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Men and women are at their prime in their twenties and early thirties. However, it's a sad fact of life that as we age, our bodies begin to decay and die. Increasingly, more and more of us are waking up to the fact that being in poor shape leads to a range of illnesses and conditions that can be life-changing in later life.
As we age, our ligaments shorten and stiffen, lung and heart capacity decreases and our ability to build muscle all deteriorates. However, studies1 show that these changes are predominantly down to disuse than any physiological changes associated with ageing. Once we increase our activity, we regain much of the agility and vigour that we thought we’d lost for good.
There are numerous benefits of being physically fit - from being functionally strong enough to enjoy life to significantly increased life expectancy2. Here are some tips from our older athletes who are enjoying the benefits of being physically fit.
Making a schedule and then getting help from friends, family, and health and fitness professionals is the best way to achieve your fitness goals. Building a community around exercise, like in a supportive assisted living situation, or with a local group, is another great way of harnessing collective motivation. Buddy-up and don’t try and go it alone!
Once you make an excuse to miss your workout, you’ll find it easier to repeat this and avoid it the next time. Be unrelenting in your decision to commit. Our golden years can bring on aches, pains, and ailments that we didn’t suffer from as youngsters. However, simply getting off the couch and into your exercise gear, and making a sensible effort towards your objective is enough. Don’t deviate from your goals.
Proper nutrition, adequate sleep and recovery time between sessions, plus a professional approach to your regime are essential for those of us enjoying later life. As our bodies age, we have to adapt and train smarter to avoid injury and maintain consistency. It's not just the physical strain on the body - don’t neglect the psychological aspects of a fitness regime! Focus on the goal at hand and try using concentrated mindfulness techniques3 to get your mind as fit as your body.
- Jenny Holt, Freelance writer
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