Age should never be an excuse for not exercising. There are very few conditions that don’t benefit from exercise. Even if you are over 65 years and suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis or heart disease you need to somehow get off the couch or your condition can get worse! If you are not sure if exercise is safe for you or if you are currently inactive, check with your doctor before you initiate any type of program.

Part of exercising well is being well prepared. Make sure you are well rested, well hydrated and well fed before starting out. It is also crucial to wear good shoes and loose comfortable clothing. Your shoes should also have good arch support so your feet and calves do not get sore and your spine stays aligned.

If you are not already active, you should begin slowly. Start with exercises that you are already comfortable doing. Walking is the perfect activity to start with, especially if you have not exercised in a while. Starting slowly prevents soreness and reduces your chances of overdoing it.

You need to of course check with a doctor about the specifics of any exercise regimen especially if you are recovering from an operation or have a chronic illness. However in general it is thought that doing some type of aerobic activity for at least half an hour every day will do wonders for keeping your fit. Examples of gentle aerobic activity are walking, swimming, and bicycling. You should also do resistance, or strength training two days per week unless you are advised not to do so by a physician.

According to a recent study published in the American Medical Journal, the effects of brisk walking were similar to those of approved drugs on the memory abilities of elderly Alzheimer’s patients.

In an article called Exercise Improves Senior Balance published on Reuters writer Amy Norton talks about how risks and falls associated with old age can be avoided or made less of a likelihood if the elderly would only take some time to exercise. 

In an analysis of 34 clinical trials, British researchers found that strength training and exercise specifically targeting balance, coordination and walking ability showed the strongest results when it came to improving the motor skills of seniors in general.  Tai Chi was cited as being a gentle and effective form of exercise for seniors. This is important news because accidental falls due to becoming unbalanced are a big cause of death and disability for seniors.

The American Chronicle recently featured an article by Dr. Tim Reynolds called 6 Tips To Combat Aging. Of course right at the top of his list was the recommendation to exercise.

The doctor says that you don’t have to become a gym rat however do need at least four days a week of resistance training and four days a week of cardio training.  Interval training can also help you stay young.  It is however crucial that you warm up before doing any type of exercises, especially if you are elderly. Flexibility is key! 

Other recommendations to keep yourself looking young are to take your vitamins, get occasional sun, eat things that are fresh and decrease the amount of calories that you take in. Hormone replacement theory is also something to consider according to Dr. Reynolds as depleted hormones can cause a person to feel too tired to exercise.

Are you having problems controlling your asthma when you are exercising? According to fitness expert Norman Hurst

There are some things that you can do to prevent an asthma attack while exercising – The first thing to do is to stop smoking.  Having a cigarette and then deciding to go for a jog is one sure way to trigger an asthma attack. You might also want to restrict your jogging, biking or running to days where there is not a high pollution index as that can cause an attack as well. As pets can also trigger asthma attacks it is best not to engage in vigorous exercise while walking your pets. 

Being less active during allergy season in general might also be a good idea. There are medications that you can take as well that can help lower your risk of having an attack while exercising. As exertion can trigger an attack keeping these medications in your pocket is a good idea just in case.