In my mid-30's, I was active duty Air Force, I had to lose some weight to stay in regs. I was walking up the stairs in the base gym to the cardio machines when a co-worker suggested (loudly) that I join them lifting weights. I mumbled some excuse about being too old to start lifting weights and proceeded to spend 30 minutes on a Stair Master. I thought about it that evening though, and the next time I saw him at the gym I tried it out. After a couple weeks of getting over the initial pain and agony, I was hooked. That was almost 20 years ago.

The boost in self-confidence, the strength to do formerly difficult tasks with ease. Results are addictive. The inner feeling of physical strength. As I age, I realize that I will be the old man that the thug looking for a victim will likely pass on as a target. At 80, I expect I will still skip the elevator for the stairs. I live in a small Texas college town with plenty of outdoor, bathing suit appropriate, activities virtually year round. I like the shocked looks when I tell the kids my age.