As my dad likes to remind me, “we’re all getting older the day we’re born”. It is inevitable. As I approach a milestone birthday this year, I am noticing those little things that I never worried about before. It’s not just the gray hairs and added lines on my face that worries me. Believe it or not my main worry is “how is my body going to function 10 or 20+ years from now?” I don’t want other parents to realize I’m one of the “older” moms of a kindergartener. At her high school graduation, I want to feel and function like I do now. It can be done, but I have to work on it every day, week in, week out, year after year. It is a huge commitment, but well worth the effort.
Some things are inevitable, but our health is something we can and should fight for no matter our current age. I see twenty-something’s all the time that don’t look nearly as fit and healthy as a lot of my Fit Together friends in their sixties, seventies and even eighties. Maybe I’m bragging a bit about my health committed friends, but they deserve a pat on the back. And someday, those twenty-something’s, who are aging just like us, will wish they started thinking about “healthy aging” sooner. Below are some of the things that I like to focus on to help me live the healthiest life possible:
- Eat to fuel my body, not just put food in my mouth. What does my body want and need to function best? We all know our go-to fuel source is not the bakery section at the supermarket. Be mindful when grocery shopping and focus on the items that will help your body thrive.
- Maintaining or improving flexibility and joint range of motion is imperative as we age. It’s not likely that I’ll be able to perform the splits again like I did as a 6 year old, but I am more flexible today than I was 5 or 10 years ago just by working on the basics. Proper warm-ups and cool-downs before and after exercise have helped me achieve better flexibility. Performing basic stretches every day can help decrease some of those aches and pains as well (shoulder rolls, ankle circles, you know the drill).
- BREATHE! When I’m stressed I hold my breath and I’m just naturally a shallow breather (totally a characteristic of my worrywart personality). Therefore, I try to focus on taking 5-10 deep breaths, several times throughout the day. The tension release, lung expansion and refocusing benefits are astronomical!
- And of course, Exercise! Sometime I just don’t want to do it. But, I’ve never walked away from a workout and said “oh boy, I wish I hadn’t done that”. I ALWAYS feel great afterwards and I’m always glad I took the time to focus on my wellbeing. It doesn’t even have to be a lot. 20-30 minutes of walking or on a stationary bike every day can do wonders for those that are mostly sedentary. That’s all it takes, so why not do it?
Stop putting it off because you are not getting any younger. Healthy aging is a life-long commitment! For those who have put their individual health on the back-burner, your commitment needs to start today!
Jill Usiak is the coordinator the OSF/Four Seasons’ Fit Together program. She enjoys educating this 65+ demographic about fitness and wellness and in return learns valuable life strategies from the participants. She has learned to stop stressing about her age number and rather has embraced life’s changes and challenges associated with aging.