Over the past few years, more and more research studies have shown that the "pill" or "cure" for the aging process is to exercise.
Exercise does slow down, and can turn back the aging clock. Not the wrinkles, but the lack of strength, lack of joint range of motion and energy. If you rest, you rust.
If you don`t use it, you lose it. This is a hard "pill" to take. To know that you have it in your power to make a difference. Choke it down. Work does not often count, because it is most often one of the reasons you are tired and achy. Can it be so simple? The answer is yes with consistent exercise. The hard part and most difficult part is to get started and stay with a program! Millions of active adults are finding that one of the secrets to a longer, healthier life can be found in consistent exercise. Studies on the number one practical exercise activity for everyone is to walk more. Put walking in your day to day life. Drive less! Walk around your neighborhood; walk to a restaurant, the post office, market, school or library. Walking in our beautiful environment in Cedar Key is a blessing. However, you must walk with upright posture, deep breathing and with the intent purpose of exercise. This is not only good for your health but for your psyche. Stretch after the walks to maintain range of motion and flexibility. Increasing your flexibility decreases your susceptibility to injury. No less important than the first two is strength training with weights. Although endurance exercise improves our cardiovascular fitness, it does not prevent the loss of muscle tissue. Only strengthening exercise maintains our
muscle mass. This is shown in our day to day strength (independence)throughout our later years. Regular strength exercise prevents muscle loss but also know, it prevents the accompanying decrease in resting metabolic rate. Reduction in our resting metabolism rate increases our body fat (As if you didn`t already know that!) Inactivity is the reason we lose this muscle mass. Drink water. Tea, soda pop and coffee do not count. At least eight glasses of water a day is a must. An additional water choice is water exercise. This activity is a combination of the cardiovascular conditioning of walking, strength training of weights and the stretching benefits of yoga. However, we will have to wait a while before all of our community can have accessibility to a pool
workout. It is never too late to take the plunge and begin enjoying the age-defying benefits of exercise. Variety is the key to keeping exercise in your life. Pick a friend and support each other in this battle to stay fit and live a more active life. Go to a class or the library and check out books on stretching, strengthening and the benefits of exercise. Make the year ahead a happy and healthy one! | 