We all hear that exercise is important as we get older but do we really know why? Do we actually know the reasons why exercise is so important? And should we be talking about 'exercise' as if it something special that we should be doing, rather than just understanding that all movement we do throughout the day can be classed as 'exercise' - certainly as activity. Whether you do gardening or housework, it all adds up to daily activity. Think about how much energy you use changing the sheets on your bed, or running up and down the stairs whilst doing housework Perhaps saying we must remain as active as possible as we age would be more accurate and less daunting.
So why is remaining active so important? There is something to be said for the 'use it, or lose it' notion. If you don't have to climb stairs everyday because you live in a flat or bungalow, when you do need to climb some stairs it can feel more challenging because your body has become unaccustomed to doing that activity. Keeping active helps to maintain muscle mass and therefore the ability to do things for ourselves. Maintaining strength in your legs for instance, reduces the risk of falling. Having this strength in your legs enables you to get up from a chair unaided or to be able to go for a nice walk. Think of this as functional fitness - being able to do the things you everyday, such as shopping, cleaning the house, gardening or washing your own hair - the list goes on.
But also, keeping active and maintaining some fitness helps us to avoid many illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease. It is also good for our mental health because if we can remain active and reasonably independent, we feel more in control of our lives.
So you don't necessarily have to go to the gym to get fit. It's not everyone's idea of fun and can be quite lonely if you don't have a gym buddy to workout with. Think about how you can add activity in your daily life such as walking to the shops, using the stairs when you can, walking around the house in the advert break even! Find an activity you enjoy and you will be more likely to continue doing it. And by all means, join the gym or go to an exercise class if you want to - that's a great way to meet new people - which is also great for your overall well-being. Think about what you can do to add activity to your day. The government guidelines are 30 minutes a day and not even all in one go - that doesn't sound so bad does it!? #exerciseandageing #fitover60 .D