Staying fit at 70 can be challenging especially if you haven’t been paying much attention to your fitness in your younger years. Most people take this stage as a good excuse to simply sit back and relax. While this is reasonable especially now that you finally have the well-deserved break from work and other responsibilities, taking care of your health should also be a priority.
Fitness experts say that one aspect people in their 70s should focus on is improving their proprioception. This refers to your body’s sense of position and actions of the limbs. Sherrington, who first used the term in 1906, used the term to describe how the body facilitates complex motor activity and coordinate basic posturing when standing or sitting and other gait activities. In other words, having defective proprioception leads to postural deficits.
Source: http://cirrie.buffalo.edu/encyclopedia/en/article/337/
There is a good reason why proprioception should be one of the major focuses for people above 70. For one, people within this age bracket have the tendency to encounter problems in their balance and posture. It is natural for humans to have diminished balance and reaction speed. Therefore, it is a big factor in choosing physical activities and exercises as you age.
More importantly, you should consult your doctor before you get involved with a particular type of exercise or physical activity. If you’re new to exercise, you have to ease into the routine with the supervision of a trained professional.
Here are some tips to consider when choosing the best exercise for your age.
- Routine exercise is preferable, but stick with your own interest
At this point, you will want to stick to a routine. Many people believe you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. This is far from true. What you need, however, is consistency and to build on it until it becomes a habit. Since this can mean repetition, which to most people can be boring, stick with one thing that you really love doing.
For example, if you have always loved dancing, but never had the chance to do it when you were younger, now is the time to do it. It is a social activity that is fun and can help you stay active and fit.
- Try exercises that will get you out into nature
Many people in their 70s prefer to have pet dogs so they can walk them to the park. If you are not fond of animals and you have grandchildren, taking your grandchildren out for a walk is a good idea as well. The idea here is to move as often as you can.
Easy weight bearing exercises such as walking to the nearby store or using the stairs will keep osteoporosis in check.
- Be free from the gym
You can still go to the gym if that is where you feel more comfortable. However, there are people who do not like working out in the gym. If you are one of them, you do not have to frequent the gym to stay in shape.
In fact, you can make tweaks in your daily routine to get you working. For example, if you are most likely to spend your days sitting on a chair, putting a soft cushion will activate your core so you don’t wobble around. Another example is using the stairs to get your leg and heart muscles working.
- Release tension
Getting a good massage every now and then will help release tension that has been building up for years. If you haven’t been good at taking care of yourself lately, it will benefit your general health to relax and give your body time to recover.
- Always start your day right
Starting your day with a lukewarm glass of water and lemon is great for your skin and digestion. It is also a great way to start your day instead of drinking coffee right after waking up in the morning.
These are some of the easy ways to stay fit after 70. The good news is you do not have to work super hard to be fit. All you need is about 30 minutes of exercise each day, clean diet, and a healthy outlook in life to make your 70s enjoyable.