Move Your Body

Tips for getting fit after 50

Hello There, Golden Divas!

This week’s post is about getting fit. Whether you’re working out at home or the gym, ladies make sure you are doing something to stay healthy.

The first holiday to kick off the summer is quickly approaching. Can you believe Memorial Day is around the corner? Is your body ready for the summer? Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not talking about beach body’s although if that is your goal, have at it.

I’m talking about being physically fit enough that you don’t have aches and pains that will hinder you from enjoying your summer with your family friends.

Last year took a toll on our bodies and our minds. COVID held us captive, so we didn’t get as much exercise as our bodies were used to doing. For some, the COVID weight piled on, and we were trapped inside with nowhere to go. It didn’t bother us too much because we became content with our new normalcy.

You know this is a bad excuse because you can work out right in your home with apps and workout shows programmed on your television, but anyway, I’m digressing.

Most of us thought I would have time to get this weight off; no one sees me anyway. Humm, mm, how about staying healthy for yourself whether no one sees you or not.

I must admit some of my clothes are a little tight around the waist; however, it’s never too late to get fit.

Usually, summer means no hiding behind your clothes, it’s hot, and most people want to feel relaxed in their clothes, and if you have a hot body, they want to show it off.

Which they should; they deserve it. Please don’t be jealous these people put in the work.

Hey, Club Fifty want you to be healthy, and if that means walking all day, so be it, lifting a dumbbell, work it out, ladies, or getting on the floor to do some planks, plank away. Just like Nike…’ Just Do It!’

As women in our 50’s, we may face some challenges or limitations that we didn’t experience in our 20s. Fortunately, plenty of experts agree that with the right mindset and some helpful insights, anyone can make this their fittest decade yet, especially with some preventive exercises.

Here are some tips to stay fit at fifty and beyond

• Warm-up: It’s important to warm up your muscles before strength training. Five or 10 minutes on the elliptical machine or stationary bike gives you a good light warmup before lifting weights.
• Get stretchy: Incorporate a good flexibility program alongside your strength training program. Whether it’s yoga or a simple stretching routine, it will help you stay flexible and decrease the risk of tendon tears and other injuries.
• Try machines: If you’re used to lifting free weights, consider switching to weight machines. These can be safer and help you avoid injuries when aging brings on a loss of muscle tone.
• Consider your sport: If you’re not as limber as you used to be, you might want to skip the intervals, schedule a round of racquetball, or hit the bike instead—no shame in that game.
• Listen to your body: If you have muscle pain that lasts the better part of a week, or joint pain that lasts more than a day or two, that’s a red flag. “If it hurts, stop exercising and get it checked out.,  while it’s normal to get winded during a workout, you shouldn’t feel like you can’t catch your breath.
• Walking: Putting one foot in front of the other is often the best way to start a new routine. Walking, outside or on a treadmill, is a great activity you can pursue safely.
• Machines: Stationary bikes and elliptical machines are gentle on the joints and allow you to start slowly. Work at the speed and intensity that feels right for you. Increase the time and resistance as you get stronger.
• Aquatics: From lap swimming to group exercise classes in the shallow end, pools offer safe, low-impact opportunities for moving your body.
• Strength training: Strength training is key to maintaining muscle tone and bone density, which lowers the risk of falls and injury. You can do this two or three days a week. That can be lifting weights or using weight machines. You can also use stretchy resistance bands or even your body weight: Movements like squats and modified pushups can help you build strength, and they’re great because they mimic the activities of daily living. (Squats, for example, help strengthen the muscles you use when getting into the car or getting up from a low chair.)

Let’s find our groove, ladies so, that we can get moving!