Forever Fit, Active Aging

As people age they tend to become more cautious and less inclined to adventure beyond their comfort zone. Because of this many tend to shy away from exercise because of a fear of the unknown, an intimidation of the conventional perception of workout facilities and a inner voice that tells them it's silly to work out "at my age".
Yet inside there is still that yearning to be the best that they can be, to not have to settle for what other people tell them they should be doing. What made them experts anyway?
An exercised program throughout our life is beneficial and has many physical age delaying benefits (see our article from Tuesday entitled Reverse the Effects of Aging).
Today there are many great facilities that cater to the growing boomer population, using equipment designed to eliminate the stress, pressure and physical toll the body takes when working out. This equipment is not only safe and easy to use, but can give you a full body workout with cardiovascular benefits as a added bonus. Workouts can be completed in any number of variations taking the user 22 minutes to an hour (The standard recommendation is at least 30 minutes a day 3-5 days a week).
If you decide you wish to join one of these facilities how can you be sure it's for you.
Well we found this guideline at the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) to ask your doctor about you and exercise.
Ask these questions and get back into the active mix.

Questions to ask your doctor about exercising

The International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) suggests that people ages 50 and above take an active approach to finding out more about physical activity from their healthcare providers. Here are some questions older adults can ask their physicians about becoming physically active:
1. Can I exercise?
2. What kind of exercise can I do?
3. What kind of exercise should I avoid?
4. How often can I do this exercise?
5. How intensely can I do this exercise?
6. How long should I exercise for?
7. How do I know when to progress?
8. Do I need any type of test beforehand?
9. Should my exercise program be supervised or unsupervised?
10. How will medication impact my exercising?
11. Can you refer me to a qualified trainer or facility?

Older adults stand to gain important health benefits through physical activity, including disease prevention. The ICAA encourages individuals to make healthier lifestyle choices, such as being more physically active and eating a balanced, healthy diet, and to seek the advice of their physicians in making these changes. Downloadable version (PDF): Questions to ask your doctor about exercising

Disclaimer: This information is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from research. The ICAA encourages you to make your own health and business decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified professional.