On James Owen's 70th birthday, he saw a video of himself walking slowly to the podium (讲台) where he was giving a talk, his feet hardly off the ground. “I looked like an old man,” said Owen, who built a successful career on Wall Street. Even worse, he felt like an old man.
He was about 25 pounds overweight and he had chronic trouble with his back,knees,and shoulders.But instead of giving in to age,Owen decided to set an ambitious five-year goal:He wanted to be pain-free,and he decided the way to get there was through exercise-even though at the time he couldn't do a single push-up.
Owen began his new exercise plan by walking,though he started huffing and puffing after five minutes.But that didn't discourage him. He kept at the walks every day, along with some stretching.Once he had those basics down, he started weight lifting and hired a personal trainer to teach him and design a routine he could follow on his own. The last piece was finding other activities he enjoyed, which turned out to be cycling and swimming.
In less than five years,Owen was able to do three sets of 50 push-ups each and walk for miles each day. And yes, he was free of aches and pains. “Aging well is only about 20 to 25 percent genes, and the rest is lifestyle,” he says.
Owen used his experience to write a book called Just Move! A New Approach to Fitness After 50,in which he details how older adults can safely get off the couch and add more movement to their lives. “Think of it as movement, not exercise, just get started,” he says. “The key is slow and steady progress.”
Now 81 and retired, Owen exercises an hour a day, six days a week. “It is the best investment I've ever made in my life,” he says.
4. Why did Owen decide to set a five-year goal?
A.To give a talk. |
B.To build a career. |
C.To lose weight. |
D.To keep healthy. |
5. How can Owen's exercising process be described?
A.Boring and painstaking. |
B.Slow but productive. |
C.Tough and discouraging. |
D.complex but ineffective. |
6. From Owen's story, we can learn that______.
A.it's better to get started earlier |
B.lifestyle is vital for one's health |
C.genes play a key role in aging well |
D.successful careers need investment |
7. The author wrote the article to______.
A.promote Owen's new book |
B.offer ways to relieve pain |
C.encourage old people to work out |
D.present health problems of the old |