Archive for November, 2009
Why do we exercise ?
We choose to exercise usually for different reasons : for recreation , for competition, for work, for health or for looks or appearance. The amount of exercise you perform depends on your reasons for exercising and how quickly you want to achieve your goals. To put good intentions into action you need a goal. The type of exercise you choose depends on your abilities and preferences, on your schedule , on the season, on where you reside and on the facilities available.
Exercise is the best kept secret in preventive and maintaining health, and despite all of our excuses we all need to do it, and we don’t need to be a professional athlete to get all the health benefits you need from moderate exercise even those that don’t make you huff and puff as long as it adds up to enough regular activity.
As we reach our golden years it is easy to maintain an active life by doing what it takes to get these benefits by simply adding a few more steps in our daily activities : Walk the dog, use the stairs and the key is to do enough and to do it often enough.
WHY RUN OR JOGG
This is probably the easiest exercise that just about anyone can do unless of course you are physically impaired.Truly you can be outside, at your favorite park or just on your block and go for it, start running or jogging, SIMPLE right!!!! WELL WRONG !!! If you are a beginner at this there are a few things you should know before you get started and hurt yourself and give up after the first try.
I personally got started to get my dog some exercise and quickly realized that there was more to it then meet the eyes, after only a half hour of it , i was out of breath , my knees ware hurting and felt that this was not for me and stopped. so i went home and did some research and find out that the best way was to first warm-up by simply walking and then stretching . Also having the proper fitting running shoes was preventing my knees from hurting and that due to my age some of my muscle ware not ready for a sudden burst of energy.I knew that running was like any other exercises, good for my heart and helping with my overall fitness and i should keep at it ,now i follow the proper approach and run an average of two miles every morning and feel great. Running is fun and really can improve your health, simply be careful at first and learn the doe’s and don’t and understand and listen to your body.
A Fun Full-Body Workout
When my father took up swimming a few months ago, our entire family was somewhat flabbergasted. For most of his adult life, he was in great shape. As a roofing contractor, he was constantly on the move, going up and down ladders all day and generally staying physically active. But this was the first time he actually went out of his way to begin a fitness routine.
These days, we’re about ready to have his mail forwarded to the community pool. He wakes up before dawn and drives the few miles to the pool, then puts in his laps before work. Several nights a week he even makes a return trip for an evening dip. From my own personal observations about the pool’s clientele, it seems he isn’t the only baby boomer who’s swimming for fitness. It’s an effective full body workout that’s fun to boot.
The B vitamins
As a group the B vitamins are responsible for several important functions, including supporting metabolism, enhancing immune and nervous system function, promoting cell growth and division, and maintaining healthy skin and muscle tone.
Three of the B vitamins in particular *vitaminB6, B9 and B12* are also associated with brain health: research suggests that consuming adequate amounts of these B vitamins throughout one’s lifetime may play a key role in reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other types of age related cognitive decline as we age.
Boomers and love
This is an area that many of us don’t feel we should even discuss or thing about!! Well guess what, as we grow older many people want and need to be close to others and this particular subject is as important now as it was in our younger years and i am willing to engage a conversation on the subject of love and sex with whom ever is willing to participate. Normal aging brings physical and emotional changes in both women and men and sometimes affect the ability to be romantic and enjoy sex. Illness, disabilities,medications, emotions ,stress and age concern can play a big part in why we are not actively involve.
You may find that baby boomer fitness plays an important role in finding and rediscovering hugging , kissing,touching and enjoying the pleasures of intimacy. Please share your thoughts on how we should enjoy our golden years
Weight and lifestyle
What is a healthy weight?
Body mass index
A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy . A person with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight and a person with a BMI of 30 or more is considered obese.
BMI is a good way to tell if you have increased health risk due to your weight.
A visit with your doctor can provide you with the status of your BMI and suggest the fitness information and nutrition program to help you to a healthier life style.Weight control could save your life
Weight problems
Whether you want to lose, gain or control your weight comes down to a few simple steps.
First, pay attention to the total numbers of calories intake. Eat small meals throughout the day that include a variety of healthy, low-fat, low- calories food.
Second, being active and how much physical activity you do during the whole day will determine whether you gain, lose or maintain your weight. Activities help build muscles and muscles burn more calories then body fat. So if you have more muscle, you burn more calories ” even sitting down “.
In short, it is how much you eat and how much physical activity you do during the whole day that determines whether you gain, lose, or maintain your weight.You need to burn more calories then you eat, understanding the how to of food nutrition and exercising is a must to achieve results.
Everyday life
JOIN THE TEAM of women and men who appreciate that exercise is one of the healthiest things you can do !Build exercise into your every day life.
LET’S GET STARTED……………..
Don’t be left out of the picture, people of all ages and physical conditions benefit from exercise and physical activity.
Don’t be reluctant to exercise! You might be afraid that physical activity or exercise will be too demanding too strenuous or that it will arm you, well, be smart about it, start with simple and easy activity, take it step by step, establish a program, short goals will not work, play the turtle not the rabbit and you will see amazing results.
Studies show that exercise is safe for people of all age group and that older adults hurt their health far more by not exercising then by exercising
Growing older does not mean you have to lose strength and the ability to do every day tasks.In order to stay physically and mentally in good working condition you need to stay in motion, take action now! EXERCISE……
Dietary supplements
Dietary supplements are substances you might use to add nutrients to your diet or to lower your risk of health problems. They might contain vitamins, minerals, fiber, amino acids, herbs or other plants or enzymes.
People over 40 need more of some minerals and vitamins than younger adults do.The following are some that are especially recommended.
Vitamin B12 helps keep your red blood cells and nerves healthy.
Calcium works with vitamin D to keep bones strong at all ages.
Vitamin D. Some people’s bodies make enough vitamin D if they are in the sun 10 to 12 min. at least twice a week, but as we get older we may not be able to get enough of it.
Vitamin B6 is needed to form red blood cells and it is found in potatoes, bananas,chicken breast and certain cereals.
Eating right may not always be enough to supply our body with the proper nutrition and that is why it’s important to use some type of supplements