Senior Fitness: The Value of Exercise

There are four types of exercise and your fitness routine should include some of each.

Endurance: Walking and swimming are two excellent endurance activities. They build your "staying power." They improve your circulation and give your heart a good workout.

Strengthening Exercises: As we grow older, we lose muscle mass. Strengthening exercises can reduce or eliminate that problem.

Stretching Exercises: Stretching exercises keep the body flexible and limber. It eases stiffness making it easier to go about our daily routine.

Balance Exercises: We can lose our sense of balance surprisingly fast. Balance exercises can reduce that which reduces the chances of slipping and falling.

Sixty percent of all Americans are overweight or obese. While never good, it is an added problem for seniors. The more excess weight we carry around, the harder it is to get around. It's easier to sit in front of the TV than get OFF OUR DUFFS and do something. The less exercise we get, the more weight we gain. The cycle continues until we are truly a COUCH POTATO.

I want to enjoy my retirement and all the days God gives me. Eating healthy is a part of that. It's not always easy. It's easier to grab a bag of chips and a soda than to prepare a proper meal.

Self disciple carried you through years of work. Let it carry you through retirement. Watch what you eat and exercise. There may not be a fountain of youth but there's no reason to give up your "youth" before you have to.

I'll be the first to admit I don't exercise as much as I should, but I try to walk at least 10,000 steps a day. Some days I top that number before leaving school, but when I don't I go for an evening stroll. I listen to the rustle of the leaves and hear an occasional chirp of a bird settling down for the night.

It's peaceful.

Walking helps me wind down so I can get a good night's sleep.

During the summer and school is out, I switch schedules. South Carolina's summers are incredibly hot so I walk early in the morning, almost before the sun has risen. It's nice to see my pedometer click over 8,000 before I've had my first cup of coffee.

Whatever you do or however you do it, add a little exercise to your daily routine. You'll be happier and healthier for it.

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