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Be Active, Stay Active

            In order to live an active healthy lifestyle at any age you have to seek to engage in physical activity that is safe, and fulfills your needs.  Staying active as a child goes without saying kids are naturally busy and on the go.  Even into early adolescents physical activity is a part of life, extra time does not have to be scheduled for it and schools usually require it.  As we get into adulthood exercising regularly can be a chore.   Between running children from a-z and working 8-10 hours a day, who can find the time?  When we need to be exercising more, many of us stop due to lack of time, and other excuses.  It is actually more important for us as we age to exercise regularly.

            The older we get the more vital it is that we keep up our strength and muscle mass, after the age of 25 we begin to lose 0.5-1% of our muscle mass every year.  Muscle loss is caused by a lack of exercise, hormonal changes, the aging process, and a poor diet.  How can we slow the process of muscle and strength loss?   You can slow the process down with a regular exercise routine.  Find a schedule and workout routine that works for you, and be consistent.  There is not a one size fits all when it comes to getting in shape and being physically active.

            There are many types of exercises that are good for us that we can continue as we age into our senior years. Here are a few that you can choose from;

• Walking– Helps with your cardiovascular system and is load bearing exercise.  Good for calorie burning, your heart, and stress levels.  Does not require any special equipment and is a vital part of our everyday lives.

• Resistance Training– Helps improve your strength and joints, adds lean muscle mass to your body, and strengthens your bones.

• Water Aerobics– Water aerobics is does not put any stress on your joints and burns a lot of calories.

• Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi- all improve your ability to handle daily activities, gives you better balance and posture, and increases your strength.

• Dance- Dancing helps improve you coordination, burns a ton of calories, and works your body and your mind.

You have a lot of choices when it comes to getting in shape, staying in shape, and being physically active.  Find the form of exercise that fits you best and stick to it for life.

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