Lorrie Sullenberger

Lucy’s Ladies reach the summit! Lorrie Sullenberger ABC-7’s fitness expert recently led a group of Danville women to the North Peak on Mt Diablo in Mt Diablo State Park. The group had won a women’s outdoor adventure at a recent fundraiser where Isaac Mizrahi was the guest for the event. While I have given fitness donations before, sometimes women think it is something like getting the short straw. But not these gals! We started early one Sunday morning at Devils Elbow on Mt Diablo.

Within a few days of this writing I will turn the big 5…0… Don’t get me wrong, I don’t feel 50 and frankly don’t think I look it (with the help of a little Clairol). But, it is a weird thought. What is 50 supposed to feel and look like these days? I thought at this magic age the wisdom of the ages was supposed to be bestowed upon me somehow. Life’s questions and uncertainties about relationships and ourselves would just slip away. Apparently not! And so in honor of my birthday, I am going to write the fitness article I have been saving for this very special occasion.

I have never been one of those people who reads the obituaries. Kind of thought that was weird. But recently while reading a local newspaper I caught the age of a gentleman who had passed. His age was 62. As a matter of fact there were two gentlemen of that age listed. That’s old I thought, until it hit me, those of us 40 somethings closer now to 50 are skidding head long into our 60’s. Having had my children later in life, I will have children in college while in my 60’s. Isn’t 60 the new 40, or at least 50? I have been saying for years that my daily exercise is more about mental health than a dress size. So it is no surprise that I began to ponder this thought in depth more recently on my daily walks.

Have you noticed a trend in these monthly articles? No, not the occasional dangling participle. Active lifestyle fitness. Precious quality time bonding with your family in a relaxed unstructured way has gotten squeezed out by the hectic pace we all lead. But outdoor recreation fitness gives you the chance to get your exercise in and spend that time with the family. Just because it is fun, doesn’t mean you burn fewer calories! Quite the contrary, scientific research shows the more we reduce our overall stress the more efficiently our bodies burn calories.

So this month I thought we would explore a great way to beat the summer heat and get in some fun family fitness all at the same time. I tried my first kayaking adventure several years ago and although skeptical at first, I was won over by the great workout and the soothing rhythmic stroke of the paddles.