People join gyms with the best of intentions to improve their health. I have (many times). But what I had hoped would be a lasting commitment to workout at least three or four times a week, usually became going to the gym whenever I could fit it in and, normally, that wasn’t very often. For proof I’m not alone, visit a gym in the first week of January and the first week of May and do a cursory headcount. The inability to stay committed to one’s gym membership is almost universal. Almost.
While most people can relate, “most people” does not include Andrew Campbell of Richmond, BC. Sixty-year-old Andrew is clearly one of the few exceptions. In fact, he is a shining example of commitment and discipline not only to people over 55, but to many people one or two generations younger.
A musician and photographer, Andrew begins every day – Saturdays and Sundays included – by spending two hours in the gym at South Arm Community Centre in Richmond. His habit of visiting the gym first thing in the morning (he’s there when the doors open) comes to him as naturally as brushing his teeth.
Energized by his morning workout, Andrew, a much sought-after, award-winning photographer, uses his skills to showcase homes for sale in Metro Vancouver and to give newlyweds an album of memories they will always treasure.
As a youth, Andrew studied music, and won several national awards for his virtuosity with the Yamaha Electone Organ. In addition, at one national competition (that he won), he also won the heart of one of his competitors, Toshiko, whom he eventually married.
Always fascinated with Japan, it seemed natural to Andrew that he would marry a Japanese woman and choose to live there. In 1990, he and Toshiko moved to a town near Nagoya, where he taught English for 22 years. It was also in Japan that his love of photography (which began in his teens) really blossomed, and he first experienced the benefits and joy of lifting weights as he visited the local gym three to four times a week, a routine he continued when the couple returned to Canada in 2011.
No one is promised a life free of challenges. Andrew, an avid hiker, was bitten by a tick in 2007 and, for two years, suffered the effects of Lyme disease, including chronic fatigue, joint pain, headaches, dizziness and memory loss. However, even with these symptoms and the many months of antibiotics (which had their own unwelcome side-effects), Andrew did not stop lifting weights.
In 2013, four years after recovering from Lyme disease, Andrew received a diagnosis no one wants to hear: “You have cancer!” With Toshiko’s support, he stoically faced major surgery and recovery. Rather than accept his cancer as a setback, Andrew became even more motivated than ever to stay healthy, and it wasn’t long before he began his routine of lifting weights six to seven times a week.
Regularly lifting weights has many benefits, including burning fat, improving bone-density, strengthening muscles and tendons, improving one’s balance and flexibility, helping fight osteoporosis, back pain and lowering the risk of diabetes. As a bonus, it also helps combat depression and instills confidence and a sense of well-being, all of which are valuable to everyone, especially those over 55.
In his soft-spoken manner Andrew explains that his gym time is a form of meditation. “It’s a time to commune with myself,” he says. He finds the practice empowering, nurturing and confidence-building. In short, it gives him a tremendous sense of well-being.
While lifting weights can improve the quality of one’s life, regardless of the age at which one begins, a few words of caution before embarking on any program of exercise: Check with your doctor first, begin slowly, and ensure you are using the proper technique.
For videos and Andrew’s suggestions on proper technique, visit his Instagram account (weightsat60). Andrew welcomes any questions you may have. In addition, Andrew can be reached through his website (www.acbcfoto.com).
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