Smart Senior

Youngsters know how to be
stay fit.  Don’t you get a kick out of
watching a puppy or a little kid running around in circles for the pure joy of
it?  We tend to forget the joy aspect as
we grow older. Young adults drag themselves to the gym because they know they
should or because they want to fit into a smaller slack size.  Older adults tend to go because their doctors
scold them and tell them they must. 
Whatever the reason it is the right thing to do.

I love seeing seniors
participate in fitness classes.  I silently applaud their efforts and think
“good for you” when I see them at the gym or walking in the neighborhood.  However, for the most part, people tend to exercise
less as they grow older, which is a grave mistake.  Exercise
is important at every age, but even more so for a senior.

 Why is it that so many seniors refuse to exercise?

• Muscle
  and joint aches and pains
  become more noticeable, which makes self motivation harder. You may need
  professional advice to work up a program that takes your age into
  consideration.  Find a
  cardiovascular exercise that you enjoy but that is easier on your joints;
  remember the object is still to boost the heart rate so you can’t ratchet it
  down too much. If you are lucky you can get away with just buying better
  shoes and inserts, but consider swimming and bicycling instead of running.

• Back
  pain becomes a way of life.
  Learn how to protect your back by building strong core muscles and taking
  extra precautions when lifting heavy objects.

• Compromised
  balance and leg strength. To
  prevent falls and increase flexibility; it is necessary to concentrate on
  leg strength. The large muscles in the thighs are important to keep you
  mobile and to stabilize knee joints. Strong thigh muscles mean you can
  walk distances, get up or sit down easily, and do everything from golf to
  dance.

• Bone
  strength: weight bearing
  exercises are necessary to keep bones healthy and strong.

• Symptoms of arthritis
  make exercising particularly difficult, but exercise is generally part
  of the treatment plan.

• Forgetting
  to exercise? No excuse.  Remember that exercise is thought to slow
  down or prevent common forms of dementia.