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Apparel Apparent � What to Wear for your Workouts
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Once you decide to start an exercise routine you will want to make sure that you can optimize your comfort level during your workout. Much of what you end up choosing will boil down to what feels comfortable to you. Buying a replica of your friend�s workout wardrobe may become a return headache unless you know that those pieces are going to work for you first. With this in mind, there are a few keys to picking out the best pieces for your fitness apparel.
Getting Better at Getting Older � Physical Activities to Keep you in the Game
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The older we get, the more ways the body will find to surprise us with its newly found inabilities. It seems like one break down of the body keeps us filled up with excuses for longer and longer periods of time for why we are unable to do one thing or another. There are some limitations set due to these drawbacks that have to be configured into staying physically active. The key is to keep the body active in as many ways as possible, working around any limitations that emerge.
Keep Up with the Grandkids � Strength and Weight Training for Retirees
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Having grandkids over to stay over for a week can easily take up all your reservoirs of energy. The smaller your grandchildren are, the more activity you will be required to do. Changing diapers, waking up in the middle of the night, catching falls, and playing games with them are just a few of the activities which will take up your time and take away from your retired time. All these chores and tasks will bond you with your grandchildren, but they will also require that you make sure you are able to perform them.
Yard Work = A Great Workout for Seniors
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Staying fit can be quite a chore. Making the time and mustering energy to go to a gym or even to use home exercise equipment can be challenging, and what do we have to show for the time we spend (besides the knowledge that we�re staying healthy)? That�s why you may find that, rather than exercising for the sake of exercise, you prefer to work in your yard. It�s a fun and fulfilling way to keep active and keep your house and yard looking its best.
Many seniors will hire neighborhood youngsters to perform their yard work for them. Others prefer to get outside and do it their self. Doing your own yard work not only allows you to get a light, enjoyable workout, but you can also make sure the yard looks exactly the way you would like it to look. In addition, you derive a great deal of personal pride and satisfaction from doing the work yourself.
Pushing up Daisies � Why Gardening is a Great Physical Activity for Seniors
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For many of us, gardening provides a deep sense of peace and connectedness to the Earth. It is a pastime we enjoy, and, after retiring from the working world, we finally have the time to indulge in activities that, in earlier years, we had to struggle to fit into our busy schedule.
In addition to being a fulfilling activity, gardening allows us to stay physically active. The act of gardening helps maintain balance, coordination and strength. This, plus the maintenance of mental faculties that it provides, makes gardening a wonderful physical activity for seniors.
Window Shopping is a Competitive Sport � The Ins and Outs of Mall Walking
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Thirty minutes of brisk walking per day is not only enough to help you feel better, it is enough to prevent obesity and a host of other diseases. Walking is beneficial as a form of exercise. It is one the most basic and easiest forms of exercise. The only equipment required is sturdy shoes, comfortable clothing, and ambition. Walking is an aerobic exercise that tones your heart and lungs. It is most helpful to engage in walking three to six times a week for thirty minutes per session. Any type of walking, though, can improve health. However, outdoor walking is not feasible in all parts of the country due to climate, road conditions, and personal safety concerns. Mall walking is an excellent way to engage in this helpful activity.
The Top 3 Most Enjoyable Exercise Activities for Seniors
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If you are looking for new ways to enjoy working your body toward wellness, a bit of reminiscing may provide the activities you are looking for. What was once enjoyed does not have to stay a memory. Many of us have enjoyed a variety of sports in our youth. Why not dabble in the past to bring back some activities you once loved? Many seniors are rediscovering old sports and activities which they once enjoyed can be done with their current bodies. The agility and range of motion which scares seniors out of doing activities, which they once relished, does not have to be an issue if you respect the limits of your current self and take your sport little by little.
9 Tips to a Fun Exercise Program
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Eubie Blake, the jazz pianist, voiced the feelings of many an older American when he said, �If I�d known I was going to live this long, I�d have taken better care of myself.�
Fortunately for today�s seniors, doctors and health care organizations are waking up to the fact that it�s never too late to start taking better care of you. All over the country, senior citizens are being encouraged by their children, doctors, grandchildren and health care providers to �Get up and move!� And all over the country, they�re tugging on jogging pants, lacing up their sneakers and heading out there to have some physical fun.
5 Ways Seniors Can Enjoy Daily Exercise
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First they tell you that you have to exercise at least 90 minutes a day, five days a week, and then they tell you that it has to hurt. This no pain, no gain mentality is somehow meant to inspire us to work our bodies so hard that we are sore and stiff the next day. For seniors who already have pain that they are trying to heal, the prospect of purposefully adding more pain makes exercise seem like a bad joke. The idea that we should feel pain after we exercise may be good for military boot camps that want to build up soldiers, but as seniors, there should be a way to work around extreme exercise.
Tap into the Fountain of Youth � Exercise!
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Long gone are the days when �aging gracefully� meant taking to a rocking chair on the front porch. Today�s seniors are more active than ever. They�re out jogging, walking, swimming, biking and hiking � and that�s just the tip of the iceberg. And, say doctors, by remaining active, they�re increasing their chances of staying healthy and young.
Exercise, say many medical researchers, is a veritable fountain of youth. Seniors who engage in moderate to strenuous exercise on a regular basis are doing their bodies a favor in more ways than one. Recent studies released by the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, the National Institutes of Health and the Arthritis Foundation all support regular, moderate exercise to help prevent or treat heart conditions, high blood pressure, diabetes and arthritis. In fact, say most doctors, by including a half hour of exercise in your routine three times a week you can reduce your risk of nearly every physical condition that�s associated with aging.
Senior and Still Kicking � Dance Lessons Make for Great Heart Workouts
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Just thirty minutes of exercise five times a week has been shown to bring health benefits. Sleeping becomes more restive, arthritis and joint aches decrease, and energy levels increase. In addition, bone mass is maintained, protecting us from fractures due to accidental falls. Besides the physical benefits, regular exercise has been shown to aid in the maintenance of mental functioning.
Keeping our hearts healthy is especially important for us seniors. Cardiovascular exercises, which increase heart rate, keep our hearts in shape. Regular exercise has also been shown to lower blood pressure, freeing our heart from some of the effort in moving blood through our system.
Get Exercising with Some Golden Oldies Music for your Golden Years
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Are you looking for a way to increase the positive effects of your commitment to exercise? According to doctors and researchers, you can increase your motivation and concentration and decrease your conscious effort when you exercise by making one simple change � the music that�s playing while you work out.
People have known for decades that music makes work seem easier � but now researchers have proved that music is one of the strongest personal motivators known. According to studies headed by Dr. Jimmy Smith, a sports psychologist who practices in Texas, the right music can make you exercise harder and burn calories faster. Because exercisers are focusing on the music instead of on their bodies, he believes, they don�t feel the strain as much, so they work harder and longer. One of the most interesting findings of his research is that the best music isn�t high-energy, fast-paced dance music, as many workout trainers have assumed.
Forget Those Senior Moments and Ease into a Physically Active Way of Life
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As we get older, our bodies tend to want to stay at rest. The secret to a long and healthy life comes from keeping our bodies active. So many things depend on maintaining a daily exercise routine. Besides the obvious benefits of keeping our weight under control, researchers have also concluded that daily exercise helps us sleep better, strengthens our bones and muscles and lowers the risk of heart disease, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. The risk of diabetes and even some kinds of cancer can also be lessened by regular exercise
Buddy Up � Companions Take the Drudgery out of Exercise
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For those of us who are in our fifties or above, motivating to get fit can be a little intimidating. A few years, or even a decade, may have passed without any consistent exercise. Children and grandchildren, jobs, and figuring out your retirement plans have made your life seem busier than ever. The body may try to tell you that getting into a routine of exercise is too daunting of a task in your less youthful body. You may wonder how much working out may have changed since the last time you were in a gym or aerobics class
Strength Training = Strong Bones
By :
Peter Whittington
A critical aspect of aging is the general weakening of both muscle tissue and our bones themselves. One of the surest ways to reduce the stress on our weakening bones is to increase our muscles mass through strength training. Strength training has repeatedly been shown to be a safe and effective method of reversing muscle loss in the elderly. This muscle loss, referred to as sarcopenia, actually begins around age 45. At that time, the average person�s muscle mass begins to decline at a rate of about 1 percent per year.
8 Tips for Toning Your Tush for the AARP Set
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Peter Whittington
Who doesn�t want a more attractive bottom line? Exercise mavens note that shaping the glutes (gluteus maximus, the official name for the muscles of your tush) is the single item most likely to appear on the priority lists of both men and women on all ages. It tends to creep its way up the priority list over the years as age and nature take their inevitable toll on the bottom line. The loss of muscle mass that goes along with aging is the prime culprit in sagging tushes and dropping bottom lines. However, say a fitness expert, that doesn�t mean that you can�t do anything to tone your tush, even in the golden years.
Circuit Training for Seniors � Finding the Right Gym for your Lifestyle
By :
Peter Whittington
Circuit training as a concept is designed to be exercise that achieves an all round physical fitness as opposed to fitness for a specific sport. Only by physically working the body can our muscular and respiratory system be improved on. Circuit training combines the use of physical resistance, aerobic and stretching activities to help increase the body�s endurance capabilities. Not only seniors but women, new exercisers and even experienced exercisers will receive the benefits of circuit training.
For seniors, it is of course critical to starting at a low level increasing both intensity and duration gradually. You will want to be sure that a slowly progressing load is being placed on the exercisers cardiovascular system. Circuit training is not the same as weight training. In weight training, a person works at a high weight level, theoretically using the most weight a person can successfully handle for 8-12 repetitions. In weight training, the lifter then has a period of rest before making a second attempt at the exercise, repeating the weight level and the repetition numbers.
Maintain a Healthy Balance � Stability Ball Exercises for Seniors
By :
Peter Whittington
When I first saw a friend of mine using an exercise ball, I thought to myself, �I�d never be able to do that!� But after trying it out (very carefully), I found that using it was a snap. Actually, it made stretching and exercising fun and enjoyable. Using a stability ball, I was informed, also helps our balance as we get older.
A stability ball, for those of you who may not have seen one, is simply a large poly-vinyl ball (typically between 18 and 28 inches in diameter) that can be used in many ways during an exercise routine. It serves in place of a chair or floor mat (very handy for those of us who hate getting up and down from the floor during a workout). It can replace a wall or a bench during
Hydraulics is Not Just for Cars � Senior-Friendly Workout Equipment
By :
Peter Whittington
Hydraulics provides simple solutions for many of today�s engineering and energy problems. The use of water is becoming more and more popular for its ability to recycle the energy back into cars that is expended by putting on the breaks. The principles of water energy have been used in almost every industry and now, hydraulics is making a statement in the fitness world, particularly with seniors. If water can energize and strengthen the capabilities of upcoming hybrid cars, it should be able to do the same for people. Seniors are now finding and showing that water can also power the machine which is the human body.
Why Water Weight is Good � Water Dumbbells for the Pool
By :
Peter Whittington
Staying fit is tough, especially when you are nursing an injury or struggling with joint pain. Low impact exercises, like biking or swimming, reduce impact on joints and ease the body through a workout. When considering the alternatives among low impact exercise programs don�t overlook the advantages of performing your entire workout in water. In a pool, your body feels lighter. This phenomenon is known as buoyancy. The water actually holds you up, creating a safe environment for people of all fitness levels to exercise. In between exercises, you can relax, letting the water support your weight and relax your muscles
Get Real � Savvy Seniors Say Swim for Life
By :
Peter Whittington
There area a vast array of reasons why swimming and water based exercises may be the best choices for seniors. Next to walking, water based exercises have the lowest impact rate for injuries. Water also provides more options for those who are extremely lacking in general fitness or have a previous injury that makes land based activity difficult. Finally, water based activities work the entire body, serving as a form of both strength training even as aerobic training takes place.
Low Impact Exercise Makes a Huge Impact on Seniors
By :
Peter Whittington
It is clear that exercise for seniors is increasingly important. Exercise has a number of benefits. Even people who are feeling like they are too old or too feeble can begin to feel better about their outlook on life through exercise. Regular workouts can improve many health conditions that have been already diagnosed. Moreover, staying active can prevent diseases like diabetes. However, many seniors can't cope with difficult exercises. Low impact exercises can provide just as many health benefits for seniors as other types of exercise can.
Aerobic Exercise for the Couch Potato
By :
Peter Whittington
If the thought of bouncing around a gym or workout center in spandex makes you cringe, take heart. Experts in aerobic exercise say that you can reap the benefits of an aerobic workout without getting up off your butt.
Chair aerobics are designed to give those with mobility problems a good cardio workout without putting strain on the joints and bones. A chair aerobics session may include kicks, punches and stretches, and often includes the use of workout bands and weights to increase strength and resistance training as the workouts get more intense.
Seniors that Can Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk
By :
Peter Whittington
Walking is one of the most popular activities for seniors. Whenever you see seniors walking in your neighborhood on a regular basis, trouping along whether it is a perfect day or not, it motivates you in your own activity and inspires you to become a healthy senior yourself. Fit seniors are one of the best role models for all who are young. Growing older does not seem as daunting when a senior can portray their independence by keeping motivated. After just a week of staying on a walking schedule, you may feel that you too can be an example to other people and seniors and that you can talk the healthy lifestyle talk.
Increasing Senior Stamina
By :
Peter Whittington
Exercise for seniors is increasingly important. It can lead to a longer life span, prevent a number of medical conditions, and help seniors feel better. However, in order for a sedentary individual to start and stick with an exercise program, an increase in stamina is essential. There are several things you can do to increase your stamina.
Flex Schedules for Seniors � A Guide to Stretching
By :
Peter Whittington
Few things reward the body as much as stretching. At the same time, almost nothing could be simpler or take less time. Unfortunately, most Americans, including seniors, overlook stretching as part of an every day fitness program.
Stretching increases muscle flexibility. This can result in a decreased likelihood of injury, better muscle performance, and a feeling of well-being that follows for hours after you�ve finished.
Ideally, you should stretch several times each day. Stretching in the morning will get your body ready for the activities ahead. It also provides your mind with a focused, quiet activity that results, for many people, in a sense of peace and lessening of anxiety. In the evening, stretching will help work out the kinks of a day�s wear and tear. Stretching and relaxing muscles before going to bed will reduce soreness after a hard day and will have you waking up feeling great.
The Senior Stretch � Warming Up Before Starting Your Day
By :
Peter Whittington
Perhaps no aspect of senior fitness is overlooked as often as stretching. Stretching in the morning may be the best way to make the most of every day. Regular morning stretches help maintain overall flexibility, which, in turn, affects the rest of our lives. Stretching prevents every day injuries and allows our muscles to perform at their maximum potential. In addition, stretching is simple, requiring no additional equipment or physical skills, and demanding only a little bit of time.
Exercise for Elders � Choosing the Right Activity for You
By :
Peter Whittington
The idea of exercise being a beneficial part of a healthy life has been around for some time, but only recently has that advice been offered to the aging population as well as the young population. In recent times, information has been presented to demonstrate that exercise is helpful to people of all ages and people with many different health needs. Creating and sticking with an exercise routine can help to stop or prevent a number of different health problems. Moreover, even a little exercise or activity can help aging seniors manage their health conditions. Seniors require four different types of exercise to stay healthy.
Be a Fabulously Fit Fifty
By :
Peter Whittington
At fifty, many of us take stock of our lives. We can look back on careers, friends, and family that we are proud of, but what do we want to do with our middle years? How can we make the most of our lives? Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of our later years, as well as the one that may have the greatest impact on our overall well-being, is our health and fitness. How, then, can we best ensure our health and fitness into our mid and later years? Exercise!
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