SolveYourProblem eLearning Series:
I'm an Active Senior
Who Wants To Stay Healthy
( 50 aticles in this series )

An Active Lifestyle Fitness Plan For Seniors
   

Fitness is important for everyone, but it is especially important for seniors. If you've decided to begin exercising and leading an active lifestyle then you've taken the first step toward great health. Even if you've led a fairly sedentary lifestyle until now, you can start being active at any age. You might check with your doctor, though, just to be sure you're ready to get started. You should certainly check with your doctor if you have heart problems, you feel chest pain when you are active or at any other time, you regularly lose your balance, you have difficulties with your bones or joints that might get worse with increased activity, or you take prescription drugs for serious health issues. Once you get the okay from your doctor, you're ready to start building your active lifestyle.

The best way to begin creating an active lifestyle is with a fitness plan. Seniors should focus on four main areas of fitness. First, set your sights on endurance. These are activities that can strengthen your heart rate and breathing over a long period of time. Activities like walking, biking, running, stair climbing, hiking, team sports, and swimming fit in this category. You should try to engage in thirty minutes of endurance exercises each day. The next main area of fitness you should focus on is strength. Strength building activities help build muscle, reinforce joints, and add to bone density over a period of time. Activities like working with a weight machine, enrolling in a martial arts class, or rowing will help to build strength. You should try to build strength training exercises into your active lifestyle plan three to five days each week. Another area of fitness you should focus on is flexibility. These activities, like daily stretching exercises, can increase your ability to move. Other activities that fall into this category are yoga and various forms of dancing. Build at least ten minutes of stretching into your routine every day. The final area of focus is balance. Balance exercises can keep you from debilitating falls. Balance workouts can include Tai Chi and general posture exercises. This component should be built into your other workout routines.

Sometimes it is difficult to stay motivated with your fitness plan. There are a number of things that might make you want to quit working out. If you are bored with your activities, you are more likely to stop doing them. That is why it is essential to choose activities that you like. If you hate swimming, don't enroll in water aerobics. Another reason people leave their fitness plan is a lack of time. If you don't make your workout a priority, you won't make time for it. You should also vary your fitness routine. Doing the same activity over and over again can get incredibly boring. However, if you walk two days a week and go to the gym three days a week, you might stay interested. Challenging yourself can also infuse life into your fitness routine. Plan a long term goal and then try to reach it. Your goal could be something as complex as a triathlon, or as simple as walking for forty minutes a day instead of fifteen. Choosing someone to workout with may also help you stick with it. If you don't have a neighbor you would enjoy exercising with, try joining a local health club or mall walkers group. Chances are good that you might find someone to talk with and exercise with. Finally, be sure to reward yourself often. Think about what you would look forward to, then build in a special rewards day if you've met your fitness goals for the month.

Exercise isn't the only way to stay healthy, though. It is also important to lead an active lifestyle. For example, choose to take a vacation that involves whitewater rafting instead of sitting by the pool and eating junk food. Also, instead of spending every night in front of the television, try going dancing a few nights a week. The final key to a healthy lifestyle is nutrition. Read labels and try to keep a food diary. It will help you keep track of whether or not you are eating well. Active lifestyles are an important building block to good health.

# # # # #

SolveYourProblem.com : 2006

> Home > Healthy Seniors Articles : Main Page