Age is just a number when it comes to staying fit and healthy. In our modern age, it doesn’t matter if you are young or old, you are still not exempted to different kinds of illnesses due to lifestyle. When you are on your seniors, your legs don’t work like they used to before and you can’t sweep somebody off your feet. But that does not mean that you should sit around and watch as time pass you by. You might be old, but that should never be a reason for you to be unhealthy.
When you grow older, something that you can do is improve your physical strength, avoid getting ill and weak by staying fit. However, it’s also important to consider and truly understand that there are activities that should have certain limits since the natural body naturally degenerates over time. Get some advice from the professionals to ensure that you or your loved one can maintain a fit and healthy lifestyle safely.
Let’s take a look at some vital health tips and recommended exercises for the senior community:
Taking a Walk
Whether you are recovering from sickness or your body had gotten weak, taking a walk every day is helpful. It is one of the first steps you can take to staying fit. You can start with a few minutes walks then eventually increasing the duration as you get used to it. You don’t have to go far when taking a walk. Just walk around the block then finally you can walk around our neighborhood. Or if there are parks nearby, you might as well enjoy yourself there. Taking a walk does not just help your physical body, but it also refreshes your mind. Many in the senior community enjoy taking walks with their caregivers in the morning and late afternoon. It is a way for them to take a break from staying indoors and take in some fresh air.
Doing Simple Exercises
Aging doesn’t mean stopping yourself from doing exercises. However, the types of workouts you can do may vary when you grow older. You don’t have to involve yourself in strenuous activities. You can consult your doctor on the types of routines you are allowed to do. You can start with simple stretching and leg lifts. You can also check on other simple exercises you can do at home through the help of your caregiver.
Eating a Healthy Diet
One of the most important things you need to remember is that, when you get older, you need to have a proper diet. Eating the right amount of food at the right time is essential. It’s just right too to have a healthy diet. You and your caregiver can check on the foods that are good and bad for you depending on your situation. There may be certain types of food you must not take if you have severe medical conditions. On the other hand, some foods are recommended for you since they can help your body recover in certain ways.
Staying Hydrated
Fluids are your best friend and drink lots of it. Having enough fluids in your body is necessary not just to maintain your health but also to cleanse your body from unwanted chemicals you have taken in. You can enjoy drinking different types of healthy drinks such as fruit shakes and juices.
Knowing Your Limits
In everything you try, do not overdo it. Too much of anything can jeopardize your health instead of making it better. Make sure that you follow your doctor and caregiver’s advice and do what your body can at the time.
Endurance Exercises
Do you have a hobby? Do you enjoy walks or even dancing? Well, if you like all of these, chances are, you are healthy. Endurance exercises compose of activities that require you to move a lot of parts of your body. Some of these exercises are dancing, swimming, walking, jogging, and biking.
Endurance exercises help the elderly by increasing your breathing and heart rate. These improve the circulation of blood and of course, strengthens the lungs. Being part of the senior community, you need to take up a few activities that will keep your blood flow at a decent pace. So if ever you want to take up a few activities. Consider some of these.
Balance Exercises
Growing old means that you will lose your balance the older you get. Balance exercises help you make a deal with those in a more flexible manner. Balance exercises are simple and straightforward movements like sidestepping stepping upstairs, and heel to toe walks. They are great for elders because they make you less susceptible to dangerous falls that could further damage your body and health. Add to that the benefit of being free to move around without anybody feeling nervous for you and that is an exercise worth doing in your free time.
Flexibility Exercises
When we think about flexibility exercises, yoga is the first thing that comes to mind. For some elders this is a likely possibility for some, other activities give you a more fluid and easy approach, and that is Tai Chi.
A great activity that you could enjoy with your fellow elders. The move is not that fast as other martial arts, and you have to follow the person in front of you. Flexibility means you are going to stretch your muscles and make sure your body is limber helping you do more activities and stay active.