National Senior’s Health and Fitness Day. Do I Have to Get Off the Couch to Participate?
This Wednesday, May 25th, is National Senior Health and Fitness Day, one of two days a year that focuses on seniors’ health and fitness. As the title might suggest it probably will take more than two days a year to get some of us off our duffs and doing something that has some semblance of exercise. For most of my life someone has been telling me to exercise and they always have good reasons, it’ll make your lungs/heart stronger, raise your endorphins (I’m still not sure what those are and why I need to raise them), and you’ll sleep better. I’m probably like most people and have, periodically, developed some routine of exercising, but at no point did it become part of my everyday life. The question is, why should I start now? Glad you asked.
Here’s my take on this question. I’ve noticed a definite decline in my ability to perform some physical things. I don’t play basketball anymore, I don’t run unless it’s a real emergency, and getting down is easy, getting back up, not so much. It doesn’t seem right that just when I have more time on my hands my ability to do some of the things that make me happy has decreased. There’s the crux of the problem and the source of the answer. Prolonging your ability to do things that you enjoy and feeling healthy enough that you want to go out and do them may be the motivator that you need to get off the couch. I guess that’s why they named the day National Senior Health and Fitness Day, you need to be both healthy enough and fit enough to enjoy the activities that give you joy.
Here's my challenge, this Wednesday, sit down and write down the things that you used to do that health and fitness are keeping you from doing. There are going to be some things that just aren’t going to be possible. I’m never going to go back to playing basketball, but hiking may be something that I don’t do anymore because of my knees or hips or aerobic weakness. This is the time to talk with your doctor. I’ve found that I’ve got in my head that the only time I go to the doctor is when I’m sick. You have every right to make an appointment with the doctor and ask the simple question, I want to go hiking but this (whatever is keeping you from hiking) makes it so I can’t, what can I do?
For instance, I love to golf but periodically my legs started hurting. It seemed like it was a strange hurt, not like it was in the muscle. I went to the doctor, and she says it might be a nerve problem. She suggested I schedule an MRI to look at my lower back and upper legs. If there is something that can be done to alleviate this problem I’m motivated to do it, even if it’s exercising. The point here is don’t be bashful about being proactive in the preservation of the things that make you happy.
It's almost a given that exercising and eating healthy are going to be in any doctor’s advice for restoring or prolonging your ability to something physical. Which brings us back to this Wednesday’s National Senior Health and Fitness Day. It’s a great time to take stock, as I recommended earlier, and make a change. Look at the resources available. There are often activities on this day, walks and runs and screenings that you can take advantage of. Here are seven senior health and fitness day ideas that you can do:
1. Go to the Park – Check out local events near you or construct your own day at the park, filled with trail walking and a picnic!
2. Attend a Fitness Class – Whether at a local community center or private gym, look for a structured workout session.
3. Walk to Health – Organizations near you may be organizing walking events.
4. Work in the Garden – Gardening is a leisurely hobby promoting both health and fitness
5. Dance – Groove and dance to the music! Whether signed up for a Zumba class or in the comfort of your own kitchen, there are endless possibilities when it comes to dancing, as it can be done just about anywhere.
6. Schedule A Health Screening – Along with being active, be proactive with health. Scheduling a health screening keeps seniors in the know of their own personal health and offers a chance to take preventative measures or actions, which may also be dependent on the physical results and discussions held with a healthcare professional.
7. Volunteer - Volunteering is a chance to offer health and wellbeing not only to yourself, but the ability to extend it to others.
There is one other source of fitness help that you might find helpful. My insurance offers SilverSneakers as a benefit. It is the nation's leading community fitness program for Medicare-eligible Americans. I recently joined their email program and I get periodic, about once every four days, emails giving me health information, recipes, exercise tips, etc. They also offer free video exercises classes, online classes and even a free app for your smartphone. You can click here to find out what they offer and check if you’re eligible.
I hope that this Wednesday's National Senior Health and Fitness Day motivates you to get off the couch and do something that helps you get healthy and fit so you can enjoy the things that make you happy.
Best, Thair