Fitness in Your Fabulous Forties
As we get older, we often pause to evaluate ourselves: Am I accomplishing all I want? Am I doing enough to help others? Am I flossing enough? Do I like my work? All sorts of questions pop into our minds. But, when you turn 40, 50, 60, and beyond the questions change. Why is my body making that noise? Am I eating right? What sorts of exercises do I need to stay fit?
We all ask these questions because we want to feel better and live healthier lives. However, as we age the exercises we did in our 20's and 30's are not as easy or as much fun anymore. It's time to find new ways to make fitness work for us, not against us. We know regular exercise can and will keep us strong and vital. It is just a matter of finding activities that fit our needs.
Our Body is Changing. Our bodies change throughout our lives. We tend to notice these changes more as we age. "We see the results of physiological changes around 40 and after," states Greg Payne, author, professor at San Jose State University's Human Performance Department. Payne says, "Strength, cardiovascular capacity, metabolic rate, flexibility and reaction time decrease as we grow older." Over 40, specialist believe our functional capacity of most organ systems start to decline at the rate of one percent a year (or 10 percent a decade) if left unchecked. Decrease in bone mass, which hastens osteoporosis (especially in women), and water loss are major changes that take place.
Optimistically, many of the symptoms of aging are really symptoms of lack of exercise. Studies show we can prevent as much as 50 percent of functional decline by participating in regular exercise. Decline is related directly to lifestyle choices rather than the biological process of aging.
Getting Motivated. Everyone has different motives for working out – from feeling and looking physically better to stress management and a need for physical fun and social activity. One major reason people choose to exercise is to improve appearance. However, the consultations, health histories and goals my over forty clients share with me indicate exercise becomes a health issue and stress-relief mechanism. Flexibility and strength become functional priorities in preserving their quality of life. Weight loss is important for appearance, as well as for health issues; e.g. high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, breathlessness and fatigue.
Exercise importance is pretty much a given, while adherence is the key. Having fun and working out with a friend or family member helps encourage regular activity.
Over Forty Exercise Programs. A balanced exercise program that includes cardiovascular exercise (preferably low impact), muscular strengthening, endurance training and flexibility exercise is important for clients over 40. Fitness level, not age, determines the design, content and approach of a program. It's never too late to exercise and you are never too old to start. When considering the average inactive population, my philosophy is that something is better than nothing, and my goal is to encourage participation in any activity that will result with health benefits. For more information and tips on exercise, go to http://www.easyexercisetips.com
Linda Geyer, entrepreneur, speaker and author has spent her entire career in health related businesses helping clients and audiences make health a priority. She is Founder and CEO of Vitality Management and owner of Peak Physique Fitness Training in Michigan. Linda inspires, motivates and educates on health prevention through exercise, healthy eating and positive attitude. For FREE tips go to http://www.easyexercisetips.com
To contact Linda Geyer, email linda@peakphysiquefitness.com
The Simple To Follow Weight Loss Plan
This article gives free tips and advice about how to lose weight. Dieting does not need to be a choir, however many of the weight loss programs that are available make it this way. During the article, I describe an easy to follow diet or weight loss program which has helped me to reach a weight that I am now happy and feel comfortable with.
My background
My name is Steve Hill and I struggled to keep my weight under control for the first twenty-two years of my life. I was often teased at school and found it very hard to meet girls as I believed that there would be no way, that they would want to date somebody as fat as myself.
I was a very negative person and I frequently felt stressed and depressed. I often felt sorry for myself and would feel envious of other people who seemed fit, healthy and happy. During these periods of depression, I would often comfort eat to make myself feel better. I love food and this would temporarily help. The problem I found was that if I ate food for ten minutes, I would feel a sense of guilt for around two hours.
Like many people who are over-weight, I was not happy this way and often looked into different types of weight loss plan or diets. Maybe it is just me, but they seem so unrealistic and for somebody like myself impossible to follow. I needed a simple, easy to follow weight loss program.
The solution to my weight problem
The first thing I had to do was to be honest with myself. I asked myself a series of questions:
Why are you over-weight?
I do not eat the right types of food and I rarely exercise.
How determined are you to lose weight?
Very determined.
Are you willing for this to be a long term project, or are you looking for a quick fix?
The quicker the better, however I realise that crash diets do not work and end up causing more harm than good.
Do you feel you have enough self-discipline to succeed?
I am not sure but I will have to have, to reach my target weight.
The weight loss plan
These are the things I must do:
Eat three healthy meals a day.
Exercise more. This will be achieved by leaving the car at home more often and by walking to certain places, such as my children's school. I will also take the children to play sports like football and tennis, as often as I can.
Fight the demons in my head who constantly tempt me into eating.
These are the things I must not do:
Snack in between meals.
Eat too many take-aways, I will basically allow myself one a week.
Lie to other people or even myself about what I have eaten.
This sounds so simple and is very easy to follow. I have to admit that it is not that easy to carry off, especially not being able to snack between meals. With determination you can succeed and the sense of happiness and pride you will feel when you reach a weight you are happy with, will make it all worthwhile.
Stephen Hill helps to promote a number of websites including:
stuttering
fear of flying in aeroplanes
hgh supplements
Finding a LASIK Surgeon Who Is Right For You
It's true that there are a lot of eye corrective procedures available to patients. The sheer variety of surgical procedures may often leave the patient perplexed. But whatever may be your procedure of choice, attaining excellent results is largely dependent on the expertise of your eye surgeon. LASIK is by far the most preferred corrective eye surgery, and hence it is imperative that you choose a LASIK eye surgeon with a great deal of experience. Knowing that your eye surgeon is one of the best in the field makes you all the more comfortable.
Choosing an efficient LASIK surgeon would involve some basic research, and you must bear in mind a few points while you carry out your quest. The LASIK eye surgeon who performs your surgery should remain in touch with you from beginning till end, including the pre-operative examination and the post-operative checkups. A nice criterion for gauging an eye surgeon's efficacy is the number of operations he has performed. In general, people prefer a surgeon who has performed over 500 LASIK surgical procedures.
A few LASIK institutes tout aggressive slogans and offer surgical procedures at discounted prices. It is advised that you have an aversion to such sales gimmicks. Cost should not be a major determining factor when choosing a LASIK surgeon – experience is what matters the most, since it's the matter of eyes, the most precious of the five senses. It is recommended that you choose a surgeon who is affiliated to an academic medical center. Such eye surgeons are more likely to have a good grasp of the latest technological innovations as far as LASIK is concerned.
Another significant factor governing your choice should be the technology and equipment the LASIK surgeon wields at his or her operation center. You must ensure that the LASIK surgeon has the latest computer-controlled equipment and the best laser available to perform LASIK surgery.
This may sound overwhelming but it's highly essential, since the quality of equipment could well be the difference between an excellent result and a fairly mediocre result. Also ensure that the LASIK surgeon has enough staff members so as to provide adequate care to all the patients as you won't want to be left unattended after surgery.
Nicola Kennedy publishes articles and reports and provides news, views and information to help you find a LASIKsurgeon at Your Lasik Information. The LASIK Surgeons Directory will help you find a LASIKsurgery.
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