She is the definition of zoomer: a culture- and tech-savvy baby boomer who works out - and doesn't let a potentially fatal illness slow her down. After battling breast cancer, Libby Znaimer, host of The Zoomer Report on Toronto's Classical 96.3 FM and author of In Cancerland: Living Well Is the Best Revenge, is ready to take on her tennis game.
Despite a lengthy layoff, her cardiovascular conditioning has held up, but she complains her skill set needs a boost.
My goal
"To keep playing tennis, get better at it, and enjoy it as much as I do. I resumed my strengthening workout last month after abandoning it for several months. My goal is to do that twice a week, in addition to the tennis."
My workout
"I usually play [singles or doubles] tennis four times a week. For the last year, I've stopped and started both playing tennis and working out because I was undergoing extremely aggressive pancreatic cancer treatment - my second bout of cancer [having survived breast cancer three years earlier]. I was much sicker and the treatment was much tougher. I stopped almost entirely for about six months."
At the end of January, "I got back on the court and in the gym. I played for several months and my workout was extremely light. Just when I started doing better, I had to stop again for nearly a month. I started to feel the effects of radiation after five weeks of that treatment. I started up again before I felt completely well, but I played better than I had in years."
"My gym routine is a mix of free weights, machine, and floor exercises, including squats with toning bands to strengthen my quads and butt."
My lifestyle
Before and after cancer, Ms. Znaimer's diet and habits remain unchanged. "I have a healthy lifestyle, although I do go out a lot, and I eat rich party food when I do. I cook healthy food at home; I eat fruit and yogurt in the mornings, salad and half a grilled-veggie wrap, fish, chicken, steak and veggies for lunch or dinner. And I get plenty of sleep."
My motivation
"To be healthy. I like to eat. I like being active and enjoy it. I like feeling fit. I'm not there yet physically, but my body craves it."
"When it comes to the gym, I do need help, so I've started with a trainer, who gives me a push until I can work out on my own."
My workout anthem
"I don't listen to music."
My challenge
"I'm a middle-age woman trying to get good at a sport she started in her 30s."
The critique
Mr. Barrie Shepley, a sports coach who holds a degree in kinesiology from McMaster University, applauds Ms. Znaimer's positive attitude and points out active people tend to deal with cancer better and recover quicker. However, he offers recommendations to update her regime.
See a nutritionist with cancer specialty
Mr. Shepley recommends Ms. Znaimer optimize her diet to meet her special nutritional needs. "Libby would benefit from seeing a nutritionist who is knowledgeable about exercise, women and cancer."
Get tennis-specific training
Considering tennis is a game of speed and technical excellence, Ms. Znaimer must purposefully focus her training on two areas, advises Mr. Shepley, president of Personal Best Health & Performance Inc. "For Libby to improve her overall tennis, she needs to build leg speed and power. This can be done partially in the weight room, but partially doing running drills that will enhance her foot speed and efficiency."
He adds that Ms. Znaimer's eye-hand co-ordination, stroke and serve skill set would be enhanced with regular expert instruction. "Often people who have played the game for a few years don't realize that they could really benefit from technical lessons."
Switch to two-phase training
Lastly, to derive maximum enjoyment from the sport, Mr. Shepley recommends Ms. Znaimer divide her tennis season into two phases. "The outdoor season is the most enjoyable, so she should plan to have most of her strength training and lessons completed during the colder months from November to April," he says. "That way she could go on a maintenance program, and then spend time playing outdoors from May to October."
