Senior Fitness: The Value of Exercise

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Exercise to Stay Young at Heart

I'm looking forward to retirement. After years of working, I will have the time to pursue my hobbies, and fill my time with things I want to do, rather than the things I have to do. I know my body will eventually wear out, but the affects of aging can be delayed. Regular exercise can prevent or delay heart trouble and diabetes. It can reduce the risk of stroke, arthritis pain, anxiety, even depression. By staying fit, I can retain my independence and live my life the way I want to.

Find a fitness program that works for you and stick with it.

Four Types 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.

Include all four in your fitness routine.

Lose the Fat 

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.

Omron HBF - 400 Body Fat Monitor 


Omron HBF-400 Body Fat Monitor and Scale


Fitness is not just monitoring our weight, but our body fat percentage and body mass index as well. The Omron HBF - 400 Fat Loss Monitor can be used to monitor all three. By programming in your height, age, and sex, and the Omron HBF - 400 will give you the information you need to keep on track and reach your fitness goals.

Eating Healthy 

Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating

Amazon Price: $12.47 (as of 07/10/2009) Buy Now

365 Days of Healthy Eating from the American Dietetic Association

Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 07/10/2009) Buy Now

Change Your Food Change Your Life

Amazon Price: $20.49 (as of 07/10/2009) Buy Now

The Ultimate Healthy Eating Cookbook

Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009) Buy Now

Healthy Eating for Life for Women

Amazon Price: $15.25 (as of 07/10/2009) Buy Now

Exercise Your Mind: Read 

Do you follow a fitness routine? 

Randy_Hights wrote...

One of the simplest but most effective ways of staying healthy is walking. Walking on a regular basis will improve your condition and your health. People do all kinds of exercises but very often ignore simple walking. If you find walking boring you may try to use some kind of step counter like omron so that you may count your steps and keep track on your walking routine. Walking can benefit you more than most people realize.

ReplyPosted June 30, 2009

susannaduffy wrote...

Oh what a pain it is for me to keep almost-reasonable, I walk, I bounce, I swim, holding off the inevitable as long as I can

ReplyPosted June 11, 2009

AndyPo wrote...

Excellent lens. A very important topic for all of us.

ReplyPosted May 25, 2009

Lensmaster

Geoffcfp

We have some really good fitness walking progreams we use that might be helpful to others. In face we have developed our own little info website to help in particular folks over 50 get fit and active again.

In our case we focus on folks like us who have or want to overcome physical challenges as well. Ours include torn quad tendon, achilles heel problems, lower back pain, ACL tear, damaged wrists and so on. No we're not really a mess - it is just that with time you sorta have tendency to 'attract' some of this little beasties.

If you would like to take a peek at our programs you are welcome to do so at

http://www.50plus-fitness-walking

Perhaps you can find some value and motivation there.

Good luck
Geoff

ReplyPosted May 22, 2009

Lensmaster

Geoffcfp

We have some really good fitness walking progreams we use that might be helpful to others. In face we have developed our own little info website to help in particular folks over 50 get fit and active again.

In our case we focus on folks like us who have or want to overcome physical challenges as well. Ours include torn quad tendon, achilles heel problems, lower back pain, ACL tear, damaged wrists and so on. No we're not really a mess - it is just that with time you sorta have tendency to 'attract' some of this little beasties.

If you would like to take a peek at our programs you are welcome to do so at

http://www.50plus-fitness-walking

Perhaps you can find some value and motivation there.

Good luck
Geoff

ReplyPosted May 22, 2009

 
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About the Author 

Lensmaster ElizabethJeanAllen, aka Lizzy Jean, has been a member since March 16 2008, has rated 3,690 lenses, favorited 454, and has created 165 lenses from scratch. Lizzy Jean donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "The Mallard Duck". See all my lenses

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Healthy Heart Walking Tape 

The Healthy Heart Walking Tape: Walking Workouts For A Lifetime Of Fitness

Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)Buy Now

More Information 

For more informtion of health and fitness, click on the links below.

President's Counsel on Fitness and Sports
Medline Plus; Exercise for Seniors
Senior Wellness Center