand. I hope some day I can wear a medal that reads "cancer is dead." This year I am adding other worthy causes...the fight for the lonely (fight against depression), the homeless and the abused. So, whoever you are, fight for another day. Never, ever give up on yourself.
2) breaking down my workouts. Each month I draw up my game plan. I write down the exercises and drills I will emphasize for the month. Then I will highlight 3 drills I want to work on for each week. I may have 25-30 drills for the month. In addition, I have basic or anchor drills that I MUST DO in every workout through out the year.
Next week...breaking down this month and this week with the exact drills.

HAVE A GREAT LIFE EVERYONE! JIMMY O
Reference: http://www.secondwindfitnessfilm.com/

SENIOR GOLD RUSH

HELLO AND WELCOME EVERYONE! Believe it! Seniors age 50 and over are rushing into the "world of fitness." But it does not stop there...more and more Seniors are entering the sports world and competing in their favorite events. This past week I received more calls than ever from not only Seniors, but from high school coaches. Seniors wanting to work out with me and coaches wanting me to speak to their teams. Excitement? YES! Rewarding? ABSOLUTELY!

I now feel there is a need to fill a void in sport specific training for Seniors....a challenge that I am going to address immediately. Also, I will organize and implement a speed training camp for young men and women as well as Seniors. This will be a great undertaking...one that I welcome, "training on wheels." Progress reports will show up on my blog.

Have a great life everyone! Jimmy O
Reference: http://www.secondwindfitnessfilm.com/

SENIOR FITNESS NEWS

HELLO AND WELCOME EVERYONE! The world of fitness, sports, training, workout and healthy life style is often times intimidating and confusing to most...particularly for the beginner. Also, as we age we tend to back off when tempted to try something new. I encourage everyone to try something different or new. Starting with the SENIOR OLYMPICS, SENIOR GAMES and THE MASTERS. These organizations sponsor games and events for everyone. There are more organizations, but start with the three mentioned. Go online and check out the events for your state. By attending or participating in some of these events you will meet others with the same interests and gain an inner confidence. Don't let another day go by without fully exploring the world of sports. One of the fastest growing sports is Pickleball. CHECK IT OUT!

A final thought regarding exercises. All exercises should be done with a specific purpose in mind, including warm up and cool down. A healthy life style does not cost...it pays.

HAVE A GREAT LIFE EVERYONE! JIMMY O
REFERENCE: www.secondwindfitnessfilm.com

SENIOR SPRINT FOR GOLD

HELLO AND WELCOME EVERYONE! WOW, what a week! The olympics in Beijing, China and the Senior Olympics. I dedicated the '08 Senior Olympics to all cancer victims and survivors. I am a survivor of prostate cancer. The results...I won the gold in the 100m and the 200m. Silver in the LJ and bronze in the HJ. I have been bothered by a hamstring problem in my left leg for the past 10 months. My legs came through in flying colors. The tendenitis in my right arm forced me out of tennis and racquetball. I could not grip the racquet. All in all I was happy with my performance and results. I met some great people and all were great competitors. I am so impressed with the athletic ability of seniors. Many are in pain daily and yet they fight through the pain. Society should honor seniors for the effort put forth. It is so rewarding to see people in their 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's competing.

So what's next...for me, training for next year....6 days a week. I qualified for the nationals to be held in June '09 in San Fancisco, CA. Also, I will be speaking to various groups on health and fitness and conducting clinics for athletes and competitors of all ages. To schedule an appearance, email me at sprint444@hotmail.com.

Have a great life everyone...Jimmy O
Reference:www.secondwindfitnessfilm.com

SENIOR HEALTH DECISIONS

HELLO AND WELCOME EVERYONE! One's life takes many detours with lots of ups and downs and at times "upside down." We worry about things we can't control. Stress takes over our mind, body and spirit. Self induced paralysis takes over. Stress causes so many other mental and physical ailments in our lives. DECISION TIME! Reach deep inside yourself...change your thinking...one thing at a time; one day at a time. Exercise your mind and your body. Either YOU take control or you allow outside forces to control you. Write down your goals and visualize yourself reaching your goals. Every day you move closer to who and what you want to be. Get up and begin your recovery now. It is a matter of life and health. Make your 911 call to your inner self....now.

HAVE A GREAT LIFE EVERYONE! JIMMY O
Reference: www.secondwindfitnessfilm.com