Keeping Fit as You Grow Older: What You Need to Know
Even younger people who are exercising frequently are sometimes worrying about what will happen when they get older. Can you keep up with an exercise routine? Am I just going to cause damage to myself?
It’s true that you’re going to experience some loss in stamina over the years. But it should be no secret by now that people often exaggerate how bad growing older is! And that applies here, too. In fact, many of the things that people fear about getting older are already being fought if you’re exercising now. So stop worrying so much!
As for exercising when as you approach and move past fifty, there are certain things you’ll have to be wary of. www.webmd.com has a great article dispelling myths about exercise in older adults. Here are some of our tips!
Speak to your doctor
You should be getting physical check-ups from your doctor every year. You may even want to have at least a couple a year, especially if you’re working out at an older age. This may seem like an obvious bit of advice. But a lot of people out there who exercise frequently feel that they don’t need to go to the doctor. After all, they’ve got it all covered with all this exercise, right?
Make sure your doctor is kept abreast of what you’re doing when you workout. This will help them assess you correctly. Some problems that can occur during workouts may not manifest in the short-term, so they need to look for early signs that a change is needed.
Men: fight falling testosterone levels!
Sorry, guys! Chances are you’re going to suffer from falling testosterone levels as you get older. Unfortunately, the fact that it’s happening may not be apparent to you. How noticeable it is varies from man to man. If you’re exercising, some of the symptoms will definitely be less noticeable. One of the giveaways is weight gain, which you’ll be fighting with that exercise.
But low levels of testosterone often manifest in ways that will directly affect your exercise. Your energy levels and muscles mass will start to decrease. And with those, your general physical strength. Don’t worry, you’re not collapsing from the inside! It’s normal. But you might need some form of testosterone boost to keep up with your regime. Read more about doing this safely at www.newtestosterone.com.
Put more focus on warm ups
As previously noted, your muscles are going to get weaker as you get older. This is something you’ve fighting long-term with all that exercise you’ve been doing throughout life. (As a reminder, this is why exercising from a young age is important. It will help with physical strength and mobility as you get older!)
One of the most frustrating aspects of getting older is an increased susceptibility to injuries. Even if these injuries are minor, they will disrupt your routine something fierce. And, of course, warm-ups have always been about preventing injury during exercise. You may want to spend more time of your warm-ups to ensure you’re getting the right blood flow to your muscles. Need a reminder of the best warm-up routines? Check out www.prevention.com.
Keep your brain sharp, too!
Quick note: the process of getting older will be much easier if you exercise your brain, too! You’ll be surprised how much it can benefit your physical health. Keep on reading, writing, and doing the occasional Sudoku puzzle!
