5 Essential Tips For The Over 50s

Train little and often

One of the most common stumbling blocks for people in their over 50s trying to stay fit— for all ages, in truth— is attempting too much, too soon. Pushing yourself to the physical limit in the early stages of your program can not only cause injury, but create an often impassable mental hurdle.

If you associate exercise with an exhausting, backbreaking chore, you're much less likely to stick at it. As recommended in the Over 50s Exercise DVD: train little and train often. Shape the work-outs to suit your own capabilities, and most of all, have fun.

Stay active

Research shows that cardiovascular disease is among the chief concerns for people in their over 50s. Alongside the simple exercises demonstrated in the DVD, it's important to include a component of physical activity in your daily routine. Don't worry, this doesn't mean you have to take up skateboarding or join your local kickboxing gym— this can involve anything from hiking, dance classes, light badminton or tennis sessions to golf, sailing or swimming. Any number of pursuits to get the blood pumping. Even walking a dog everyday is a great way of improving your cardiovascular wellbeing. Get out and get active.

Make everyday a Saturday

Like it or not, time becomes an important commodity in your later years. So what sense is there in only looking forward to the weekend? Why not make everyday a Saturday or a Sunday? Design a schedule and try to incorporate as many of things that you enjoy as possible. If you can make room for an element of cardiovascular activity each day, and make steady progress with the work-out routines shown on the DVD, soon it won't matter what day of the week it is. You'll be maximising every last second.    

Never say never!

The human body is a wonderfully resilient thing and it may surprise you what it is capable of, even in its advanced years. Studies have shown that men and women as old as 90 can experience the physical and mental benefits of exercise. So it really is never too late to start improving your fitness and wellbeing. The advantage of this DVD is that the routines work incrementally; meaning you can up the intensity and frequency as your own strength and fitness develops. The sky's the limit.

Ensure protein is part of your daily intake.

As your body changes in its later years, so too does your nutritional requirements. As well as regular exercise, it's vital to pay close attention to your diet and the effects certain foods can have on your body. Specifically, with the increase in physical activity, it's key to make sure you're eating a sufficient amount of protein, in order to repair muscles. Nutritionists recommend an average of 5-6oz per day. This can take the form of fish, eggs, skinless chicken breast, lean minced beef, low-fat yoghurts or any number of beans or legumes.