Exercise gets more important, not less important, as you grow older. You
may give the excuse that you are “too old” to start exercising,
or you are too tired, or you have a bad back; but the truth is, the worst
thing you can do is lead a sedentary lifestyle as an older adult. Getting
regular exercise helps you avoid serious illness, boosts your energy,
increases your self-esteem and improves your mood. You can maintain greater
levels of independence as you get older, and carry out tasks more comfortably.
If you haven’t exercised before or it has been some time since you
last exercised, here’s how to get fit after 50 and the benefits
of starting a fitness routine now.
Health Benefits of Fitness After 50
- Lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. Exercise helps you keep a healthy
weight which is more difficult as you get older when your metabolism slows
down. When you work out you burn calories and fat – exercise combined
with a healthy nutritious diet is the only real way to lose weight and
keep the weight off.
- Avoid chronic disease. Exercise can help you to avoid suffering from diabetes,
Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis.
- Greater flexibility and improved balance. Use exercise to improve your
coordination, prevent falls and injuries, and be more comfortable in your
everyday life when you can bend and turn with ease.
- Better cognitive function. Improve your mental functioning with exercise,
as well as slow down the process of dementia when older.
- Improved sleep. You don’t need to accept sleep problems as an automatic
part of aging. Exercise can help you get to sleep more easily and sleep
more deeply.
- Improved mood and increased self-confidence. Taking part in regular exercise
can help you feel better about yourself and the endorphins that are released
during exercise improve your mood and help ward off depression.
Advice for Starting an Exercise Routine After 50
- Get the all-clear from your doctor if you are new to exercising. It is
a good idea to get a checkup from your doctor in order to identify any
problems and decide if any activities are best avoided.
- Start slowly and build up the intensity if you are new to exercise or haven’t
exercised for a long time. You can start by walking for 10 minutes at
a time, for example, or taking one fitness class a week. Always warm up
before starting a session and cool down after.