Introduction
Old is the new cool. Especially if you take care of yourself inside out, remain both healthy and fit, and train your mind just as you do with your body for they are both vital in your senior years. Follow these steps, and once you engage, you shall feel young and cool again!
Listen to your body
This is eligible at any age, yet stressed upon when you get older. It’s a major red flag when you have muscle or joint pain that lasts more than a week; it has to be checked out immediately.
Before taking up on any exercise at an older age, doctor consultation is always recommended, especially if you’re taking medication or have chronic conditions, such as heart problems. Besides that, you’re good to go!
What to do?
Yoga is one way to exercise and reach your inner self simultaneously. It is trendy for the young and the old, all over the world.
Walking is a great way to start a new routine. Whether you’re walking outside or on a treadmill at home or at the gym, it is a top activity you can pursue safely.
Everyday life regular exercise has been proven to aid health and fitness in senior years for a better physical and mental well being; it helps in the betterment of coordination and balance. The substantial part is that you have fun exercising. Endurance types of exercise are strongly recommended, such as cycling, swimming, running at least two to five days a week for a minimum of 30 minutes. It’s a life changer. It will make you feel like a million bucks.
Better yet, small things such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator is a great tip and has an impact on your health.
How it helps
All of the above helps in maintaining or avoiding to gain weight because as we all know, the older we get, the slower our metabolism is. It is a challenge, even from ages mid 30s plus. Constant exercise increases your metabolism and builds up muscle mass which helps your body burn calories faster than usual.
Moreover, elders who exercise regularly tend to have a better immunity system and digestive tract function, better blood pressure and bone, lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and so forth. All these horrible physical problems can be avoided by simply leading an active and healthy life.
Not to mention that being healthy and concentrating on exercise at an older age enhances your flexibility, strength and posture which can avoid your risk of fall.
Listen to your well-being
Exercise can help you train your body as well as your mental health.
Physical exercise aside, you should definitely train your memory and brain day in and day out. Let’s start with a no-brainer and yet it does miracles to the brains and memories to children, adults and seniors, depending on levels of course: crossword puzzles, learning languages, meditation, reading books, etc.
It is true that healthy aging is also to a certain percentage genetically determined and we can only have a limited influence on it. However, we can most certainly have a positive influence on non-genetic factors through a healthy lifestyle. If you’re up to it, that is.
Therefore, pay attention to a healthy diet, the intake of all important vitamins and minerals, sufficient exercise and a high quality of sleep.
Eradicate unnecessary stress from your life and challenge your memory and brain regularly.
Quality sleep is super important for your general health as you get older. Regular activity can help you fall asleep faster, sleep more deeply, and wake feeling more energetic and refreshed.
Uplift your mood and self-confidence asexercise is a massive stress reliever and the serotonins produced can actually help nihilate feelings of melancholy, lethargy, and anxiety. Being active and feeling alive can also help you feel more self-confident.
Improving your brain function by playing games like Sudoku or crossword puzzles can help your brain stay active, but little comes close to the beneficial effects of exercise on the brain. It can help brain functions as diverse as multitasking and creativity, and prevent memory loss-or worse, cognitive decline, and dementia. Getting active may even help slow the progression of brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Conclusion Do not compare, worry, or stress about a friend who’s exercising more often or more brutally. Each in his own space. Progress takes time. Besides, it’s not about the time, it’s about the work you put into it. Adapt into your routine as you get older. All those tips, take them to heart and you can start now to get healthy and fit inside out. Let us know in the comment box what you are doing to age healthily or what you will be doing after you’ve read this blog. Remember, as cliché as it might sound, but it is never too late!