Over Fifty? Get Fit, Stay Fit

"body">worthwhile? If you haven't "bought into it", you're
For starters, everyone beginning a fitness programgoing to have trouble sticking with the program.
should check with their doctor. While most of us- Physical Commitment - Are you willing to move,
might skip this saying "I don't need to pay my doctorsweat, and raise your heart rate? If you think you
to tell me I'm healthy, just a little out of shape", it'scan watch videos or read books to get fit, think
the hidden problems like high blood pressure andagain. "It don't work that way!"
heart murmurs, etc. that we should be aware of.- Logistical Commitment - Be realistic about your
Agree?goals and the time you have to devote to fitness.
That said, the next part is to acknowledge thatTo stick with a program for the rest of your life you
things change as we age. We must eat less andmust be realistic about what you can do time-wise,
exercise more just to maintain. Let's find a systemspace-wise, etc. If you want to climb Mt. Everest, for
that works for you. In my experience this includesexample, you have to have money and months of
being realistic about how you stay motivated andtime to train, travel, and concentrate fully on that
how much you know about training.goal. If you can put in at least 30 minutes, 3 times a
In theory you could find all the data you need onlineweek, you won't be climbing Mt. Everest but you can
and, as for the training itself, put on a pair of trainingcertainly stay fit. Most of us fit somewhere
shoes and start exercising. The reality is that we allin-between. Just be realistic.
need different things to succeed. Take the time toI have found that most of us do better in a group
figure out what you want in a fitness program, whatthan on our own, most of us can use some help
you need, and what pieces will bring the puzzlefrom a pro (especially to avoid injury) and, believe it
together. There are 3 basic elements that must beor not, most of us will stay more committed if we
addressed to create long term success:put money down.
- Mental Commitment - Do you believe that this is