Are you growing older healthily?

The idea of growing old gracefully conjures up the image of people enjoying a slower pace of life where they slip quietly into a softer, more gentle routine, enjoying family time and contemplating their lives so far. As pastoral as this sounds, for most so-called ‘seniors’ as it might be an anathema. People don’t want to go gently into that good night, but to fit as much as they can into their golden years. Ageing is not about lapsing into some twilight existence but growing older healthily so that you can enjoy life to the full for longer.

The children have flown the nest and retirement is well underway, with weekends spent having fun with grandkids. Your golden years are upon you. However, while those in their 60s and beyond might once have been considered ‘elderly’, this is now the age when many people have the time and money to really start enjoying the adventure that we call life! All you need to stock up on your energy reserves and this means forgetting about the notion of sedentary senior years, and keeping fit and active!

So how fit are you? Yes, your knees might have started hurting when you walk any distance, and yes, you might find sports cars something of an impossibility to get out of, but to really make sure that you’re keeping fit for the future, check out your fitness profile. To assess whether your fit when you’re over 50, supple at 60, and could be 20 at 70, here are some questions to help you start thinking about keeping fit for longer :

• Look at your lifestyle. Is it defined by your physical fitness or what you actually want to do? Take the time to notice the difference.
• What do you want to do? What activities would you love to do but feel you can’t because of your fitness level or physical abilities? Could you make changes to address this?
• The power of your mind. Look at how you approach activities and whether your mind spurs you on or holds you back. It is often not a case of what you can do but what you think you can or cannot do.
• How do you see yourself in a few years time? What you do today might be determined by what you think you might be doing tomorrow. It’s interesting how people sometimes change because of a number and start limiting their physical expectations and self-image. You may well be fitter at 60 then you were at 50 and working.
• How old do you feel? It can often seem as if you are up against ageism as you get older. Age is a number and that’s it. If you feel younger than ten years then go with that. If you feel older than your years, especially when compare yourself to your peers, then ask yourself why. Is it a physical issue or how you think society and culture tells you to feel.
• Exercise for health. Studies suggest that exercise is important when you are older to help ward off chronic health problems and increase longevity too. Keeping active is not about trying to stay young necessarily but trying to stay alive longer with an increased quality of life.
• Functional training. When you are going about your everyday activities do you encounter any problems or setbacks? Have you thought about fitness sessions which focus on functional exercises? You don’t need to train for a marathon but being able to feel comfortable with the normal things that you do each day is vital if you want to maintain the same lifestyle.
• How has your body and your fitness changed? Can you touch your toes and if not when could you? Aging is a natural process of course but being aware of challenges and changes can help you focus in on weak areas.

Age is not a reason not to lead an active and fulfilling existence and whether you want enough stamina to babysit your grandkids or enough energy to travel the world, you owe it to yourself to live life to the full!