Hersh Budlow’s Life Of Fitness

From the Jewish Times, October 31, 2008
By Stacy Karten, Contributing Editor

To look at a very fit and trim Hersh Budlow, you would not think he is 68 years old. In fact, when he attended his 50th high school reunion last year (Baltimore City College class of '57), Mr. Budlow's classmates marveled at his healthy appearance. It is all the result of 50 years of a diligent exercise regimen that Mr. Budlow says has only added to his zest for life.

"I was shocked to see how many people changed for the worse," Mr. Budlow said of renewing acquaintances at the reunion. Those who virtually stopped all activity since high school were almost unrecognizable, he said.

"I recalled that when I was in my 40s, some of my friends that I saw intermittently would ask, 'Are you still working out? What are you training for?' I would always say, 'For my old age,' or 'You’ll find out in 20 or 25 years,'" he explained. "In recent years I’ve had occasion to see some of them professionally for neck or back pain, post-op orthopedic surgeries due to their lousy lifestyles or muscular problems due to poor posture and conditioning. Lifestyle does matter."

A physical therapist for 46 years and a Timonium resident, Mr. Budlow now works part-time, which allows him to devote more time to fitness.

"I go to the Park Heights JCC every afternoon for a couple hours. I vary my workouts and also play racquetball two or three times a week," he remarked.

On weekends, he walks and rides bicycles with his wife of 44 years, Barbara.

Having helped thousands of patients recover their health, Mr. Budlow said he has blended his profession with the opportunity to encourage people to exercise. This philosophy was somewhat novel early in his career, a time when physical therapists typically treated their patients and did not discuss doing physical activity in between office visits.

"I found my niche as far as injury effects and improved people’s physiques and fitness," he said.

Hersh Budlow started on the road to fitness as a freshman at the University of Maryland, College Park. Tilting the scales at just 120 pounds, he went to the campus weight room as a means of gaining weight.

"The head of the weight room asked if I ever had polio; that’s how thin I looked. I was motivated to exercise. This also led me to physical therapy," recalled Mr. Budlow, who now weighs 165.

In addition to his daily exercise, Mr. Budlow cites nutrition as a critical ingredient in staying fit.

"I am careful about what I eat. That is very important," he noted. He also says that it is never too late to begin exercising. "You lose some muscle strength from age 40 on, but the real weakness is inactivity."

In fact, he said, people should vary their exercises to alleviate boredom ."I have different activities I can substitute, such as walking, biking, yoga and lifting weights," he said.

Another activity he enjoyed for many years was duckpin bowling, which he was introduced to while growing up in Forest Park.

"A friend and I won a national youth tournament and I also bowled in the Beth Tfiloh Brotherhood League for many years," he recalled.

Claiming he was still a pretty good bowler, Mr. Budlow recently tossed a few games at the AMF Pikesville center. "I bowled a game in the 90s and then a couple in the 120s," he said.

Practicing what he preaches as a physical therapist, Mr. Budlow is a model of how exercise can impact your life.

"Most studies show that exercise affects the quality of your life," he said, adding that "I look forward to exercising every day. This is my Valium; it relieves stress. Obviously, I’m really compulsive about my physical activities but I consider it to be a positive addiction," he said.

Exercising for 50 consecutive years was never a chore for Mr. Budlow.

"For me fitness activity is a necessity equal to eating and sleeping," he said. "The benefits that accrue physically, mentally and emotionally are truly priceless. To be able to combine my profession of physical therapy and scientifically based exercise has been a blessing."

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