Sixty-three-year-old Surrey-born and raised fitness trainer and writer Doug Setter rolled several life experiences into one.
A 29 year old paratrooper and soldier veteran of the Canadian Forces (he retired at the age of 47 after gaining peacekeeping experience in the former Yugoslavia), was also a fitness center owner, climber (Mount Rainier), runner ( five marathons on his credit) and a welterweight title holder in kickboxing in Manitoba.
Fitness may be second nature to him now, but he still remembers he was once a sickly kid – and admits that some of the physical challenges he’s faced over the years were based on his to overcome one’s own fears.
His academic achievements include a Certificate of Education from UBC and a degree in Human Ecology (Food and Nutrition) from the University of Manitoba.
And although divorced, he’s also the proud father of a 12-year-old daughter (“I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” he said).
His latest book, Fit Femme After 50, clearly identifies his target market for very practical reasons.
“In all honesty, I find women are much more careful about their health than men,” he noted.
But he agreed that most of the advice on his site could benefit men as well – “I think if a man is not comfortable going for one, he could say it was for his wife or girlfriend,” he said .
He admits that some female readers might resist a book with such a title – especially one written by a man.
However, he emphasizes that the book is based – more than on abstract theory – on his own journey of experience and self-education and, above all, on what he has learned from his interviews with women about challenges they have faced and successfully overcome how they have aged.
One particular inspiration for Fit Femme After 50 came from a friend who, despite some serious setbacks – including a car accident and a brain tumor – entered and won bodybuilding competitions.
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While he recognizes that not everyone is as motivated as this one, he believes that many mature women could benefit from practical advice on exercise, diet, and a good life – without the punitive wear and tear of most trending exercise programs.
“Nowadays everything is cardio, cardio, cardio; Crunches and calorie counting, ”he said.
But such therapies don’t take into account the passage of years, different schedules and responsibilities, and inevitable hormonal changes, he said.
“Most women are under 20 years old or live in the ‘mother-papa hotel'”, he said.
Much of what he teaches in the new book comes from his willingness to adapt, listen, and learn, he said.
For example, he admits that he did not fully understand the effects exercising on cement floors – or walking on hard sidewalks – could have on the human body until he suffered from back pain that got him “in and out of chiropractors and Acupuncturists “brought.”
“I finally took a Pilates class,” he said, noting that it was a humbling experience in which he realized he had a lot to learn about alternative training methods.
“The teacher was a woman with ballet training – she said, ‘Stop what you’re doing and look at Doug because what he’s doing is all wrong,'” he recalled, laughing.
“I took some pride back and learned a lot,” he said.
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In Fit Femme After 50 Setter has advice on avoiding joint damaging exercises and avoiding “muscle imbalances” – he has learned from his own mistakes that training some muscle groups at the expense of others can actually undermine progress and lead to injury, he noted fixed.
He has tips on how deep breathing can actually tighten your waist while exercising.
He also discusses the importance of diet in increasing endurance, strength, and cognitive skills; provides ideas for deep, restful sleep and also offers inexpensive, non-pharmaceutical options for pain relief, such as a recipe for a highly effective, soothing tea made from turmeric, ginger, and pepper.
But he also pays attention to the importance of addressing the mental attitude and detoxifying not only the body but also the mind.
Those new to physical training can make friends with micro-workouts, he said. But it is also important to feel comfortable in a simple, sustainable process instead of approaching exercise and fitness in a panic mentality.
Part of it is choosing the right place to exercise and using small instant rewards (which can be as simple as drinking herbal tea with a friend) to help achieve goals, he said.
“You should enjoy the here and now, live in the moment instead of thinking, ‘If I lose 30 pounds I’ll buy the Liz Claibourne outfit or take this trip to Mexico.”
Fit Femme After 50 is available in both print and digital form at www.amazon.com.
For more information on Setter, his other books, and personalized training programs, visit www.2ndwindbodyscience.com
alex.browne@peacearchnews.com
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Fit Femme After 50 is available in print and digital at www.amazon.com
