Over 50? Don't Stop, Keep Moving!
By Stephen R. Farris
Are you over the age of 50? Do you sometimes feel like your "get up and go" has done "got up and went?" Sounds like an information commercial spell from the past, doesn't it? But the sad truth is, most of the over 50 crowd has that feeling. The body just doesn't function like it used to when younger.
When aches and pains begin to creep up on us -- yes, my hand is raised with you -- most of the time we would rather seek the comfort of the bed, couch or recliner and hope whatever may be ailing us will ease up.
And if that doesn't help, then it's off to the bathroom and looking in the medicine cabinet to see what anti-inflammatory drug we might have, or rubbing ointment, so we can try to ease or eliminate our aches and pains with it. That's not always a good idea, as anti-inflammatory drugs could cause us health problems, and rubbing ointment may feel warm or cool to the skin, but doesn't always penetrate down to where the pain is.
Being over the age of 50 doesn't mean you have to give up on life and live the rest of your days in a rocking chair. As a matter of fact, your best bet -- even though you might not always feel like it -- is to keep moving. Exercise at least several times a week to keep your mobility intact - or even improve it.
Things to Do
Work on keeping your strength up. You don't have to train like a Mr. Olympia. Use weights that will offer some resistance so you can keep your muscles strong and toned. You might consider training with a friend too. This comes in handy when doing bench work during strength training. And if walking is one of the exercises you do, it's always a good idea to have a friend tag along for the walk and share each other's company.
Things You Shouldn't Do
Jumping right into an exercise regimen is not the best idea, especially when you're over the age of 50. The first thing you should do is talk with your doctor or chiropractor to see if you're healthy enough to begin an exercise program. Once you've done that, find exercises that you like and can do several times per week. Don't, however, shell out big money on a gym membership just yet. Ease into your routine first. Later on, once you've moved forward to another level in your exercise program, you might consider a gym membership. But do your homework first to see if what they have will benefit your wants and needs.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in West Melbourne, Fla.