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.