Staying Active in Your Senior Years
With the colder weather approaching, it can sometimes be hard to find the motivation to stay active. But physical activity, especially for seniors, is important to maintaining a healthy body, mind, and spirit. Exercising has a number of benefits for people of all ages, such as improved mood and increase self-esteem, lowered risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer, and increased strength and balance.
Here are a few tips for seniors to stay active:
- Find Your Passion: Whether is gardening, biking or hula-hooping, you are more likely to stick to an exercise routine if it’s fun!
- Slow and Steady: Seniors age 65 and older should get at least 2.5 hours of moderate aerobic exercise every week, which averages out to about 30 minutes on most days of the week. Start slowly and keep track of your progress in a training diary for added motivation.
- Get Social: Invite your friends and plan a walk or attend one of the many activities Inlet Coastal offers residents!
- Stay Hydrated: The general rule of thumb is eight glasses of water a day. Seniors are also at greater risk for dehydration because of how body composition changes with age. Make sure to drink water before, during, and after exercising to help stay hydrated.
- Mix It Up: For maximum health benefits, the NIA recommends participating in all four types of exercise- endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility.
Before starting any exercise program, please consult with your doctor. If you have a health problem like heart disease, diabetes, or obesity, be sure to talk to your doctor about the types and amounts of physical activity that are right for you!