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A Taste of OLLI

A Taste of OLLI 2022 was informative and fun for the 150+ people in attendance! Those who attended enjoyed a lively presentation from Amanda Rhodes, Associate Director, National Resource Center for Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes as our guest speaker.  

Taste of OLLI participants also:

• Met fall instructors and learned about their courses 
• Attended mini breakout sessions or “tastes” of courses lead by our OLLI instructors 
• Learned about OLLI committees and volunteer opportunities 
• Socialized with old friends and met new ones 
• Donated to Kalamazoo Literacy Council, one of OLLI’s community outreach partners ()

Also, a special thank you to Humana for being our premier sponsor of the Taste of OLLI and the Kalamazoo Community Foundation for being the major sponsor. Additionally, thank you to the organizations who donated door prizes: Bob’s Discount Furniture Charitable Foundation Inc., Celebration Cinema, Osher Lifelong Learning National Resource Center, Riverstreet Flowerland, StoryPoint Senior Living, and Western �鶹��ýӦ�� University’s Alumni Association and Department of Theater.

The Events Committee looks forward to making this a bigger and better annual event! 

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OLLI Partners with Philosophy Faculty

During Western’s spring 2022 semester, David Paul, chair of the Philosophy department, had the brilliant idea to invite OLLI members to join his Existentialist Philosophies course. The feedback from everyone involved (WMU students, OLLI members, and graduate students) was that they enjoyed the experience. Thanks to Dave for helping to make this happen, and to our OLLI members and WMU students for being open to the idea of our OLLI members going back to college to share and learn from one another. 

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Tyler Norman, Ph.D.
Manager of Corporate Outreach
ACSM Exercise Physiologist
NCFI Corporate Fitness Specialist
West Hills Athletic Club, WMU

Platinum Man Transformation 

Whenever I travel, I like to find the local gym or health club to grab a workout. Three years ago, I was visiting my mom in Punta Gorda when I met a guy that was a Kalamazoo native named Bob Callendar. I must have been wearing some WMU attire that prompted him to strike up the conversation. He told me that prior to retirement he had owned some restaurants in Kalamazoo, and it turns out I happen to know the couple that bought them from him – small world! 

Last April I went back to the same gym and about fell over when I saw Bob. He had transformed himself. I was impressed with his improved overall muscularity, muscular symmetry, and the v-taper from his shoulders to his waist. He was deadlifting 275 lbs. at the time I bumped into him and handling it like it was a feather. Bob has not only prolonged his functional life, but he has also dramatically reduced his risk of many chronic diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, hypocholesteremia, osteoporosis, and many forms of cancer to name a very few. When I asked him what he had done to achieve this new-found fitness, I already knew what the answer was going to be – STRENGTH TRAINING – powerlifting, in particular. He went on to describe how he had gotten some apparently good advice from a local professional bodybuilder, Aaron Reed, and never looked back. 

 

  Bob is a great example of evidence to support my broken record claim that strength    training has a cascading effect on vitality and longevity. As mentioned in previous submissions, muscle equals metabolism. Muscles are the one substance in our bodies that use calories to do work. The more muscle you have, the faster your metabolism will be. In addition, it is worth mentioning, that “two decades of age-associated muscle loss (Sarcopenia) can be regained in two months of resistance training.” () 

The point is that it is never too late. Energy, balance, stamina, functional capacity, sleep quality, prevention of countless chronic diseases, and self-esteem are just a few of the countless aspects of health that are positively affected by strength training. I now refer to Bob as Platinum Man because of his superior level of strength and his profound transformation at the age of 75! Final note – Bob has decided to do some competitive powerlifting and based on what I have seen, he will be turning some heads in that arena. Thanks for the motivation, Platinum Man Bob!!

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