The very word fitness puts a lot of seniors into an absolute spin – they automatically start hobbling and making excuses for not turning up at the gym sessions they have available.  It’s amazing just how much arthritis gets in the way of a healthier and livelier lifestyle.   I even found myself avoiding going for walks with my girl-friends and that in turn put me out of condition to look after a couple of local dogs for neighbours as I have been able to enjoy over the years.   So what to do about this lamentable situation . . .   A complete change of diet was first on the agenda.  I was advised a low carbodydrate regime would be beneficial in lowering my blood presure, which had been seriously unstable for some years . . . also on offer was the chance to reduce cholesterol and body weight.   Admittedly it was pretty daunting at first but I decided to embrace the new way as much as I could.  Having seen a miraculous improvement in the weight and fitness of two younger family members in question, this convinced me.  I even changed cake baking from regular to low carb products, which had another beneficial effect for me in that they are naturally gluten free.  After a frew months, and certainly not overnight, I turned my own corner and found improvements in each of the aforementioned areas of concern.  It also helped me to stick at a gym fitness programme with two classes a week.   So fitness can be improved even by the most hopeless seeming cases!