Stay Fit After Fifty ... well stay fit no matter what your age !

For those readers who have hit 50 (and above), we have to be honest! Once you hit 50, your body is not the same as when you were a 20-year-old! But that shouldn’t stop you from staying active and leading the best life you can.

Let’s look at some great outdoor activities for the 50+ folks.

Walking or Hiking

It’s the most simple yet efficient exercise you will find out there, and it's free! It's the best thing you can do after lunch or dinner and will keep you filling energized long after your walk or hike is over. Grab a walking buddy, (human or animal!), you will lose track of how much time, and how many steps you take! Of course many can, and do, enjoy a walk on their own. 

Dancing

Sometimes you need a nudge to try something new. Sign up for a local ballroom, Latin, or salsa class. If you can’t convince your spouse, grab your friends and give it a go. You can also try Zumba or aerobic dance classes at your local gym for a way to burn some serious calories. Don’t worry about what others think, you will have a ball-of-a time!

Golf

There are many benefits of playing golf. From mental and physical fitness to weight-loss, it’s a great low-impact activity to do once a week. A full, 18-hole round of golf involves a walk of around 5-6 miles. Even if you choose to take a golf cart/buggy around the course, it’s still better then doing nothing. Along with the amount of walking involved, golf is a great full-body workout, exercising the arms, legs, back, and abdomen.

Bike Riding
Riding a bike is a classic activity that never gets old. It’s a great, low impact way to exercise your joints. Biking offers increased cardiovascular fitness, increased muscle strength and flexibility and improved joint mobility. It can even decrease stress levels and improve posture and coordination. So dust off that old bike and give it a spin!

Racquet Ball or Tennis

Playing a racquet sport such as tennis or racquetball is a great way to keep fit and agile. Both sports can be a great workout and lots of fun. Playing tennis has many health benefits including increased aerobic fitness, improving muscle tone, strength and flexibility and increased reaction times. 

Strength Training

The reason, in part, that your metabolism slows down as you age is due to a loss in muscle mass. As you age, there is more fat than muscle around the bones. You can prevent this by weight-bearing exercises like strength training. Strength training puts stress on your bones, which signals to your body to strengthen them and causes new cells to be added to your bones, according to the National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Research Centre. 

Yoga

Yoga has many healing and meditative benefits. While it improves flexibility and builds muscle strength, it also helps your posture and protects your spine, and prevents cartilage and joint breakdown. It’s also great for your blood flow and overall mental well-being. At first, it may be difficult to sit through a whole 60-minute yoga class, but once you build up your tolerance, the minutes will fly by.

Swimming

You are never too old for swimming. It’s an amazing cardiovascular workout with heart-healthy benefits. Swimming keeps your heart rate up but takes some of the impact stress off your body. It helps build endurance, muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness. It also helps maintain a healthy weight, healthy heart, and lungs. All while toning muscles and building strength at the same time. 

Original article can be seen here

My favourite from these is walking, how about you? Is one of the above a favourite of yours ...

NOTE: The information is not intended to be a replacement or substitute for consultation with a qualified medical professional or for professional medical advice related to diabetes or another medical condition. Always consult your doctor before starting a new exercise routine and any questions and concerns about your medical condition.

All the best Jan