5 TIPS FOR WORKING OUT AS YOU AGE
You’re tired after a long day. You’re achy. You probably don’t feel like doing a workout. But working out gets even more important as you age. Over the long haul, working out protects our joints and gives us energy. What can we do to maintain our health and well-being as we get older? Let’s look at these 5 tips for working out as you age. But you can apply them to yourself no matter how old you are.
Tip #1. Keep Moving
Movement protects our joints, bones, and muscles. Find whatever activity that you enjoy. Walking, running, biking, swimming, yoga – they are all great activities to keep you moving. Try to stay consistent with whatever activity or activities that keep you interested.
But our lives are busy. So schedule time to be active and stick to it.
Tip #2. Recover
Recovery from a tough workout is important at any age. But you may need some extra time to recover as you get older. Active recovery often helps more than just strict rest. What is active recovery? Continued movement – in some form. That can mean a brief walk or a yoga class to stretch. It can include a session in one of PFP’s infrared saunas or some compression therapy. Find what works best for you.
Recovery can also include rest from our everyday stresses. As we get older, our mental state can affect our physical sense of well-being even more. Meditation, a massage, and a sauna session can all help with mental health recovery.
Tip #3. Sleep
Most of us probably don’t get enough sleep. If you are drowsy during the day, you likely need more sleep each night. And our sleep schedule is just as important as how much we sleep. That means going to bed and waking up within an hour of a scheduled time every day, especially between weekends and weekdays.
Naps can be good, too. Limit them to 20 minutes for a quick refresh.
Sleep affects both physical and mental functioning. Make it a priority.
Tip #4. Eat Healthy
Again, this advice holds true for everyone. As we age, the foods we eat can play a larger part in how we feel and function. Processed meats, refined grains, sugary beverages – they are all more likely to cause inflammation.
Try more fresh foods and limit other processed snacks and treats when you can.
Tip #5. Hydrate
We’ve all heard about hydration with exercise. But hydration starts even before you hit the gym or start working out. Most healthy adults can drink 6 – 8 glasses of water per day to meet their fluid needs. How much you may need can depend on weather conditions, exercise intensity, or other health conditions.
An easy gauge to look for adequate hydration is a light-colored urine. If you have questions about how much to drink due to your medications or underlying health conditions, talk to your provider.
Set Up Your Asessment
These simple steps will help you keep active as you get older. If you want help scheduling a workout or recovery routine, set up your FREE fitness assessment now!