How to Stay Fit in Your 60s and Beyond

Staying fit and healthy in your 60s and beyond is possible, but like any other fitness routine, it will take time and dedication. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you create a new workout routine or if you’re looking for motivation to continue with a current one.

1. Work Out at Your Own Pace

Whether you’re 25 or 75, it’s important to understand your own limitations and to work out at your own pace in order to avoid injuries. This is especially important if you are beginning a fitness regimen for the first time or if you have been unable to workout for a period of time. Building up stamina takes time, and you’re not likely to see results overnight, but working too hard too soon can be too much for your body at once.

• Start Slow
• Pace Yourself
• Celebrate Progress and Accomplishments
• Set Realistic, Measurable Goals
• Don’t be Discouraged by Off Days

2. Hire a Professional

Hiring a professional is one way to make the most of your fitness routine. A certified personal trainer can work with you to set realistic goals and create a custom fitness regimen that targets specific areas of need and takes into consideration your current energy levels, stamina, and physical limitations. A personal trainer can also help reduce the risk of injuries sustained if you have areas of concern or if you are in the process of healing from an injury or surgery. Along with learning effective techniques, you’ll have your own personal health coach and motivator who can provide accountability and encouragement when you are lacking motivation.

3. Join a Gym or Community Fitness Center

Joining a gym or community fitness center is a great way to try various types of equipment and different forms of exercise. Many gyms and community centers offer yoga and pilates classes, dance cardio classes, spin classes, kickboxing classes, and so much more to keep you interested, motivated, and challenged. Finding your favorite form of fitness also increases your chances of sticking with a fitness routine.

Retirement Communities

If you’ve considered joining a retirement community, you may have noticed that many of these communities offer an abundance of recreational activities and amenities. From indoor, aerobic swimming pools and state-of-the-art fitness centers to outdoor walking trails and fitness areas, health and fitness perks are one of the many reasons to consider moving to a retirement community.

HEALTH & FITNESS AT THE VILLAGE

4. Don’t Neglect Nutrition

While fitness is an essential aspect of healthy living, it’s also essential not to forget the importance of healthy eating. A balanced diet can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, control or prevent diabetes, improve memory and cognitive function, prevent heart attacks and strokes caused from clogged arteries, and more. Eating a well-balanced diet will also provide more energy and stamina for fitness and other daily activities. Eating well and making room for fitness in your schedule makes you feel better over all.

Which is More Important: Exercise or Eating Healthy?

Those looking to lose weight are often curious whether exercise or healthy eating are more beneficial for weight loss. The reality is that healthy eating and fitness go hand in hand. Eating well-balanced meals offers energy and stamina for exercise, and exercise prevents a number of medical conditions. Anyone looking to add vitality to their life and prevent dementia, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, stroke, and other serious medical conditions should consider both exercise and nutrition as vital parts of a healthy lifestyle.

Nutrition 101

You’ve no doubt heard that you should aim to eat at least 2 servings of fruit per day along with at least 3 servings of vegetables, but do you know why? The role of food in our lives is to provide energy that enables our bodies to function properly. Without proper nutrition, our minds, hearts, and bodies cannot function the way they are intended to. If fuel is meant to fuel your body, and you’re only indulging in unhealthy pre-packaged meals and carb-laden snacks, your body is running on empty. Instead of thinking of nutrition as a requirement for evading potential medical concerns, think of it as a way to fuel your body with the energy it needs to live the fulfilling life you’ve always wanted.

5. Utilize Technology

Thanks to smartphones and computers, fitness has never been easier with new technology trends that make it easier to stay healthy and fit at home on your own time. With so many free tools, you won’t even have to spend a dime if you already own a smartphone, computer, or tablet.

Pinterest

Pinterest offers an endless supply of inspiration for home decor, recipes, and apparel, but it’s also a great tool for finding workout routines you can do from your living room. A quick Pinterest search for “yoga routines for beginners” or “strength training for beginners” will yield thousands of results you can collect and organize for your own reference. Pinterest is also a great tool for finding healthy recipes and inspiration for healthy living!

Fitness Apps

Looking for ways to incorporate more yoga into your fitness routine? There’s an app for that. Want to track calories without having to write everything down in a physical journal? There’s an app for that. Want to track your daily walks or jogs while knowing how far and long you walked or ran and how many calories you burned? There are a million apps for that. There are an endless number of health and fitness apps out there, many of which are totally free. The best part, they allow you to find workout routines for every fitness level that you can do from the comfort of your own home.