Health & Fitness Tools

Exercising When You Are Older

23rd February, 2011 - Posted by health news - No Comments

People who work out are less likely to have other health issues than people who do not work out. In addition to helping a person keep a healthy heart it is also effective at keeping a person happier and looking better overall. However, few of us realize the importance of exercising after we have gotten older. As a person ages, they can ward off many of the problems that come with the aging process by following a fitness regimen that is designed for them.

There are several considerations for people to think about when they are considering an exercise regimen for a senior citizen.
1. Why should seniors exercise? Many younger people start an exercise regimen because they want to find a way how to lose weight fast but for senior citizens this is not the primary goal that many of them have and although it is important that people of all ages get the proper amount of exercise every day it is especially important that senior men and women also engage in regular physical exercise, in order to maintain proper health and fitness.

It is inevitable for a person’s body to be less flexible and to have less strength as they reach the later years in their life. There are some areas that are more affected than other areas due to the aging process. As we get older our overall body strength diminishes. People use this lack of strength and flexibility as the reason that they can no longer do things. By following a fitness routine a person will be able to slow down the natural aging process. It can also help reduce the risk of many other medical conditions.

2. Is it safe to exercise? fear of harming their body is one of the main excuses that is given by older people who do not get regular physical activity. While they may not want to start a diet and exercise regime that is designed to show them how to lose weight fast at home in a week, it is perfectly safe for the majority of seniors to participate in moderate physical activities although they should check with your health care provider before you begin any type of physical exercise to make sure that what they are choosing to do is safe for them to undertake. Although an older person might have some limitations to working out, they can still help their body even if they just do a little at a time.

3. What types of exercise should seniors pursue? Just like people who are younger, the key is a variety of exercises that will help a person achieve the body they want.

These include aerobic activities. This type of regimen is made to give a person endurance among other things. Aerobic exercises help build stamina and endurance, as well as burn calories and fat. For the routines to have the desired effect they must be done regularly and for long enough time periods to get the heart pumping. Senior citizens can pick from many activities that will not take a significant toll on their body as they are doing them.

It is also good to do some resistance training. Weight lifting is a key to keeping the senior citizens muscles from deteriorating from lack of use. It helps improve range of motion and endurance. This type of routine can be followed on days that a person does not do aerobic exercises.

A complete fitness regimen will also include flexibility exercises. This will help a person to maintain more control over their body. It could also be essential to keeping a person from having any accidents as they grow older.

People can follow a fitness regimen as they age. Not every individual will be able to do as strenuous a routine as someone else. Even the smallest amount of exercise can help make a person’s quality of life better and could lead to much more.