Seniors

A good senior fitness program has a few parts to it. To reach a good fitness level you must follow all of the parts. Not just the easy parts. Not just the parts that interest you. You need to follow the whole system.

Exercise is essential for senior fitness. I’m not talking about “no pain, no gain” exercise. Just a normal level of exercise is required to obtain and maintain fitness. That’s all.

Senior fitness starts with aerobic exercise. That exercise will recover and maintain your heart, lungs and circulatory system. Walking and biking are two good aerobic activities. Almost everyone can do them. You want to exercise for at least 20 minutes at least 3 times a week. Your body will get better at doing its daily tasks.

Weight training helps your senior fitness by building your muscles and your bones. That gives you the mobility you want.

Stretching, yoga and Pilates can help you with your posture, flexibility and balance. They have a lot to do with how you feel.

Nutrition is another key part of senior fitness. You are what you eat. Your food is the raw material for the building of your body. You know you’re supposed to eat more fruits and vegetables. So do it. The ideal foods are whole, unprocessed foods. In other words, they are the foods that don’t come in a bag or a box. Please use sensible portion control. Don’t stuff yourself three times a day. In your diet, smaller is better.

You know you’re supposed to drink lots of water. Do it. Forget about those sodas loaded with sugar.

Supplements can help all of us, for senior fitness or regular fitness. You want vitamins, minerals, enzymes, anti-oxidants, essential fatty acids, and probiotics. These items are effective for anti-aging.

Another part of a good senior fitness program is time for rest, recovery and relaxation. I know you like the sound of that part. Get a good night’s rest each night. If you get worn out during the day, stop and take a nap. It’s allowed. Use rest in addition to your exercise. After you exercise one part of your body, let it rest on the next day while you exercise other parts.

Rest does not mean you have to be idle. There is such a thing as active rest. Gardening can fit in that category. So can playing a musical instrument.

Meditation is an effective rest technique for many people. How does a massage sound? Maybe aromatherapy is what you will enjoy.

Your thinking and attitudes also are important for senior fitness. The power of positive thinking applies to people of all ages. Thinking that you can exercise, eat right and get the right amount of rest is a big step in the right direction. If you think you can’t do those things, you are right. Without the right attitude you simply won’t be able to do them.