Being Old and Staying Fit

As we get older we have a greater tendency to gain weight. For women it is a common occurrence during their post menopausal stages but one of the most prevalent causes among senior citizens to gain weight is the pain that many older people experience throughout their entire bodies. Nobody wants to get up and move and stay active when it hurts them to do so. However there are solutions to the problem. After all, if there weren’t, then every old person with arthritis pains would be as big as a house but that’s not the case.

Obviously once someone reaches about the age to be considered a senior they aren't exactly expected to run marathons or wrestle bears but there are still things that they can do that are simple yet effective. Walking, for instance, is an excellent form of exercise for the elderly since it is very low impact (shouldn't cause too much pain) but still can improve cardiovascular fitness and bone strength, reduce excess body fat and boost muscle power.

Many seniors have sedentary hobbies or interests such as reading or socializing with their friends. Although reading may be a hard thing to accomplish while involved in physical activities, being social does not have to be excluded. Going golfing or doing aerobics classes are two examples of low impact physical activities that are easy to do with friends in an environment that is not necessarily dominated by younger people that may make seniors feel like they are unwelcome.

Everyone knows that pain pills aren't always as effective as desired, but staying active is still important to one's overall health. If nothing else it can help with balance. It's a common occurrence for old people to fall and then lose some of their independence which can lead to depression.