Staying Fit in Your Fifties and Beyond
By Donna Stark
So you've just finished celebrating your birthday. Now what? Are you going to spend your time obsessing about all of the things you can no longer do anymore or are you going to do something about it? It's normal to experience a decline in muscle strength, balance, and mobility as you age, but that doesn't mean you can't do something about it! In fact, you absolutely should do something about it because good health and ideal fitness don't just happen. You need to work at them!
Fitness When You Are 'Over the Hill'
Whether you are in the middle years of life or are further along the road, a well-designed exercise program that addresses strength training, endurance, and balance is needed for optimal health and wellness. Try to work out at least 30 minutes every day and be sure to remember the following tips.
- Make exercise fun - For some people, the thought of fitness is completely foreign while for others, it may be their second nature. Which group do you belong to? If you are finding it difficult to become excited about exercise, try choosing an activity that you like and will be more inclined to stick with.
- Change Your Thoughts - Have you always thought that in order to strength train, you need to lift those heavy bars full of weights? Well, it's time to change your thinking! Strength training can be accomplished using other things too, such as exercise bands, your own body weight, and fitness machines.
- Balance your life - Balance and flexibility decline as we age, so be sure to include exercises and stretches that focus on them. And if you don't know which exercises are the best, ask a trainer at your local gym or your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic. Both will be able to get you on the right path to optimal fitness.
- Be sure to rest - Finally, the easy part of your daily fitness routine! Rest is critical for your body to properly recover and recharge, so be sure to include that and don't overdo it during your workouts! Give yourself plenty of breaks during exercise if you need them and stick to a consistent sleep routine at night.
Blow Out Those Candles
If you become winded by blowing out your birthday candles, you may want to consider focusing on your health and fitness a bit more. Just because you are "over the hill," doesn't mean you can't keep your body (and your mind) young by exercising daily and getting adequate rest your body needs. So go ahead ... get moving and prepare yourself for the best year yet!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Killeen, Tex.