I have realized that keeping fit becomes more challenging as I get older. There was a time when I was able to eat anything I wanted and exercise for only twenty to thirty minutes per day. I never put on a pound. I maintained my flexibility, strength and stamina without much effort. After having three kids, it was necessary to become much more diligent to a strenuous workout regiment. I also became more conscientious about the quantity and quality of food I consumed. When I was in my mid forties, I again saw a change in my body. It was easier for me to gain weight and I struggled to keep my flexibility. At that stage, I became a vegetarian and changed my workouts to sixty-minute sessions. I have now entered my mid fifties and I’m finding it difficult to keep the weight off and maintain my strength. I can no longer manage the same amount of pushups I once did. There’s a bit of softness around my belly that I’m not happy with. I have more aches and pains to deal with. I have stiffness from arthritis in my fingers and old injuries that bother me. I am very good about sticking with my morning workout sessions. I devote more time to my warmup and stretching than I used to. I am conscientious about combining cardio and whole-body strength training. I vary between jumping rope, cycling and running to get my heart pumping. I include lunges, squats, burpees and abdominal crunches. Although it’s not fun to see a decline in my physical abilities, I know that my commitment to physical fitness has been worthwhile for me. My peers are undergoing surgeries, taking prescription medication and have sacrificed a good deal of mobility by being sedentary.