It is common knowledge that exercise keeps you healthy. Exercise is required for proper blood circulation, controlling your weight, combating heart disease, improving your mood, and the best news – it delays aging. Engaging in at least half an hour of physical activity every day can be extremely beneficial. What generally happens, in reality, is that even if you have paid attention to keeping fit during your 20’s, 30’s and 40’s – when you reach age 55+, most people tend to let go of a fitness regime. However, it is especially important for seniors to stay fit and healthy with proper exercise. This does not mean you have to jump around and exert yourself excessively. It means that half an hour of moderate exercise such as walking or jogging will suffice to give you health benefits. Furthermore you, as a person over the age of 55, should be careful about your joints. Therefore, it is highly beneficial for you to consider walking and light jogging instead of any other high-impact exercises.
Do’s and Don’ts of Walking and Jogging
If you wish to be an active adult, in excellent condition, you should consider a few factors when beginning walking and jogging.
Invest in a Good pair of Shoes
Investing in a good pair of shoes is crucial to avoid chronic foot pain. Select shoes that fit properly with enough support to protect your feet from stress and impact when walking or running on different surfaces. Wrong shoes can cause many issues like heel, knee, arch, back, and even hip pain. Time-wise, these conditions lead to serious aches, discomfort, and irritation. Choose comfortable, well-fitting shoes to reduce the chance of future foot and leg problems.
Always Warm-up
To avoid injury and aches when exercising, it is advisable to begin with warm-up exercises that prepare your body and mind. Warm-up exercises help increase blood flow to your muscles and prepare your joints for movement. Additionally, cooling down after your workout with simple stretching exercises can be instrumental in helping your muscles relax and reduce post-workout stiffness. So, don’t skip the warming up and cooling down parts of your exercise routine. It is just as important as the workout itself!
Drink Plenty of Water
Drinking plenty of water is essential to keep your body well-hydrated and prevent dehydration. When your body lacks water, your muscles don’t function optimally, leading to decreased physical performance. Dehydration can also cause low blood pressure, which can lead to dizziness, headaches, and other health issues. To prevent dehydration, aim to drink at least 8 cups of water per day, or more if you are physically active or in a hot climate. By staying well-hydrated, you can help your body perform at its best.
Avoid Running on Asphalt
Asphalt is not a runner’s best friend; therefore, it is recommended that joggers avoid running on hard surfaces. Running on hard surfaces can lead to injuries such as shin splints, stress fractures, joint pain, and many more, which can have long-term consequences, impacting future workouts and overall health. As much as possible, try to steer away from hard surfaces, instead, opt for softer surfaces like grass, trails, or tracks. Not only will this reduce the risk of injuries, but it can also improve your overall running experience.
Wear Proper Clothing
It’s important to always wear appropriate clothing when exercising. Wearing proper exercise clothing is necessary not only for comfort but also for safety, especially during outdoor activities. Whether you’re walking or running, it’s essential to choose the most suitable attire for your exercise routine. If you prefer nighttime workouts, adding reflective clothing that illuminates your shape can also help ensure your safety while on the road.
It can be dangerous if you do not know where you should walk or run. For example, urban roads can be extremely dangerous for exercise. However, if you are an adult living in a retirement community, you will find many places safe for running or jogging. Most communities are fully equipped with all the facilities that active adults need to stay fit and trim. These communities provide community residents with a variety of healthful opportunities such as a fitness center, tennis courts, swimming pools, and walking or jogging tracks. Some of these communities are gated and provide you peace of mind to walk or jog to your heart’s content. If you are an active adult who takes care of your health, or you are an empty nester and need a change, you can consider a move to a community where you can exercise, have fun and enjoy your newfound independence.
We invite you to like our ActiveAdultLiving Facebook page so that alerts and blog links will come to you automatically. Sign up for the Active Living Newsletter as well and get all the latest news on events, promotions, and new community unveilings that will be yours to refer to the courtesy of Active Adult Living.com, the national directory of active senior lifestyle communities.
If you are considering an Active Adult Living community, you may wish to consider ones with walking trails to help you stay fit and trim. Visit ActiveAdultLiving.com where over 8,500 communities are listed with information and links to community websites.
