All Life is Learning - December 2022

Can you believe that the fall 2022 semester has ended? What great course offerings we had this semester! All instructors should have received a thank you letter and a notification that they are eligible for a free OLLI course. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with our OLLI members! 

Get ready for next semester! The full course catalog will be available online in mid-December and a course mailer will also be sent to member homes before the winter holidays. Course registration will begin on Wednesday, January 11th at 10:00 a.m.

Just a few reminders as we go into the 2023 winter/spring semester:

OLLI Cancellations, Withdrawals and Refunds – please refer to the OLLI catalog for our policies related to cancellations, withdrawals and refunds. We understand that from time-to-time, there are things that come up; however, please be reminded of the policies that are in place to fully support the operations of OLLI at WMU.

WMU Winter Closure – Western rarely closes or delays classes for winter weather conditions, so OLLI courses will always be held when the University is open. Closure notifications can be found via the WMU homepage, area and radio television stations or the WMU emergency information phone line at (269) 387-1001.

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OLLI’s in a Holiday Mood

This is the season for giving and celebrating – as proven by our dedicated OLLI members who helped make our OLLI Cares Fill-A-Trunk event on October 22 a huge success! 

In the spirit of sharing, remember that you, too, can give an OLLI membership as a gift. Giving the Gift of OLLI is available through our website or by contacting the office at (269) 387-4157. This is the perfect gift for your friends and family!

If you’d like to help get the word out about OLLI, call or email the office and let us know. The more, the merrier!

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Secrets to Vitality Series

Introducing octogenarian Fred Decker. I have watched Fred and his wife Leslie work out and recreate at West Hills for nearly 20 years. I often see Fred performing exercises that many 20-year-olds I know could not do. One of his trademark moves is the hex-bar squat with 200 lbs. for repetitions, with perfect form. He can also be found bouncing a tennis ball off a wall to maintain his hand/eye coordination. Fred and I sat down so he could tell me more about the habits that he believes contribute to fostering his incredible vitality in his eighth decade.

As a three-sport athlete in high school, Fred had to stay in shape year-round. It was then that he began to appreciate the benefits of being fit, which inspired him to play collegiate baseball. Naturally, Fred had to stay in tip-top shape to perform as a collegiate-level baseball player, so whether or not to stay fit during college was never a consideration. 

After college, however, he began a career as an educator and suddenly found himself deconditioned. Three years later, Fred would change career paths and begin what would become a Hall of Fame coaching career. As a coach, Fred wanted to “lead by example,” and would often work out with the pitchers. Additionally, he had a group of colleagues, some legendary in their own right, that would meet up every day to run, play racquetball, or lift weights. “My job made it a lot easier to stay in shape, and then when I retired, I figured the best thing I could do for my grandkids is to be around as long as I can,” he says.

These days Fred does something physical every day. He walks or rides his bike daily, lifts weights two times per week, completes exercises for every muscle group, and likes to do cardio-vascular exercise prior to the weights. For his cardio, Fred walks a mile on the track and then adds 20 minutes on the stationary bike. “I really want to avoid injuries at this point,” Fred says, so listens to his body and tries to push the intensity – but not too far.  

Leslie and Fred Decker on
the West Hills fitness floor

When I asked him about nutrition and eating habits, Fred said, “I’m blessed with a wife that is very conscious of what we eat” (as many of us are). Fred and Leslie eat three meals per day and try not to snack in between meals. He starts each day with 20 oz. of water with some lemon and a pinch of pink Himalayan salt (we will have to ask Leslie about the pink salt). For breakfast, he will drink a protein shake with 30 grams of protein, plus a banana, and some mixed nuts. Usually, he will have a sandwich and coffee for lunch, but always an apple. Finally, they try to eat a light dinner.  

Fred and Leslie can be observed doing quite a bit of socializing while at West Hills, which also contributes to their health. “The health club membership is the best thing for retirees for many reasons but is the biggest part of what keeps me healthy from a physical, social, and mental standpoint,” says Fred. Serving on condominium boards also helps Fred stay sharp from a problem-solving standpoint and plays Wordle to keep his communication skills sharp. Fred and Leslie have a system for Wordle and often get the word correct in four words.

Although Fred had a coronary event two years ago, he was told by his doctor that he would have a faster recovery than average due to the physical conditioning he had incorporated into his lifestyle, particularly for those in their late 70’s to early 80’s. He was walking his neighborhood three days later and back at West Hills within weeks. Clearly, Fred will be around for his grandkids for MANY years to come!

Fred executes the trap bar squat with perfect form. His eyes are up at the bottom of the
move, which keeps his back straight, and not hunched, which protects his lumbar spine.

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