Keep Fit and Healthy As You Age

Do not kid yourself that a weekly round of golf or taking the dog for a walk will keep you fit and healthy as you approach your sixties. The sooner you start on a sensible and well organised exercise routine the more likely you are to slow down the effects of ageing as the years roll by. Most of us want to retain our independence, stay active and be healthy for as long as possible but it takes more than hope and good genes if you want to live life to the full well into old age.

Health care professionals have plenty of hard evidence that keep fit routines can delay the signs of advancing years as well as promoting health and well being.

Try not to make the mistake that a gentle weekly amble around the golf course instead of using a golf buggy is going to do the trick, it simply will not! Unless you have a remarkable dog, your walks with it will be constantly interrupted as it sniffs out the range of exciting smells that dogs seem to encounter every few yards putting power walking, which will do you good, out of the question.

One of the problems with exercise routines is boredom, for some of us that poses a real challenge while for others there are a host of activities can be enjoyed at the same time as keeping our bodies tuned and exercised.

For those who are fortunate enough to have a ´good eye´ and reasonable reflexes then playing doubles tennis a couple of times a week against opponents of a similar standard is a great keep fit and very enjoyable activity but it should be supplemented with other, less competitive, even solo, regimes.

We know of eighty plus year old tennis players who will have slowed down in both their physical and reflex reactions but can still give much younger opponents a good game and often beat them by using their guile and experience.

A word of warning, doubles tennis at local club level gives players plenty of time to think and to rest between games and sets. It won't be the fast game that you see on the professional circuit.

Do not be tempted to take up Squash or Racquets as these are fast games where it is too easy to get so immersed in the challenge of winning that you can dangerously over-exert your body with serious or even fatal results. Moderation is the watchword for any exercise routine taken up after your fortieth year.

It is likely that tennis will not appeal to the majority of elders for a multitude of reasons so what other options are open to oldies?
Cycling and swimming are an excellent ways of keeping and staying fit and can be enjoyed with or without friends.

Another idea is to take up an active hobby such as line dancing as an addition to your keep fit routine to help keep your interest up.
Your comfortable home is also a well-equipped gym; ideal for performing those physical fitness routines that can help you stay healthy and independent, and slow down the signs of aging, both physically and visually.

An added bonus in these "credit crunch " times is that it comes at no extra cost other than the will and desire to stay as young and as active as possible.

Keep that body moving with these exercises that use your household furniture as a free alternative to a costly gym and still get good results while at the same time enjoying your favourite music, radio or TV show to help keep boredom at bay.

Stay young, keep fit and keep 'Old Father Time' waiting as long as possible.

Learn how to slow down the effects of aging with Gymnastics for Geriatrics