Carol DeLaughter, center, works out at the YMCA pool with friends. Photo by Donna Lasater
“You have to keep going, especially us older ones,” she said. “I feel it saved my life. My diabetes was out of control. I get in there, swim and work out and I feel it all balance out.”
The weight loss was a bonus and it was accomplished slowly. “I worked at that, a couple of years. It took quite awhile but it hasn’t come back. That’s the key to it, I think, is lose it gradually.”
She faithfully swims three times a week, her regular workout. The other activities vary and are scheduled around the swimming. These include water aerobics, yoga, tai chi, and working out with weights. Mixing it up adds more variety to her routine and keeps the exercise from getting monotonous. “I’d like to see every senior go in there and make a change in their lives.”
After she moved here from Burbank about 10 years ago, a couple of neighbor ladies suggested she come with them to the YMCA. “I always loved to swim. I loved fishing, just loved the water. I had never been to a Y before but they have a pool and I love to swim. It’s my home away from home. It made a new person out of me.”
DeLaughter said that she feels so much better after her workouts, in a better frame of mind and ready for the day. Others benefit from her increased energy; she walks her little Shih Tzu, “Wicket,” twice a day.
Exercise goes hand-in-hand with diet. The weight loss also resulted from a healthier diet, but she never did eat badly. “I’ve always been pretty strict with my diet because of my diabetes. But I’m a lot stricter now.”
She’s part of the 16-member “Lighten Up Team” at the Y. They meet once a month, there’s a monthly weigh-in, with only one person knowing the results. “It’s a support group, we call each other. For example: ‘I can’t stay out of the kitchen, what do I do?’” she said. She said the simple answer to those cravings and emotional eating is to get some exercise right then.
Family and friends are also a big part of her life. She also loves to garden, which is pretty good exercise itself. This year the garden is coming along. “In spite of all that rain we had, it came out of it pretty well. I’m surprised,” she said.
Her working years weren’t spent with one career — she’s had several. “I was a custodian for a college and a factory worker. I did house cleaning. I also worked at IBP, Iowa Beef Processing. I used the high-pressure hoses, it was really physical. I’ve always been a mover, I just couldn’t sit still at a desk job.” She also worked as a meal-site manager for a seniors group in Burbank.
DeLaughter has three daughters and seven grandchildren, most are in the area.
Her advice for someone who wants to be more active: “Find a friend, or a group, it’s so much easier when you have someone to go with, you’ll do more that way. Or find a support group, like I have,” she said.
“I’m pretty happy. I’ve had a great life. I feel so lucky I have so many good friends, there isn’t anything better than that. I didn’t know old age was going to be this much fun.” [rc]
Copyright © 2009 Walla Walla Union-Bulletin
July 26, 2009
USA: Woman discovers 'old age' can be full of fun, laughter
.
WALLA WALLA, Washington / Walla Wall Union-Bulletin / July 26, 2009
Staying physically active as wll as socially involved helps keep Carol DeLaughter going.
By Karlene Ponti of the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin
Life keeps getting better for YMCA participant Carol DeLaughter. She’s active, happy and she’s lost 31 pounds (14 kgs).
Carol DeLaughter, center, works out at the YMCA pool with friends. Photo by Donna Lasater
“You have to keep going, especially us older ones,” she said. “I feel it saved my life. My diabetes was out of control. I get in there, swim and work out and I feel it all balance out.”
The weight loss was a bonus and it was accomplished slowly. “I worked at that, a couple of years. It took quite awhile but it hasn’t come back. That’s the key to it, I think, is lose it gradually.”
She faithfully swims three times a week, her regular workout. The other activities vary and are scheduled around the swimming. These include water aerobics, yoga, tai chi, and working out with weights. Mixing it up adds more variety to her routine and keeps the exercise from getting monotonous. “I’d like to see every senior go in there and make a change in their lives.”
After she moved here from Burbank about 10 years ago, a couple of neighbor ladies suggested she come with them to the YMCA. “I always loved to swim. I loved fishing, just loved the water. I had never been to a Y before but they have a pool and I love to swim. It’s my home away from home. It made a new person out of me.”
DeLaughter said that she feels so much better after her workouts, in a better frame of mind and ready for the day. Others benefit from her increased energy; she walks her little Shih Tzu, “Wicket,” twice a day.
Exercise goes hand-in-hand with diet. The weight loss also resulted from a healthier diet, but she never did eat badly. “I’ve always been pretty strict with my diet because of my diabetes. But I’m a lot stricter now.”
She’s part of the 16-member “Lighten Up Team” at the Y. They meet once a month, there’s a monthly weigh-in, with only one person knowing the results. “It’s a support group, we call each other. For example: ‘I can’t stay out of the kitchen, what do I do?’” she said. She said the simple answer to those cravings and emotional eating is to get some exercise right then.
Family and friends are also a big part of her life. She also loves to garden, which is pretty good exercise itself. This year the garden is coming along. “In spite of all that rain we had, it came out of it pretty well. I’m surprised,” she said.
Her working years weren’t spent with one career — she’s had several. “I was a custodian for a college and a factory worker. I did house cleaning. I also worked at IBP, Iowa Beef Processing. I used the high-pressure hoses, it was really physical. I’ve always been a mover, I just couldn’t sit still at a desk job.” She also worked as a meal-site manager for a seniors group in Burbank.
DeLaughter has three daughters and seven grandchildren, most are in the area.
Her advice for someone who wants to be more active: “Find a friend, or a group, it’s so much easier when you have someone to go with, you’ll do more that way. Or find a support group, like I have,” she said.
“I’m pretty happy. I’ve had a great life. I feel so lucky I have so many good friends, there isn’t anything better than that. I didn’t know old age was going to be this much fun.” [rc]
Copyright © 2009 Walla Walla Union-Bulletin
Carol DeLaughter, center, works out at the YMCA pool with friends. Photo by Donna Lasater
“You have to keep going, especially us older ones,” she said. “I feel it saved my life. My diabetes was out of control. I get in there, swim and work out and I feel it all balance out.”
The weight loss was a bonus and it was accomplished slowly. “I worked at that, a couple of years. It took quite awhile but it hasn’t come back. That’s the key to it, I think, is lose it gradually.”
She faithfully swims three times a week, her regular workout. The other activities vary and are scheduled around the swimming. These include water aerobics, yoga, tai chi, and working out with weights. Mixing it up adds more variety to her routine and keeps the exercise from getting monotonous. “I’d like to see every senior go in there and make a change in their lives.”
After she moved here from Burbank about 10 years ago, a couple of neighbor ladies suggested she come with them to the YMCA. “I always loved to swim. I loved fishing, just loved the water. I had never been to a Y before but they have a pool and I love to swim. It’s my home away from home. It made a new person out of me.”
DeLaughter said that she feels so much better after her workouts, in a better frame of mind and ready for the day. Others benefit from her increased energy; she walks her little Shih Tzu, “Wicket,” twice a day.
Exercise goes hand-in-hand with diet. The weight loss also resulted from a healthier diet, but she never did eat badly. “I’ve always been pretty strict with my diet because of my diabetes. But I’m a lot stricter now.”
She’s part of the 16-member “Lighten Up Team” at the Y. They meet once a month, there’s a monthly weigh-in, with only one person knowing the results. “It’s a support group, we call each other. For example: ‘I can’t stay out of the kitchen, what do I do?’” she said. She said the simple answer to those cravings and emotional eating is to get some exercise right then.
Family and friends are also a big part of her life. She also loves to garden, which is pretty good exercise itself. This year the garden is coming along. “In spite of all that rain we had, it came out of it pretty well. I’m surprised,” she said.
Her working years weren’t spent with one career — she’s had several. “I was a custodian for a college and a factory worker. I did house cleaning. I also worked at IBP, Iowa Beef Processing. I used the high-pressure hoses, it was really physical. I’ve always been a mover, I just couldn’t sit still at a desk job.” She also worked as a meal-site manager for a seniors group in Burbank.
DeLaughter has three daughters and seven grandchildren, most are in the area.
Her advice for someone who wants to be more active: “Find a friend, or a group, it’s so much easier when you have someone to go with, you’ll do more that way. Or find a support group, like I have,” she said.
“I’m pretty happy. I’ve had a great life. I feel so lucky I have so many good friends, there isn’t anything better than that. I didn’t know old age was going to be this much fun.” [rc]
Copyright © 2009 Walla Walla Union-Bulletin
