Two West Shore retirees are being mistaken for women a lot younger than themselves.

Now both in their mid-50s, Jill Denise and Debbie Hanlan, keep their bodies strong and youthful by staying active and pumping iron.

Recently during a grueling workout, a man about 45 years old turned to Denise and said, B次元官网网址渨ait until you are as old as me. YouB次元官网网址檙e body wonB次元官网网址檛 work the same.B次元官网网址� Denise, 55, laughed to herself but never corrected the man on her age.

For her entire life, she has stayed fit and enjoyed developing a healthy sheen of sweat on her skin. In her mid-20s she found passion on a soccer field. Now she is active in cross-fit, yoga, cycling, hiking and training on stairs.

But her active lifestyle comes at a cost. Denise has knee issues that she pushes past everyday.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 from soccer. My knees are bone-on-bone. When I was 42 the doctor told me I have the knees of an 80 year old,B次元官网网址� Denise said. B次元官网网址淚f you sit on the couch and do nothing your knees will still be sore, so you might as well use it.B次元官网网址�

She broke her wrist in December and has been recovering from that as well, but she wonB次元官网网址檛 slow down. B次元官网网址淲hen you break something at this age (if youB次元官网网址檙e not active) you are going to get arthritis all over the place,B次元官网网址� Denise said. B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 imagine sitting on a couch.B次元官网网址�

Hanlan too said people often donB次元官网网址檛 think she is 56, let alone a grandmother.

In July, Hanlan cycled from Vancouver to Seattle on the Ride to Conquer Cancer. Her mother, father and sister have all been struck by cancer. In 1992, Hanlan was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

B次元官网网址淚t took six months to diagnose and then four months of treatment (chemotherapy and radiation),B次元官网网址� Hanlan said. B次元官网网址淢y children were in their teens then, that was the worst part.B次元官网网址�

Prior to her diagnosis, Hanlan had been an avid runner, but the pain in her hip from where the cancer was located was too great, and she had to stop running.Within the year, Hanlan went into remission.

Nearly every day Hanlan works out, attending CrossFit classes five days a week, cycling and taking yoga. When Olympic weightlifting, she can dead lift 115 pounds. She also does push-ups off her toes.

Hanlan retired this year, but even before she moved into retirement, Hanlan still found herself at the gym five days a week.

Both women credit their health to a lifetime of healthy living. For other people who may not be in their prime, Hanlan wants them to know, B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 never too late to start working out.B次元官网网址�

Fitness, wellness and rehabilitation programmer Kristy Webster for West Shore Parks and Recreation sees many seniors heading to the gym to help stay healthy.

ItB次元官网网址檚 important to work on balance for fall prevention and strength training for bone density.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about setting up foundations to continue independent living,B次元官网网址� Webster said.

Many seniors have challenges when working out that their younger counterparts donB次元官网网址檛. For instance, aging people often cope with arthritis. B次元官网网址淵ou have to find exercise that doesnB次元官网网址檛 hurt and that can be a challenge,B次元官网网址� she said.

If someone has arthritis in their hands, Webster said lifting free weights may cause pain but lifting weights with a cable machine, B次元官网网址減uts the point of pressure above the hands.B次元官网网址�

In her job Webster said she sees seniors coming into the gym who are noticing they have lost flexibility or mobility and want to get it back.

For people with heart issues or on various medications such as blood thinners, Webster said instead of striving for a specific heart rate the clients are encouraged to work out at a point where they can easily say their name.

B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 want to be gasping for air, but you donB次元官网网址檛 want to be able to have a whole conversation either,B次元官网网址� Webster said.

She also sees seniors who have lead healthy lifestyles for decades.

B次元官网网址淚 notice their energy level, confidence, mobility and obviously their fitness level,B次元官网网址� Webster said. B次元官网网址淥ften they will look 10 to 15 years younger than they are.B次元官网网址�

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com