It’s common knowledge that we are now all living longer. Advances is medical science have a lot to do with that, but our own actions have a lot to do with how happy we are in these bonus years. Let’s face it – there’s not much fun in being around in our 70s and 80s if we don’t have a reasonable quality of life.
That’s where a lifestyle comes in. If we make the choice to adopt a healthy lifestyle – even as late as in our 50s & 60s, we significantly improve our chances of being fitter and healthier in our 70s and 80s and that means a better quality of life.
It’s not really that hard to do. We basically have to decide to exercise regularly, adopt a healthy diet and a positive, optimistic attitude.
Exercise When it comes to exercise, we need to do more than just walk. Walking is great for us, but we also need to adopt an exercise program that covers – joint mobility, strength, balance, stretching and cardio vascular (raising your heart rate and breathing). Clearly you are going to need some professional help to exercise safely, so talk to your doctor before you even start and tell him/her what you’re planning and then talk to a fitness coach trained and experienced in dealing with older bodies
A Healthy Diet There are hundreds of articles and books about healthy eating, as well as dozens of television shows and web sites. All the information you will need is easily available.
A Positive Attitude Most articles about health focus on purely physical health with no mention of mental health. The reality is that both physical and mental health are so entwined that it’s misleading to treat them as two separate entities. The way we think effects the way we feel.
Our book “How to stay Healthy, Active and Sharp in Retirement” tells you all you’ll need to know about enjoying the years past 50. You can buy it on this web site.
