Getting fit in your forties
For many this can be quite a daunting propspect, following years of potential abuse and neglect to ones body it is not easy to become sufficiently motivated to actually get round to becoming more active, sure we all talk about being more active and shedding a few pounds but in reality very few of us get round to donning a tracksuit and achieving any results. Below I share some of the tips that I have acquired to help me prepare for my own challenge.
Start slow
Aching bodies and creaky joints normally result in giving up before we even start. I am not a medical practitioner or fitness instructor but I hope to share my experiences and inspire a few of you to join me, in my bid to shed a few pounds and return to fitness whilst in my mid forties. I believe the key is to start slowly and build up a base level of fitness before increasing the intensity and frequency of activity, if you experience any pain stop immediately and if uncertain as to your suitability to undergo activities please consult your Doctor before starting any exercise programme.
Live a healthier lifestyle
Diabeaties, obesity and heart disease have become more prolific problems in recent years. The fact is that we live a more sedentary lifestyle and consume more fats and sugars in our diets than ever before, however the good news is that small adjustments to our eating and exercise habits can go a long way to reverse and fend off these diseases. Check out our recipe section for tips on great tasting healthy meals and snacks.
What is fitness
Fitness means different things to each of us, some may be striving to take part in a local 10K run, whilst others will simply want to walk a flight of steps or kick a ball around with grandchildren, nephews, nieces etc without getting out of breath and feeling like their experiencing a minor coronary.
Youth has long gone but it doesn't mean you have to be old.
The key thing here is to forget about what you could do in your twenties and start focusing on what is possible now. Start slow and build up, remember that your body muscle is problem starting to deteriorate and the lungs and heart will need conditioning. When undergoing exercise and a steady breathing pattern cannot be achieved or a conversation with a training partner cannot be held, you need to ease back or rest for a while before resuming. The good news is that with perseverance, fitness levels will quickly rise and training can be moved on a level. Build a base fitness before trying to hard as this will only leave you disheartened and liable to chucking the towel in, be realistic in your goals and the rest will fall into place.
Realistic goals
Set yourself a goal and create an action plan. Don't try to radically change your lifestyle, just try to incorporate a more balanced diet and exercise plan into everyday life. If you alienate friends or suddenly disappear from your social circle it can lead to resentment and constant questioning to how your journey is progressing. Friends will often have unrealistic expectations of how quickly your body will adapt to its new challenges. Sadly this will ultimately put you under pressure and cloud your judgement on how far you have already come. Just the fact that you are reading this, means that you are serious about making some changes and getting fitter. Grab a notepad and set yourself a challenge.
Conclusion
Start slow, be realistic and write done your goals so you can monitor progress. Talk to your Doctor about a fitness plan to get you moving. If you have some fitness already, go online find yourself a training programme and get started, Alternatively invest in an app or activity tracker and start monitoring your activity level. Give your body a kickstart by adopting a balanced diet, drink more water and cut back on the alcohol. Good luck and please share your story, I am confident that by working together and sharing experiences it will achieve two key objectives, keep us motivated and help motivate others who in turn will help us.
For many this can be quite a daunting propspect, following years of potential abuse and neglect to ones body it is not easy to become sufficiently motivated to actually get round to becoming more active, sure we all talk about being more active and shedding a few pounds but in reality very few of us get round to donning a tracksuit and achieving any results. Below I share some of the tips that I have acquired to help me prepare for my own challenge.
Start slow
Aching bodies and creaky joints normally result in giving up before we even start. I am not a medical practitioner or fitness instructor but I hope to share my experiences and inspire a few of you to join me, in my bid to shed a few pounds and return to fitness whilst in my mid forties. I believe the key is to start slowly and build up a base level of fitness before increasing the intensity and frequency of activity, if you experience any pain stop immediately and if uncertain as to your suitability to undergo activities please consult your Doctor before starting any exercise programme.
Live a healthier lifestyle
Diabeaties, obesity and heart disease have become more prolific problems in recent years. The fact is that we live a more sedentary lifestyle and consume more fats and sugars in our diets than ever before, however the good news is that small adjustments to our eating and exercise habits can go a long way to reverse and fend off these diseases. Check out our recipe section for tips on great tasting healthy meals and snacks.
What is fitness
Fitness means different things to each of us, some may be striving to take part in a local 10K run, whilst others will simply want to walk a flight of steps or kick a ball around with grandchildren, nephews, nieces etc without getting out of breath and feeling like their experiencing a minor coronary.
Youth has long gone but it doesn't mean you have to be old.
The key thing here is to forget about what you could do in your twenties and start focusing on what is possible now. Start slow and build up, remember that your body muscle is problem starting to deteriorate and the lungs and heart will need conditioning. When undergoing exercise and a steady breathing pattern cannot be achieved or a conversation with a training partner cannot be held, you need to ease back or rest for a while before resuming. The good news is that with perseverance, fitness levels will quickly rise and training can be moved on a level. Build a base fitness before trying to hard as this will only leave you disheartened and liable to chucking the towel in, be realistic in your goals and the rest will fall into place.
Realistic goals
Set yourself a goal and create an action plan. Don't try to radically change your lifestyle, just try to incorporate a more balanced diet and exercise plan into everyday life. If you alienate friends or suddenly disappear from your social circle it can lead to resentment and constant questioning to how your journey is progressing. Friends will often have unrealistic expectations of how quickly your body will adapt to its new challenges. Sadly this will ultimately put you under pressure and cloud your judgement on how far you have already come. Just the fact that you are reading this, means that you are serious about making some changes and getting fitter. Grab a notepad and set yourself a challenge.
Conclusion
Start slow, be realistic and write done your goals so you can monitor progress. Talk to your Doctor about a fitness plan to get you moving. If you have some fitness already, go online find yourself a training programme and get started, Alternatively invest in an app or activity tracker and start monitoring your activity level. Give your body a kickstart by adopting a balanced diet, drink more water and cut back on the alcohol. Good luck and please share your story, I am confident that by working together and sharing experiences it will achieve two key objectives, keep us motivated and help motivate others who in turn will help us.
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