BOOMj Expert: Everyday Fitness for Boomers
2008-07-22 13:46:37
Source: Armand Tecco
By: ATecco
Written By: Armand Tecco
For many boomers, free time is in short supply. Regular exercise seems impossible because basic things like work, sleep, meals, finances, childcare, support for aging parents, and countless other daily responsibilities consume you 24/7. If that’s your dilemma, perhaps you need to learn less conventional ways of fitting in fitness to your everyday life. Here are 8 great tips:
1. Find a new hobby. If your favorite pastime is sedentary, switch to one that is both fun
2. Start a home improvement project. If your house needs repair or sprucing up, consider doing the job yourself instead of hiring a handyman. Everything from organizing closets to wallpapering a bathroom is a worthwhile way to get your body moving.
3. Be a kid with your kids. When is the last time you joined your children or grandchildren in a game of tag or a snowball fight? When you make the effort to actively play with kids, everybody wins: you get a workout and they get the parental attention they crave
4. Don’t waste coffee breaks. If you’re in the habit of taking coffee breaks at work, use the time to walk around the office building instead of hug a coffee mug. Short bursts of activity will pep you up in a more healthy way than caffeine.
5. Do it at your desk. Being stuck at your desk is no excuse to skip exercise. Steal moments to perform stretches and do isometric exercises that work your muscles and limber your body. Aim for a quick session every 30 minutes to ward off stiffness and stay alert.
6. Stretch in the shower. Showers afford the chance to perform that stretching routine you never get around to because the steamy water warms your muscles, making them easier to stretch. Stretch or do squats and lunges as you blow dry your hair, too.
7. Exercise en route. You may feel like the time spent in a car, train or auto is a waste, but it doesn’t have to be. Use the spare time to stretch as well as to perform isometric exercises – as long as you aren’t the driver. Porter Shimer, author of Keeping Fitness Simple, suggests three exercises that can be done safely while behind the wheel: tummy-tighteners (contract the abdominal muscles 10 times, 10 seconds each); butt firmers (tighten the buttocks 10 times, 10 seconds each); and thigh firmers (tighten the quadriceps 10 times for 10 seconds each).
8. Compromise your couch potato time. Vow right now to use TV viewing time for exercise. Park a stationary bike or other cardiovascular machine in front of your television and don’t tune into your favorite shows unless you are simultaneously exercising. Your body will reward you ten-fold.
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