Regardless of age, starting and maintaining a fitness regime can be challenging. As you get older, your mobility and agility won’t be anything like it used to be, so if you’re passionate about staying fit and healthy in your senior years, here are a few tips you might be able to use.
Consider Health Concerns
Before you begin exercising as a senior, it’s important to keep in mind how any ongoing health problems could affect your workout. If you have diabetes, for instance, you may need to adjust your meal plans and medication timings when creating an exercise schedule.
Get Medical Clearance
In your senior years, you may feel hesitant to exercise because of your age. Before beginning an exercise program, it’s advised to obtain medical clearance from your doctor, especially if you have health conditions. Your doctor can give you more advice on activities that are best avoided, and exercises that will benefit you both physically and mentally. You don’t want to put yourself at risk of injury, so getting the all-clear from a healthcare professional is important.
Listen to Your Body
Regular exercise should be highly rewarding and beneficial, so if you experience pain, it’s important that you stop exercising immediately and contact your doctor if you develop chest pain, feel short of breath, or break out in a cold sweat. As you get older, you need to listen to your body and be realistic in the sense that you may not be able to do activities that you used to. Also, make sure that you are following a balanced diet and are getting plenty of sleep each night. You may find that it’s time to replace your mattress and pick a new one that can support your bones and joints. When looking for a mattress, the softer the better should be what you look for.
Start Slow
If you have not been active for a long time, it’s best to build up your exercise program in stages, rather than putting too much strain on your body. While regular exercise can improve mental health, prevent disease, and decrease your risk of falls, if you do too much at once, you could be putting your health at risk. There are several things you can do, such as spacing out your workouts and choosing easy chair exercises that will slowly boost your confidence and increase your fitness.
Create an Exercise Schedule
No matter your age, staying motivated, and committed to exercise can be challenging. When entering your senior years, you may be more inclined to take things easy, so if you want to stay fit and healthy, it’s advised to create an exercise schedule. Working out a few times a week will force you to stick with it and create a habit. It’s important that you pick activities that you enjoy, otherwise, you’re more likely to give up at the first hurdle.
Reward Yourself
Once you have successfully finished a workout or reached a new fitness goal, make sure that you pick things to look forward to which can keep you on track with your exercise. Whether it’s your favorite cup of coffee, or running a hot bath, rewarding yourself for your hard work will increase the chances of you committing to exercise.
As a senior, you may feel discouraged to work out as a result of health problems, pains, or injuries. If you have never exercised before and want to make health and fitness a priority, all the tips above can help you stay motivated and ensure you look after your mind and body when exercising.
