Being a senior today is a far cry from what it meant just a couple of generations ago! With good diet and an active lifestyle, it’s easier to stay healthy as the years pass. And with 50 being the marker for countless discounts and perks, why not take advantage of them? T&S talked with two St. Louisans who have passed the half-century mark and are enjoying life a little more relaxed.

michele liebman, retired principal, edward jones 
“I like to tell people that I’m incredibly busy being unproductive in my 50s,” jokes Michele Liebman of Kirkwood. “My husband is retired too, so we can do all of the fun things we wanted to do before but had to put on hold because of work. We’re traveling to spots like the British Virgin Islands, Australia and throughout the U.S.”

It’s also a great time of life for volunteering and enjoying family, she notes. Liebman has served on the boards of Girls Inc. and Miriam Foundation, and she and her husband love spending time with their adult twin sons. “I’m definitely taking life at a more relaxed pace,” she notes. “People keep expecting me to take up a second career because they think I’ll get bored. But even though I loved my job at Edward Jones, I definitely wanted to change the pace. When I was working, every day was so driven, interspersing job-related responsibilities with personal commitments. Now, I still have my task list, but I don’t run from one thing to the next.”

Liebman says she stays healthy by working out at home and taking Pilates classes to improve strength. “Before I retired, I only had time to exercise a couple of days a week; now, I can do it almost every day,” she says. “The rest of my schedule is kind of ebb-and-flow. And if I’m tired, I just relax.”

Liebman says she is happy that this stage of life has allowed her to be a better, more attentive friend. She likes to travel with her girlfriends, and they are planning a spa trip to Arizona this April. “It will be like summer camp for adults,” she says. For fun that’s closer to home, she enjoys exploring Laumeier Sculpture Park, Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center and Castlewood State Park.

marcia wever, owner and trainer, st. louis city fitness 
“I feel different physically and have different priorities as I move through this decade,” says Marcia Wever of Maplewood. “When my older sister said, ‘Just wait and see how you change physically in your 50s,’ I didn’t believe her. But she was right. Your focus switches from looking good in a bathing suit to feeling healthy and fit. My body is more of a temple now, so I want it to be functional. I also want to work in my garden or go on a hike and not feel sore!”

Wever makes that happen by staying active as a fitness instructor, but she also has learned the importance of downtime and relaxation. “I used to teach 20 group exercise classes and various personal training sessions every week, and I was on the road a lot,” she explains. “I’m still an instructor, but I’ve pulled back quite a bit. I know stress will still be part of my life, but I want to manage it instead of letting it manage me.”

Her mother turned 100 last year, and that has inspired her to stay healthy—and continue helping others do the same. “Many of my company’s new fitness clients are age 40 to 70, so we emphasize physical health, mobility, stability and flexibility over beach-body exercise,” she notes.

Wever says she used to run five times a week, but listened to her body and toned it down. “You get to a point where quality becomes more important than quantity,” she notes. “I don’t want to just look good in my 50s, I want to keep feeling good.”

are you ready for AARP?
Sheila Holm, outreach director for AARP St. Louis, says there are numerous ways locals age 50-plus can benefit from the organization’s programs, services and discounts that help make life easier, less expensive and more fun. “People want a more energetic lifestyle than their parents had,” Holm notes. “They want to stay healthier and active into their 70s and 80s.” A full list of the organization’s programs and services is available at local.aarp.org/saint-louis-mo, and you can sign up for a monthly e-newsletter with helpful tips, events and more.

>> Save money, honey. Take advantage of AARP’s many travel and cultural discounts. “Local members get deals on tickets for the symphony, The Muny, River City Rascals and many other activities,” Holm notes. The organization also offers cash-saving health, insurance and wellness programs, restaurant and retail discounts.

>> Get a bit more fit. AARP St. Louis sponsors the annual Moonlight Ramble bike ride, St. Louis Senior Olympics, and guided cycling and hiking tours. It also offers MetroLink and walking trips to area attractions, and online diet and exercise tips and incentives.

>> Wealthy is healthy. The aarp.org website offers several financial calculators that help members ease fiscal stress, from paying off credit cards to creating a home budget. Free tax prep services are available, too.

>> Work it out. AARP St. Louis can help members find employment. “Resume writing, networking and interviewing have changed in recent years, so we have free classes to get job seekers up to speed,” Holm says.

>> Smart is the new young. There are free technology classes for members about using a tablet, smartphone, social media and more.

>> Take time to give. Stay active by giving back, from teaching senior driving safety courses to helping members with their taxes.