Happy Birthday, Maggie!
Maggie with her 12K (26 pound) kettlebell
Today I celebrate Maggie Baker for not only being an incredible woman but also for being our client of the month for November, and today just happens to be her birthday. I would love to tell you how old Maggie is but she’s asked me not to share that. What I will tell you is that when it comes to working out she has a will and fitness regimen that would put men and women half, heck even a quarter, of her age to shame.
Maggie has been a Performance Fitness personal training client since 2006. After you read Maggie’s story check out this study printed in the New York Times on aging, muscle mass and physical function.
1. What do you do for a living?
I’m a clinical psychologist in private practice (30 years) in Wynnewood, PA. I specialize in ADHD/ADD (children and adults), anxiety, depression, relationship issues and the psychology of money.
2. How long have you been training with Performance Fitness?
I started with Michelle’s personal training about 5 years ago. I also went to the early morning bootcamp for several months.
3. What’s your fitness/sports background?
I was known as a “sports kid” up through adolescence. In high school I was captain of the lacrosse and baseball teams, and in college a friend of mine and I started the college’s first women’s ski team. After I got married and as my kids grew up I participated in several “Rambo Aerobics”, 5K races and two flash triathelons.
4. Why is working out important to you? What benefits do you get from it?
Since adolescent days I’ve done some kind of physical activity to a greater or lesser extent. Since I’ve been working with Michelle, my commitment to consistent, 5-6 times a week exercise has strengthened. I look at other people my age and see them wither as they age and settle into inactivity and rapid decline. I want to stay as strong and limber as I can for as long as I can. When I complete a workout I feel charged up and ready to go. I love that feeling. I like the feeling of maintaining my strength so I can keep doing what I do with freedom and sparkle.
4. What are some of your favorite workouts?
I favor cardio because I know that it oxygenates your brain and is the best protection against Alzheimer’s disease and dementa, but I love strength workouts because they keep me toned and able to do the aerobic exercise at higher intensity. I value the variety of workouts (like Kettlebells and boxing) I do with Michelle because they are always different, challenging and well thought out.
6. What do you like to do in your “free” time? What are your hobbies?
I sing in my church choir and play the cello for hobbies. Because my work and musical interests take up most of my time, free time is scarce. Of course there is always time to relax with a Netflix movie!
7. Tell us about your book that was recently published.
One of my professional specialties is the psychology of money. In February, 2011 I published, Crazy About Money: How Emotions Confuse Our Money Choices and What To Do About It. It is written for the lay public to help people better understand their relationship to money and teaches the reader how to make more effective financial decisions. It is on my website, www.maggiebakerphd.com and on Amazon.com.
8. What would you like to share with other “older adults” and younger people about working out?
If you ever find yourself sick or getting weaker than you have to be, it is a good reminder that there is nothing more important and meaningful than being healthy. This belief has helped me make a commitment to work out consistently over time no matter, how busy my day to day schedule is. I would hate to get sick or weak and then say, “if I’d only taken better care of myself, I wouldn’t be as sick or as weak as I am now.”