My Mom was desperately asthmatic when we were growing up. To make matters worse, she was raising six kids who were also asthmatic. It was in 1956 that she began taking the family “east of the mountains,” during summer vacation, far from wet Seattle to a little coal-mining town in Eastern Washington. There, she could breathe easier in the dry climate.
Before we left Seattle to head East that year, Mom’s doctor told her to start lifting weights to improve her endurance. The guy was an iconoclast, a one-of-a-kind physician way before his time. At mid-century, virtually no one understood the benefits of weight-bearing exercise and the positive impact it has on people’s health and well-being. Well, Mom didn’t know where to buy weights, so her doctor told to her lift 10 oz. cans of beans. (Happily, there are good sources from which to purchase weights, now, including Amazon and Big5).
My point here is that we’ve come a long way in our understanding of the relationship between exercise and its health benefits. Seniors are more aware than ever of the positive effects of exercise on promoting health and quality of life. So, why is it that we lose enthusiasm after getting off to a good start? Well, there are lots of reasons, not the least of which are interruptions caused by the relentless demands of daily life. Still, we have to make the time – not with so much frequency that we burn out and give up – but with a regimen that fits easily into our lifestyle. I’ve been exercising several times a week for the last 32 years, and I look and feel better than I would have if I hadn’t committed to a simple program.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) has a terrific website dedicated to the benefits of exercise. Just log on to Overcoming Barriers to Exercise, to see the range of easy fitness tips for helping you stick with your program and a “Quick Tip” about the four types of exercises you need. Before starting your program, be sure and check with your doctor to make sure that the level of your fitness routine is right for you.
Check out Grannybooster.com for our segments on exercise. There, we cover low-cost exercise equipment, but truly, you don’t need fancy equipment to engage in a satisfying exercise program. Check out the link – Be Physically Active Without Spending a Dime, and you’ll see why.
Exercise doesn’t have to be rigorous to be effective. According to the NIH, moderate, consistent exercise has been proven to be beneficial in reducing fatigue, managing stress, and improving mood.
Here’s to your good health!
We want to hear from you, so feel free to share tips, ideas, and resources for seniors with Grannybooster. Email me, Maris Somerville, at info@grannybooster.com
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