I hope you’ve been looking for ways to add more natural exercise to your days. Get those steps in and start to feel like a boss for upping your activity level.
While you’re adding in more exercise, remember your posture. Posture affects good exercise, and good exercise affects posture. The two go hand-in-hand. There are muscles that serve to support our posture, and they are important to consider when exercising. For example, lower back muscles support the spine and prevent you from falling forward when you bend over. That’s a good muscle to have. So, when you’re lifting or walking, give those lower back muscles a hand for doing their job.
As we age, we especially want these posture muscles to be in good shape. Our posture affects our balance, and good balance makes us more stable. I know I don’t bounce as well as I used to. When I fall, I’m not going to jump back up before someone sees me. Ha! Instead, I do an inventory of where I’m likely to hurt tomorrow and how many bruises I’ll probably have. Broken bones are also a real concern, though except for my foot, I’ve been lucky to avoid any broken bones. I’ve known several people with broken hips, and that’s something I want to avoid at all costs.
I would like to think I’m too young to think about broken hips, but sadly I’m probably not. I had a bone density test performed several years ago because osteoporosis runs in my family. The results showed advanced bone loss for my age. That doesn’t make me frail yet, but it was certainly something to consider as I make lifestyle choices. And that’s why I am on this 12 Steps to a Healthier You Journey. This is about me as much as it’s about you.
Our bones are living tissue. We think of them as hard, like bricks, and they are, but they can lose density and become less hard. However, we can build or strengthen bones, just like we build or strengthen muscles when we exercise. Weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, climbing stairs, lifting weights, all build strong bones and strong muscles. Talk about your two-fer-one.
Image courtesy of photostock at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Besides walking and weight lifting, consider fun exercise activities like dancing and playing sports. If you enjoyed soccer or basketball when you were younger, there are often leagues for older players. This is, of course, dependent on your current activity level and health status. You don’t want to jump off the couch and try out for the senior Olympics. But if you want to play a sport again, begin exercising more with that as a goal.
My husband and I took ballroom dancing lessons a few years ago. It was the most fun date nights ever. We live in a small town now with few opportunities for dancing, but that’s one of our all-time favorite activities. Don’t worry if you step on each other’s toes, just make sure you wear closed-toe shoes. The fun is being together and forgetting you’re exercising.
Now, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Coming Wednesday, August 23, there will be an opportunity to purchase a bundle of exercise resources. The Freedom Fitness Bundle will go on sale Wednesday and ONLY be available until Monday, August 28. It’s a fabulous deal with:
- Workout plans that fit your lifestyle and fitness goals – no one size fits all, like most plans
- Instructional videos and photo tutorials to explain how to correctly perform new routines
- Bodyweight workouts that don’t require special gym equipment
- Express workouts for busy days
- Flexibility and rehab training to help prevent injuries or speed recovery
- Resources specifically geared to your unique fitness needs and goals.
- Plus, so much more!
So, mark your calendar for this deal. Remember, it’s only available for six days. I’ve purchased these bundled resources before, and they are always so great. The ebooks and videos are professional quality, and the prices can’t be beat. In this Freedom Fitness Bundle, for example, you’ll receive more than 40 different exercise resources. There are even dedicated resources for your man, so he can get in on the fun of exercising.
The price starts at $27 for one category, so you don’t have to buy resources you don’t really need. BUT, you can get all the categories for just $47! The total value of the bundle is $1,851.40. That’s what you would pay if you bought each ebook or class or subscription individually. Instead, you can buy ALL of it for $47. Steal of a deal, for sure.
I’ll have more details about the bundle Wednesday, but for now mum’s the word.
This week’s challenges: Find one new and fun activity. Look for the Freedom Fitness Bundle on Wednesday.
Georganne