Yes We Do Windows! Staying Fit Together

Staying fit together: Florence (Oregon) couple made a commitment to each other to exercise. Bill and Connie Spinner made a commitment in 2000 that they would work out every day. The Florence residents are no strangers to making big, lasting decisions together. They married in 1963, for example, and quit smoking together in 1970. The workout idea is yet another goal they’ve achieved as a duo. “If we are sick, one holds the other and off we go for a 30-minute walk,” Connie said. “Movement heals your body, mind and spirit.” Both Connie, 66, and Bill, who will turn 71 later this month, work out for at least one hour and usually about two hours a day, together and separately. Activity is divided between the mornings and afternoons.

That’s in addition to owning and operating their business, Yes We Do Windows, which has Bill cleaning windows about five or six hours a day in peak season and Connie doing window cleaning and bidding. Connie also teaches water and land aerobics classes at Coastal Fitness & Aquatics five times a week. The Spinners have three grown children, including a son who joined their family through an adult adoption, and six grandkids. Their active lifestyle keeps them young, Connie said. “We have a working retirement,” she said. “We both believe that movement and having something that gets you up every day is what keeps you young, both in mind and body.”

The lifestyle: The Spinners started working out in 1970. They had quit smoking and began bicycling and running. In addition to Yes We Do Windows, which the couple has run for 19 years and which they co-own with son Michael, Bill was a carpenter for 30 years. Connie worked in the aircraft industry for 15 years. They have also owned a pool-service business and two fitness centers.

Connie also has been teaching fitness classes for 35 years. She says she’s hooked on water aerobics because it allows someone to get a great workout without impact — and it brings out the kid in her students. She also loves land aerobics because it builds strong bones in addition to working muscles and the cardiovascular system. “If one cannot move, it impacts all of your life. So keeping those powerhouse muscles strong is a must,” Connie said. “Those are the muscles that help you get up, get out of your car, your chair, and into your life.”

The workout: Bill likes to start his day with a three-mile walk with the family dog, Wilson. But since Wilson’s a big dog, he also needs a run. Bill will typically ride his recumbent bike in the afternoon, picking up Wilson and swapping the bike for his adult tricycle during the cool-down phase of his workout. Bill can average about 16 to 17 miles per hour on the bike on a good day. The bicycles are a “love affair” for Bill, Connie said, and he is happiest when he’s riding. He bikes about 9,000 miles a year, mostly between Florence and Mapleton. On days when she’s not teaching, Connie walks with Bill and Wilson, for about 3½ miles at about a 3½-mph pace. She also swims a mile in about 55 minutes about three times a week. When she teaches water aerobics, Connie typically stays out of the pool, but her land aerobics classes end up being a workout not just for her students, but for her, too.

The diet: The couple doesn’t have a strict diet, but they do know what’s in their food, since Connie fixes most of their meals at home. They eat almost anything, while trying not to overdo it. Bill did cut back on sweets last fall to lose a little extra weight. It’s something he now credits for reducing leg cramps he was having and for dropping his blood pressure by nearly 20 points.

The cost: The Spinners’ primary investment has been in bicycles. They have two upright bikes, two recumbent bikes and two tricycles.

The camaraderie: Exercise has enhanced their relationship, Connie said. They both respect and admire the fitness achievements the other has made. She said it sets the tone for them as they move into this time of their lives. “Overall, movement is the foundation for our life,” Connie said. “We always say we can do more by 10 a.m. than most folks do all day. We are very high-energy people.”