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[H142]Health And Physical Fitness

by Lynn Hull And Julie Molner, Lyn

We so often hear people saying they feel less physically strong and flexible because they are getting older. Our belief is that this is mostly the result of inactivity and poor eating habits. It is true that we women begin losing muscle and gain fat in its place somewhere in our thirties even if our weight remains the same. At the same time, we believe from our own experience that although age may contribute to some decline in our physical abilities, we have a choice in the matter.

Julie: I never worked out much until I was approaching the age of forty. Then it dawned on me that I had better get moving. Back then I started aerobics and weight lifting and found that neither were the best workouts for me since I would occasionally injure myself. However, I continued doing the best I could. As the years passed, I switched from the aerobics to walking-walking long distances at a fast pace.

Finally, at the age of fifty-three I found Pilates and started doing that religiously instead of working with weights plus I continued walking. Pilates turned out to be the perfect workout for my body type and for my brain because it requires complete focus at all times (I need that). Within two years, my body was more toned and I was stronger and more physically fit at the age of "fifty-five" than ever before!

I currently do Pilates and have added yoga; however, I will admit I do not walk much although I am making a commitment to include walking regularly again. Walking had always allowed me to be fit without injury-exercises like running or jogging jars my knees and back and therefore are not good for me.

lynn: Even the term "working out" sends shudders down my spine. I have always been on the "big" side and during my 40s suffered greatly because I was largely desk-bound though in a teaching job where walking long distances from one lesson to the next was the norm. I was not, in my sense of the word, "fit". It was really only when I went to our Leadership program that I started to appreciate the link between body, mind and spirit. It is a ridiculous concept to disregard the body for the sake of the other two. Here, I was introduced to morning ritual - easy stretching exercises both outside and in - including use of the voice.

My only sustaining exercise has been walking my dogs and it was to this activity that I turned when I made a commitment in 2004 to do a Marathon. It was my first introduction to anything approaching a systematic "work out". The goal came, I succeeded, and it went and with it stopped the really long distance, powerful stuff. I had to pull myself into seeing walking the dogs as essential exercise. That done, it became a natural part of my days.

Over time I have also introduced the Bar Method of muscle isolation exercises into my life and just recently produced a list of 20+ activities that I can pick and choose from knowing that each one is giving me some form of vital physical exercise. This is great because routine does not sit well with me. I get bored. I have now got great satisfaction from, say, gardening by knowing that not only am I making my land look good, it's doing me good too!

If you do exercise, keep on keeping on! If you don't, ask yourself: What is stopping you? What benefit are you deriving from "not" exercising? What difference could regular exercise make in your life?

If you did exercise in the past and quit, what type of workout were you doing? Was it well suited for you? How about giving it a try again-perhaps with a different type of workout? Start out with something doable and increase gradually. With patience and perseverance, you will surely see improvement. Remember, we always have a choice!

2008 copyright Lynn Hull and Julie Molner

A beautiful face isn't enough. To be attractive, a woman must be physically fit, because a woman not only has to be a good writer, teacher or doctor, but has to manage to be a good wife, good mother, and be good looking, good tempered, and well groomed. Being a woman isn't an easy task. If a woman is sufficiently ambitious, determined and gifted - there is practically nothing she can't do.
If you're a woman and suffer from no disease, that does not necessarily mean that you are a healthy individual. The importance of total fitness can never be specified enough as a key component of good health. Hence, it is important to incorporate a fitness regime into your life, especially with the fact that technological advances have reduced physical activity to a bare minimum within and without the house. Do remember that your heart, lungs and muscles are not getting adequate stimulation to produce physiological benefits, and you need to get up and about much more than you do.

Fact is that more than 60% of the women in America do not complete the recommended amount of physical activity per day, and as many as 25% of the entire US female population does not exercise at all. Physical inactivity has been found to be much more pronounced in women as compared to men.

Things to Remember:

• Your exercise routine does not have to be strenuous in order to impart health benefits.
• Whatever your age, you should undergo a moderate amount of physical activity everyday. You may walk briskly for 30 minutes or jog for 15-20 minutes.
• Excessive amounts of physical activity is to be avoided, because in women, excessive physical exertion may lead to injury, greater amounts of activity, risk of menstrual abnormalities and bone weakening.
• If you have a sedentary lifestyle, it is advisable to build your exercise routine slowly but surely, with short intervals (5-10 minutes) of physical activity and later build it up to the desired level of activity.
• Women suffering from heart disease, diabetes, or obesity, must consult a doctor before starting with any new program of physical activity. This hold especially true for women aged 50 and above.

Physical Activity has Several Health Benefits for Women:

• A lesser risk of death from coronary heart disease
• A lesser risk of developing high blood pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes.
• Helps maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints.
• Helps control weight, build lean muscle, and reduce body fat.
• Helps control joint swelling and pain associated with arthritis.
• May contribute to the influence of estrogen replacement therapy in decreasing bone loss after menopause.
• Reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression and fosters improvements in mood and feelings of well-being.
• Can help reduce blood pressure in some women with hypertension.

In conclusion, it is important for all women to energize their lives with the added advantage of exercise. Don't let it be all about work and no play. Be physically active, enjoy your fitness routines, and watch the benefits follow!

Article Source : Aging Problems

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Both Lynn Hull And Julie Molner & Dr.usha Kothari are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Lynn Hull And Julie Molner has sinced written about articles on various topics from Web Development, Aging Problems and Self Confidence. Lynn Hull and Julie Molner, professional life coaches, co-authored "Your Life Your Way: The Essential Guide for Women" despite living across the Atlantic Ocean from one another. They are passionate about the unlimited possibilities that exist for al. Lynn Hull And Julie Molner's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.

Dr.usha Kothari has sinced written about articles on various topics from Health, Aging Problems and Health. . Dr.usha Kothari's top article generates over 3600 views. to your Favourites.