There is no age limit on good health and fitness. It may change forms over the years, shifting from high to low impact, but it never decreases in importance. In fact, as you enter your golden years, staying fit and healthy may actually become more significant due to the impact this will have on your quality of life. Greater mobility, energy, bone density, and improved mental health are all pretty big draw cards. If you’ve never pursued health and fitness before, your golden years are a great time to start! Below are 4 tips to get you on your way.
Pursue In-Home Fitness Help
If you are new to fitness and a gym feels intimidating, you may want to consider having a fitness professional visit your home. Generally, they bring all the necessary fitness equipment with them, so your only challenge is clearing a space to work out.
If you need someone to help you on your fitness journey just so you can make it through your daily routines, aged care physiotherapy is an ideal choice. These professionals can help you work on strength, mobility, balance, post-surgery rehab and pain management all in your own home.
Incorporate Strength Training
If you want to maintain your independence as long as possible as you age, you need to consider beginning a strength training routine. As you lift weights, you increase muscle mass, mobility, bone density, and even your mental health. Studies have shown that older individuals who can complete a strength training routine grow more confident about their fitness capabilities, improve their metabolic health and enjoy a positive emotional impact.
Make Healthy Food Choices
You have most likely heard this refrain your whole life, but it becomes even more critical as you age. Your metabolism is on a slow but steady decline after age 40, so every calorie has a more significant impact. Calcium helps your bone density; healthy fats from plants, nuts, and fish help your heart and your brain; and excess sodium, with its adverse effects on blood pressure, becomes something to guard against. Making healthy food choices is not about perfection, it is about attention. Read labels and consider whether the foods you want to eat are helpful or harmful to your body before a meal.
Create a Plan for the Empty Nest
Maybe physical health or healthy food choices are not your issues. Perhaps your more significant challenge in your golden years is dealing with your empty nest and your emotional health once your children leave home. As you approach this new phase of life, you need to consider what pieces of your current life you would like to maintain. Some couples find that they are going to miss caring for someone, so they add a pet to their home. Others find that their friendships are what’s most meaningful, so they make additional effort to maintain those. Take time to sit down with your partner and be honest about what you need to make the transition a successful one.
Your golden years can be the best and most fulfilling stage of your life. Instead of watching your mind and body decline, you can oppose the forces of ageing and be stronger than ever! Start with little changes like adding a strength training session once a week to help rebuild your muscle mass. Hire a fitness professional to help you at home if you don’t feel comfortable at the gym. Work with your changing metabolism by paying attention to what you put into your body. And don’t forget to value and care for your emotional health.
To read more on topics like this, check out the lifestyle category.
