Exercise
From wikiSenior
Strutting Your Stuff
If ever there was a perennial New Year’s resolution, it is physical exercise. Whether you buy an exercise machine, join a gym, or make an embarrassing public proclamation ("This year is going to be different!"), the commitment to exercise typically doesn’t last through March. That fall off isn’t due to laziness or indifference. The real reasons seem to be time and boredom.
Time you can make happen. Boredom is the real issue. Gyms have TV screens mounted everywhere you look, but there is rarely anything of interest to watch. Books can be mounted on stands, but can you really concentrate while flexing? What I’m going to investigate are instructional and/or historical videos from the library.
Apparently, there are at least three types of exercise that should be performed -
- Cardio-vascular, aka walking,
- Strength, aka stress movements and weights, and
- Balance
[edit] Actions:
- First, assess how you feel. Are you ready for an exercise program?
- Next, start walking. Since variety is the spice, plan out at least 4 - 5 different routes of various lengths and try a few. A short route might take 20 minutes, a longer one, an hour. Ideally, your should walk at least 30 minutes. However, a short route is better than nothing if you are running short on time.
- After a month of walking, you should be ready to add some strength training. The Strength Training Program designed by the Centers for Disease Control is a good, low-impact, place to start. It has three steps as well as some added challenges for those who choose to do more.
- For balance, you may wish to try the toe-heel walking suggested by Jane E. Brody. There are also other exercises suggested by the International Council on Active Aging.
- If you feel you are beyond the CDC strength training, you may wish to view a set of AARP videos that were developed by Dave Draper. These exercises involve more extensive weight training.
- Whatever your choices, the most important thing is to get started.
