I have been a consistent exerciser since 1971, when I discovered Dr. Kenneth Cooper’s seminal book, “Aerobics.” Not only satisfied with cardio training though, I have also incorporated yoga, bodyweight exercises, weight training and other physical activities into my personal exercise plan(s) over the years.

I said “plans” because despite a basic core I worked on, as I exercised, as life went by, circumstances changed, I learned more and as I got older, sometimes I had to change my exercise routines and methods. . .

Still, a central fact was that exercise was a part of my life. Even as I passed into my 60s and 70s, I continued to exercise regularly. My body changed and so sometimes my exercise changed, but I kept going and was rewarded with pretty good health, beyond what my genetics (my mother’s 100th birthday) provided me with.

However, time and events DO catch up with us sometimes, and a new “normal” can become the usual lifestyle without us realizing that we have made a change, perhaps in a downward direction. As we get older things often get more difficult and sometimes it is very simple to do a little less or expect a little less of ourselves.

This happened to me a few years ago. My disabled wife and I moved with our daughter into a small suite of rooms on the second floor of her house.

Ladder.

The ultimate challenge for an arthritic “senior gentleman,” as our other daughter refers to me.

Once we settled in, the stairs became my enemy, my nemesis, and eventually I stayed on top to avoid going up and down them.

As expected, not only did they become a psychological barrier, they also became a physical barrier, as it became more and more difficult to climb up and down them.

I did not like this turn of events. I, the active old man, was being turned into a recluse, trapped in my garret, overlooking a small strip of street.

I decided to exercise my mind…

On second thought, I realized that I was approaching the stairs with the wrong mindset. I was assuming that the stairs were hard to do, so I didn’t do them.

That wasn’t the person I’ve been my whole life.

Changing my mind, I decided the trick was to make the stairs easier.

How do you make something easier?

You practice.

I decided to do the stairs at least three times a day, whether I needed to climb them or not.

The first few days were difficult, I admitted. I separated the trips so that he did a series in the morning, one at noon and another in the afternoon or night.

Difficult at first, I held my ground and after a few days it became easier.

Then I expanded to four trips, five trips, and eventually six trips a day.

Then I started walking four days a week. First for 10 minutes, then for 15… and to make a long story short, I stuck to it and now walk 45 minutes a day, five days a week.

I’ve also lost 35 pounds in the last nine months, what about the stairs?

What stairs?

All because I stuck with it.

Those are the 4 words that make up MY motivational exercise mantra. My exercise program worked because “I stuck with it…”

While what you choose to do, how you do it, how often you do it, and other factors are all important, nothing works unless you stick with it.

I hope this little story helps you.