Your body needs to move throughout life. As we get older and older little things in our body start giving out and we NEED to work those little kinks out. Those little kinks turn to big kinks and then we are in trouble.. and then don’t have the same ability to move, bend, stretch, lift, turn or balance the way we used to. I hear people in the 40′s already complaining about it.
What to do?
There are many different exercise mediums to help you become or to continue to be your healthiest and fittest to move easily in to the next stage of your life. You can master what you are capable of doing to be able to be your healthiest and fittest. No one needs to have an extensive activity plan that overwhelms them and leaves them worn out and unable to function, even for short periods of time. You need to find a variety of activities to help you become or remain more physically fit.
Get better with age
I am loving this journey of getting older, but BETTER in every way. It is my dream to help you become the best physical being you can be so you can live the best active life you are able with the body you were given. (nutrition and mind fitness too)
Quick fixes?
It’s so hard to know what to do. I find that there is so much extreme information. The diet and lose weight fast or the 10 week program to huge muscles. Maybe you just want to get into the best possible shape for you and it isn’t all about losing weight fast or getting big muscles quickly. At the least, it should be, to be able to maintain your body to perform everyday functions easily and effortlessly, without all those “old” people pains.
Move it
You have to move, move, move. You have to do whatever you can to keep those muscles strong, and mobile and flexible. ( It also helps with the brain ).
“Physical activity is helpful not only because it creates new neurons but because the mind is based in the brain and the brain needs oxygen. Walking, cycling or cardiovascular exercise strengthens the heart and the blood vessels that supply the brain and helps people who engage in these activities feel mentally sharper” ( from The Brain that Changes itself by Norman Doidge M.D.)
Body needs to move
So your body deserves to be able to move and function throughout life with ease. You have got to do whatever you can to keep yourself mobile. You want to be able to move, bend, stretch, lift, turn and balance as long as possible. Don’t give in to that age thing.
If you haven’t already chosen an exercise program, what is holding you back?
Do it differently
I think that most of us expect to be uncomfortable with age. I know that I hear people use the age excuse for so many things they can no longer do. Who said you have to do it like you did when you were 20? It can be done at a different pace, with a different intensity.
Exercise is so good for you
Some important thing we have to remember is that exercise makes your muscles and bones stronger, it also improves your balance and your strength. By enriching your cardiovascular system, exercise decreases your risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes. It helps regulate your appetite, changes your blood lipid profile, reduces your risk for more than a dozen types of cancer, improves your immune system and buffers against the toxic effects of stress. From the “Brain Rules” by John Medina
Now with all those benefits, why would we use “I can’t do it”. It should be I have to do it. I want to be mobile and feel and look younger than my years!
So have you got any kinks to work out? Have they started yet? Are you working them out? What are you doing to move, bend, stretch, lift, turn or work on your balance?
Please leave your comments below.
Hey Holly,
Your great take on aging and exercising puts me in mind of one of those lines that gets to be immortal within a family. You know, the kind of thing that someone said, and it StucK! So that whenever one of you says just the first few words, everyone just nods sagely in in agreement.
For us the line was one my husband and I read in the newspaper many years ago. A woman of very advanced years, but sound constitution and even sounder mind was asked to provide some advice for the people who wanted to live to 100:
“Just keep movin,’” was all she said!!
Thanks for stopping by Linda,
Yes many people do nod sagely because they “know about it” but do they actually do something about it? That is what I run into with my family and friends. This woman of advanced years that said “Just keep movin” knows about it and does it, as you ( if you met her) could tell with her sound constitution and sound mind. The exercise not only helps with the body but does so much more for the mind. I plan on being of sound mind and constitution all the way, so I keep moving it. How about you?
Hi Holly
I loved reading your post and I so agree with you. I have always exercised so I do not really understand people who do not. I feel really yuk if I miss out for too long.
I also eat pretty healthily.
I live in a town where the populations has a large percentage of retirees and most are very active. It is so good to see.
Great message Holly.
Sue
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Thanks Sue, Great to hear that you enjoy exercise! I too often don’t understand why people don’t choose to. Like you, missing out for too long doesn’t feel so good. I think I eat pretty healthily to, especially compared to the people around me. I am learning that there is whole lot more I could do to eat even healthier. It is so good to hear that you have retirees around you that are very active. I think a lot of people leave the exercise for the retirement years, when they “have time”! So thank goodness they are doing something at that time in their lives, but I wish more people would do more exercise earlier because by the time retirement comes around many people are either too ill or too out of condition to even think about it.
Hi Holly,
Wonderful advice! People underestimate the connection between keeping yourself physically fit and mentally connected. To achieve optimal mental health, you need to be healthy physically which fuels you mentally.
Janette
You said that so well. Thank you. I am so excited to hear from people who really get this idea. I look forward to sharing more of this idea to help inspire others to take advantage of the simple but not always easy task of being mobile and active throughout life.
you make it sounds so easy holly! i believe most people know what they are supposed to do… but doing what they know is a totally different story! i love working out, but i know most of my clients will not begin a workout program, even if their goal is weight loss. i talk a lot about walking, and i believe it’s the most under-rated exercise. almost everyone can do it, and it’s how our ancestors lived: they didn’t drive, they didn’t “treadmill”–they walked!
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Hi Melissa,
If only it were as easy as it sounds! Heavy sigh! It is kinda sad to see what we have evolved into, considering out ancestors did so much for their physical health ( they of course endured many other things that we don’t have to nowadays either!). But I have faith that the time will come when we will be much more easily led to do what our bodies need. We just need to keep inspiring and educating those who don’t do it. You have inspired me to do a blog post on the “ease” of exercising! Thanks for the inspiration and the comments.
This is so true. I know of people who have reached retirement age that just sit at home vegetating not knowing that over time their bodies will start to cease up. My parents are well into their 80′s and they still go for daily walks and keep themselves busy in the garden.
Loved the article and gave it a tweet so that others can learn from it.
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Thanks Sire. It really is interesting that people don’t know that their bodies will cease up. I just love to see people who make a point of exercising and keeping mobile. It isn’t always easy and no matter what age, your body will definitely benefit! I cheer on my Grandfather who still dances twice a week.
I’ll give him a cheer as well, especially considering I can’t dance for peanuts. Reckon I’ll have to stick to walks and chasing the wife around the bedroom
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Well Sire, walking is good. I sure hope that your bedroom is big, cause chasing the wife around will certainly help. I am going to assume you do have some muscle, they would sure love a work out. And I am going to suggest that one day you try some yoga. What do ya say? Give it a try?
Dunno, I may be a bit old for yoga. I used to have a fair bit of muscle as I used to push weights in my younger years. I remember the hassles we had trying to find a suit that would fit.
That’s a think of the past though, but who knows, perhaps I can show others that even at 52 we can still put on some bulk, muscle wise that is
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One is never too old to start!! Yoga is good, and just because you can’t do what the yogi’s do, doesn’t mean that you aren’t doing a great thing for you body! And I bet you can get those muscles going even at 52! Not sure you need to go excessive, just enough. Overweight can be too much fat or muscle!
I don’t like to exercise.
There, I said it!
I find getting all sweaty Most un-goddess-y and frankly, would much rather not.
However, I do like looking utterly ravishing in a sliver of a ball gown, and would prefer my arms not to have flaps that keep waving after I’ve stopped.
Plus I intend to live long enough to be able to have Purple hair and be utterly, and wildly eccentric.
So, I exercise. Because as you so rightly stated, Holly, this body needs to move.
Bliss and blessings,
the goddess known as Jacqui
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Goddess Jacquie, you are so funny. I understand the don’t like to sweat part! And for sure it is rather un-goddess-y! Yes those arms flaps have to be worked if you don’t’ want them. Exercise ( moving) is a definite part of living long. So keep up the exercising, you will appreciate it and so will your body! Thanks for leaving a comment.
Sweating can be fun Jacquie, it all depends who you get sweaty with
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Hi Holly,
I love your post. The energy radiated is just popping off the page. I completely agree with you on keeping that body moving. If I’m idle for too long, I start to feel lazy. Whether I’m usually doing something active each day.
Gardening, playing with my daughter, working out at home, going to the gym. Keeping my body moving is rewarding since exercise affects so many other aspects of your life.
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Hi Moondancer,
Love to hear how exercise and movement keep your going. It is so rewarding knowing that exercise affects so many aspects of one’s life. Keep it up Moondancer and we can help inspire the world.
I recently did an hour long.. first time.. yoga class
with my young 23 yr old daughter.. Now this body has NOT moved
like that in longer than I care to admit.. However I
hung in for the entire class and my body felt wonderfully
sore ….MY ENTIRE body felt wonderfully sore for 2 days!
I came home and got out my Pilates machine!
p.s and by the way my daughter was impressed that her mom
hung in there and worked the entire hour class! She told me so
I love her gosh darn it! She added some lift to me step!
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Good on you Joann, go Mom go! So good to hear. Just hearing your accomplishment thrills me. Especially when it isn’t a habit. Nice of your daughter to give you a lift! It is so fun to work out with my daughter too! Are you using your Pilates machine, do you still have a lift in your step? Thanks for dropping by and commenting.
Oh I’m with Jacqui! I would rather not. And I found the secret to staying thin and healthy…heehee
I do agree with you though about getting older and the kinks, so my good friend and mentor made Bikram Yoga (110 degree heat) an assignment for me, so of course, being a good student, I did it with much grumbling.
You’ll be proud of me Holly, I continued for 1 1/2 years, 3 times per week, until I was very flexible. Then she said just continue at home, so I must admit, that’s the little that I do daily…unless climbing the stairs of my 3 story house counts…LOL
Thanks Holly! You got a tough crowd on this one with us!
Aloha,
Kellie
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Good on you to do the Bikram Yoga… It’s tough!! Keep up the yoga practice for sure! And if you can do those stairs several times a day that’s great too! I would certainly love to hear you are doing weight bearing exercise ( your bones and muscles will appreciate it)… Thanks for leaving comments, it is greatly appreciated even if you are one of the tough crowd! (^_~)
Thanks for the encouragement. I just a “Fat” person in a now skinny body…heehee and I’m from Hawaii…we love to eat!! We do have the best food cause we have every culture here! You must say Holly that Canada is much less obese than the US! Come to Hawaii one day and enjoy the “ono” food, it’s hard to resist!..LOL
That’s why we are the land of aloha (love) & ohana (family)!
Aloha
Kellie Hosaka recently posted..How To Use The Pareto Principle 80-20 Rule To Increase Your Success
Your Welcome Kellie. Go to Hawaii, great idea!! For the food.. not sure I could resist! I will keep that in mind… Someday.
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Holly~
I always liked to exercise, didn’t always consistently do it, my favorite was dance aerobics – I say it a bunch… that’s my goal, to do dance aerobics to 80′s music!! It’s funny how the thought of exercise changed when I’m not able to!
~Linda
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We often don’t do what we should until there is good reason to do it, or we can’t!! I look forward to hearing how that dance aerobics goes to 80′s music! Keep on with that goal!
I love to exercise! Especially now that we have a family membership at Lifetime Fitness, we are practically there everyday! I love to dance so I go to Latin Fusion, Hip Hop, and Zumba for cardio. I also attend a “Strictly Strength” class on Wednesdays, Soul Grooves for cardio/strength/stretch, and Vinyasa Flow Yoga every Sundays. Swimming with the kids twice a week! I love the variety of exercises I can do. I’m never good with machines so I stay away from them coz I usually challenge myself too much coz of boredom and end up getting injured. And you know what I love the most? I love the fact that my husband now works out with his trainer twice a week, and the kids get to rock climb, swim, do gym/sports in there as well!
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Hi Cherrie,
Exercise needs to be fun. So It is excellent that you have found something that you like. Including the whole family in it,, not only benefits you and them but it establishes great habits for your children. Good on ya! Love to hear enthusiasm about exercise!