Fitness matters: Fitness is way of life for 85-year-old

Being active over the years has paid off for Warren "Zim" Zimmerman, age 85 years. He has always been a strong believer in fitness, and has been physically active in one way or another over the years.

Discovering his love of tennis while in college became the beginning of a sport he played until last year. Though he played the sport only in summer, he practiced his hitting skills inside against the wall in the winter.

"Tennis is the best workout in 45 minutes that I knew of!"

Calisthenics such as sit-ups and push-ups (100 or more) were also a part of his daily regimen.

Since moving to Charter House in 2004, a senior living complex associated with Mayo Clinic, Zim's workouts have changed. He has learned many things, including the value and importance of a warm-up and stretching. He also realized that calisthenics weren't giving his whole body the workout he needed.

With the implementation of Charter House's senior fitness program a few years ago, his workouts have become well rounded.

The senior fitness program includes daily classes for specific fitness levels and individual limitations, access to a gym of free weights, strength training machines, and various cardiovascular pieces. Like many others in the facility, Zim takes advantage of the Nu-step, which is similar to a recumbent bike with arms. This gives him the workout he needs to maintain his healthy weight and cardiovascular endurance.

Zim's current workout includes six days of walking 1-2 miles with his wife Helen, twice weekly fitness classes that emphasize flexibility, strength, and balance training, Nu-step and core strengthening exercises that he does on his own a few times per week.

"These exercises help me feel better, including sleeping better at night, better circulation, improved flexibility, and staying strong. I also try to eat healthy by avoiding fats, limiting desserts, drinking 8 glasses of water every day, and keep my portions small."

Fitness has not been without a few struggles for Zim. Suffering a slight stroke in 1999 didn't slow him down for long, but knee issues have forced him to give up tennis as of last year.

"Now I focus on flexibility and balance training, something I never used to do."

Though he doesn't necessarily enjoy it, he can work on these goals with others in a class setting, which makes it more interesting. Sometimes he practices his one-leg-stand while waiting for the elevator.

All of these exercises are for living real life, like having the flexibility to tie shoes, leg strength to rise out of a chair, balance to maintain steadiness and avoid falls, and are key to living an independent active lifestyle.

"The all around fitness emphasized here helps one feel so much better."

Vital stats
Warren "Zim" Zimmerman
Age: 85
Dimensions: 5 feet 5 inches tall, 145 to 148 pounds
Success: Maintaining fitness over the years, and not stopping anytime soon.

taken from postbulletin.com

Below, Warren Zimmerman maintains his fitness in the exercise room at Charter House, where he lives.