ESPN W, “Two years ago, Shirley Trimm Webb was a lot like many women her age – fairly inactive, aside from mowing the lawn. “’That’s about the only exercise I ever got,’” Webb told the media outlet. Now, the 78-year-old grandmother is going viral for deadlifting 225 pounds — three times in a row. It wasn’t until she joined her local Club Fitness in Illinois with her granddaughter that Webb became interested in exercise. At that point, she couldn’t stand up from the floor without aid and couldn’t ascend stairs without holding the railing. Now she can proudly do both, and within just six months of joining the gym, she was deadlifting in the 200-pound range, according to her trainer John Wright. Adults should exercise at any age, even if they have not exercised in the past. The benefits of physical activity accumulate over a lifetime so it is important that those who have exercised in their younger years keep that exercise momentum and sustain bone and joint health. You’re never too old to increase your level of physical activity and exercise! Any exercise that gets the heart pumping may reduce the risk of dementia and slow the condition’s progression once it starts, reports a Mayo Clinic study published in October 2011 in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. So, fitness for seniors is especially important! Are you overwhelmed by how to begin a fitness program? Do you think you need a personal trainer? Do you feel that exercise may feel like a chore? Maintaining physical fitness can be easy – and fun!
- Include your grandchildren in your new active lifestyle. Play catch or walk to the playground and push your grandkids on the swings.
- Have a pet? Taking your four-legged companion on a brisk walk is a fun way to increase your heart rate and improve circulation.
- Listen to your favorite song and dance for a few minutes! Be careful that your “dance floor” is clear of objects and that you have adequate room to “boogie.”
- Instead of working out for 30-minutes, try breaking fitness activities into three 10-minute “mini workouts” throughout the day. Begin your new exercise program slowly with moderate exercise and work your way up to more vigorous and challenging activities.
Regular exercise is beneficial for people of all ages. Exercise helps to improve bone and joint health and keeps your heart healthy. It also can improve sleep and helps weight management. As you age, staying active mentally is just as important as staying active physically. At Fitness for Health, we can help you achieve both. Our unique approach to fitness for seniors focuses on helping you strengthen and maintain the skills that other workouts often overlook – including gross motor skills, mental processing, visual motor skills, personal training, group fitness classes and bone and joint health. To learn more about our senior wellness programs, visit www.FitnessForHealth.org or call 301-231-7138.]]>
Tags: fitness for seniors, senior health, weight lifting, weight management, bone and joint health