“Is getting fit after 50 a reality? If it is, how do I get motivated?” I am asked this all the time by women over fifty who truly want to get healthy but just don’t know how to get started and stay committed. Getting motivated and staying motivated is hard — even I struggle. These are my best suggestions for baby boomers who sincerely want to make positive lifestyle changes.
fitness over 50
LOSING WEIGHT AFTER 50: AM I TOO FAT TO EXERCISE IN PUBLIC?
Losing weight after fifty is not easy and that’s why I constantly encourage women over fifty to add exercise to their daily routine. Recently I was shocked when a woman asked me “Am I too fat to exercise in public?” My first thought was no way! I’ve been a gym rat for over forty years and I have never viewed anyone as inappropriate for “public viewing.” I struggle with weight just like everyone else and when my weight goes up I would never allow my size to keep me from the gym or an exercise studio.
THE BEST STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO CARDIO FOR BABY BOOMER WOMEN
For women over fifty the benefits of doing cardio can’t be ignored. Since there are so many options, here is the best step-by-step guide to cardio for baby boomer women. Although my main form of exercise is resistance training, I always incorporate a good amount of cardio into my workout routine.
WHY YOU SHOULD INCREASE YOUR WEIGHTS
I thought it important for me to write about why you should increase your weights because I think most women over fifty don’t use enough. Slow and steady is my mantra but if you are using three or five pounds weights and can easily work through one of my tapes, it’s time to go up. I do advocate starting with low weights because I think until you know your body and strength, safe is always best. I generally suggest weights in the three to eight pound range because I feel that’s a good amount for women over fifty who have never done resistance training before. With that said, if you are running through your workouts without any strain you are not going to see the changes you want.
WHAT LIVING A FIT LIFE MEANS TO ME
I find that many people have misconceptions about how I eat and exercise so I want to explain what living a fit life means to me. Often when someone meets me and learns my age they usually say things to me like “you probably don’t eat a thing” or “you must spend your whole day in the gym” or my absolute favorite “you’re lucky that all you like are steamed fish and veggies.” All of us are guilty of making quick judgments based solely on what we see but these statements couldn’t be further from the truth and that’s why I wanted to write about how fitness impacts the way I live.
