Sensible and regular exercise will do wonders for your overall health. It is particularly beneficial for improving the cardio-vascular system, stimulating the lymphatic system to eliminate toxic waste from the body, and promoting healthy bones through the stimulation of blood flow.
You don’t have to go to a gym; there are numerous activities which will keep your body in tip-top condition. Take a daily walk. If it’s raining, don a raincoat and boots, or use a rebounder indoors if you have one. If not, walk smartly in place in a well-aired room, while breathing deeply. If you want to do weights, please take it easy – baby steps only, the first day. No matter what the ‘gym cowboys’ say, don’t do more than two or three repetitions on each weight, working up in increments of two each time, provided you go regularly. And keep the weight low until your muscles are used to the workout. Ignore anyone urging you to overdo – don’t become just one of many people injured, sometimes permanently, by some instructors who don’t understand how muscles and bones work. Small, lightweight dumbbells are available for those who prefer to exercise at home. You will want to get a book on the best way to use them, and be sure to follow the ‘two or three reps a day until strong’ rule.
Tufts University in the US did a study of nursing home patients and found that, after two months of training with light weights, the participants doubled, tripled and even quadrupled their strength. Some were even able to stop using canes. While we can’t keep our bodies from ageing and dying, it’s good to know that, if we keep fit with exercise, when we shuffle off this mortal coil, we can at least carry our own bags.
You don’t have to go to a gym; there are numerous activities which will keep your body in tip-top condition. Take a daily walk. If it’s raining, don a raincoat and boots, or use a rebounder indoors if you have one. If not, walk smartly in place in a well-aired room, while breathing deeply. If you want to do weights, please take it easy – baby steps only, the first day. No matter what the ‘gym cowboys’ say, don’t do more than two or three repetitions on each weight, working up in increments of two each time, provided you go regularly. And keep the weight low until your muscles are used to the workout. Ignore anyone urging you to overdo – don’t become just one of many people injured, sometimes permanently, by some instructors who don’t understand how muscles and bones work. Small, lightweight dumbbells are available for those who prefer to exercise at home. You will want to get a book on the best way to use them, and be sure to follow the ‘two or three reps a day until strong’ rule.
Tufts University in the US did a study of nursing home patients and found that, after two months of training with light weights, the participants doubled, tripled and even quadrupled their strength. Some were even able to stop using canes. While we can’t keep our bodies from ageing and dying, it’s good to know that, if we keep fit with exercise, when we shuffle off this mortal coil, we can at least carry our own bags.