According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC 2007) the United States population is aging rapidly. By the year 2030 the number of Americans over the age of 65 will reach 71 million or so, more than double the number of that age today.
The CDC researchers say that 80 percent of Americans aged 65 and older have at least one chronic disease that could lead to premature death and disability. However, the report also points out that three health behaviors over which we have control were responsible for almost 35 percent of deaths in the U.S. in the year 2000. What are these three health behaviors? Smoking, poor diet, and physical inactivity. What we need are creative ideas and motivation to change those behaviors.
Today I’d like to share with you some excellent resources
on physical activity that might help you get started with exercise or
improve on what you’re already doing.
First of all how fit are you? The Mayo Clinic has a four-part
assessment tool to help you determine your level of fitness. Use the
results from this assessment to set fitness goals and keep track of
your progress.
I just had my
annual physical at my doctor’s office so that has given me the
motivation to get back to the level of exercise I was doing just a few
months ago. My HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol) has dropped a little and I know exercise has a significant impact on this. Have you had a physical recently?
There are all kinds of ways to increase your physical activity. Walking
is always a good choice. Check out the American Heart Association START program for tips, tools, and encouragement with walking. And if walking is not your cup of tea, there’s always dancing,
swimming, tennis, hiking, and so many other choices. But if you need to choose something
that dovetails better with your schedule how about gaining more benefit
from the work you are already doing?
Discovery Health has a couple of great articles on ways to exercise
while doing household chores. Try the laundry toss, upload and lift, or
rake and twist! Or maybe you’d like to increase your strength and flexibility and
de-stress at the same time but the only time you have "for yourself" is
when you’re preparing a meal. If so, check out the article on Kitchen
Yoga!
No matter what exercise you might choose if you’d like to keep track of
the calories burned, you’ll want to consult the Global Health and
Fitness tools. Their calculator will give you an estimate for just
about any exercise or physical activity you might think of including
household chores.
And if you think you are too old to get started, think again!! You need
to watch a video of an 88 year-old woman weight lifter who didn’t even
start training till she was 78!!
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