The older men and women at my local YMCA inspire me to keep exercising as I age. I began taking group exercise classes about 9 years ago at the encouragement of a co-worker who was in her 70s. Since then I’ve become a part-time step aerobics, cycle, and core conditioning instructor at this Y. I also began running 3 years ago. I have never felt better! And I turn 56 next week. Prior to beginning a regular exercise program, I was feeling that creakiness after sitting that seems to come with age. No more! I have so much energy now: I can teach 6 classes a week at the Y, run three days, work a full-time or longer job, and still have the stamina to clean, cook, garden, visit with friends and family, and play with my 3 month old granddaughter. My SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) has not bothered me in years, even though I still live in Michigan. My blood pressure and cholesterol numbers are great, my triglycerides are 52 (that is not a typo), my resting heart rate is between 48 and 54, and health otherwise very good for my age, and I feel strong! I would encourage anyone who can to begin an exercise program at a safe level. It is worth every minute you spend!

My household watches Dr. Gupta on every chance we get. He is hard working, knowledgeable and very pleasant. We wish him and CNN all the success.

That’s not fitness. It is violence. Appalling!

Good evening Dr. Sanjay. Granny was really psyched up for the cane fighting/exercise. I wish I could say I enjoy exercising; I do not. I was told 3 years ago I needed to start a vigorous exercise program to improve blockages in my left and right main coronary arteries. I just turned 51 and my CAD was more than likely inherited. I am not overweight. My LDL cholesterol has been off the charts for years. It is even hard to bring down with medication. Miss Molly, above, is an inspiration and I do hope my triglycerides will fall from 194 to 52. Please continue to post ways in which we may exercise in order to become heart-healthy. Those of us who live alone also tend to eat on the run or skip meals, especially breakfast. Thank you for your report and I do hope to hear from you on what we can do to keep on improving our health.

Now that’s a wonderful video considering there are people preying on senior citizens – they better watch out! The man getting hit was well protected and I’m sure she got a great work out from that. My gym offers boxing where the client punches into hand pads held up by trainers. It’s a great work out!

I’m a bit of a gym rat and noticed this older lady that probably was in her 90’s working out religiously quite possibly every day (she was always in the back of the aerobics classes that I took 3 times a week). Although she couldn’t do what the class was doing, she was doing her own arm and leg exercises along with the music. She had a bad knee that she kept under wraps. She had the most amazing body – her arms, torso and legs were so toned it puts me to shame and I was in my early 30’s at that time (I haven’t seen her in 2 years so I assume she passed). I could only tell she was in her 90’s because of the texture of the skin on her face and hands. She’s a true inspiration of why I will continue exercising doing what I can until the day I die .

I’m 64, and I’ve exercised most of my life. I do it because it gives me energy, the ability to “leap tall buildings in a single bound”–seriously, the strength to keep up with my grandchildren, and also because I like doing it. That said, I don’t need or want my children or grandchildren meddling in my life, deciding what is good for me. I’ll decide.

I had a husband who thought walking to mailbox was exercise and a mother who once said, “I don’t exercise and I don’t even like people who exercise.” They were great charismatic personalities who decided that exercise wasn’t for them. They wanted to spend their lives other ways. We all need to respect the decisions others make, even when we don’t agree.

I am handicapped. I read and see so much about exercise, but I never see exercises for the handicapped. I realize there are many different kinds of handicaps, but can’t somebody pick up on this need as more of our population is aging?

[...] Omg, this is hilarious & amazing at the same time!  And Dr Sanjay Gupta explains why it’s hard, but worth it in: Getting Your Parents and Grandparents to Exercise. [...]

Dr Sanjay – i cannot emphasize enough how important this is. My mom passed away 2.5 yrs ago and my dad was sedentary and depressed. The Michigan weather was not conducive to getting him out walking or exercising. To make matters worse he broke his leg last winter and was laid up. The situation was dismal at best. My brother, sister and I all invested as much we could to get him up and excerising. Time, encouragement and by the way – a new girlfriend, have added many years to his life. any investment you make in your elders will pay off, not to mention the years of effort and love they provided to you.

Loved that video! She really went at him! LOL

On the serious side, after living as a handicapper (4 strokes and dystonia) in Brooklyn, NY, you need to know how to defend yourself and this is an excellent way to teach the elderly how to.