'I Am Too Tired'
"There is some research that shows that aerobic exercise melts away tiredness quickly and strength training (weights) gives you a more energetic feeling later," Price says. "I think anything that increases your circulation makes you feel more energetic."
The key is not to overdo. "Start small," Price says. Write down your goals and break them into steps and then break down one step into a manageable first step. Say your goal is to do aerobics four times a week. If you run out and do that, you may be too tired to keep it up. Instead -- first step -- decide whether you want to go on a treadmill, walk the dog three miles, or workout at home with a video. Or maybe you want to take tap dancing.
"If you don't use your
muscles, you will lose them. And as
you get older, you will lose them
at a faster pace."
The first step, which won't leave you breathing hard, is to find a nearby studio. Next step, drop in, see what the classes are like. No great effort, no financial outlay. (If you are scoping out a gym, Price recommends going at the same time you would normally go. What's the crowd like, are overweight people welcome there? A gym should be, above all, convenient. Get the shortest contract you can, after checking it out on a day pass.) When you do decide on a studio or gym, Price says, tell yourself you will go so often they won't make a cent on you!
'I Have a Bad Back'
Some people do have physical limitations. Price recommends concentrating on the parts of you that do work. She had two terrible auto accidents, both of which damaged the same leg. She went to the gym and did everything she could do with one leg and two arms.
"By working out, I felt like less of a victim," Price says.
If you do have chronic knee, back, or shoulder problems, though, she recommends asking a trained physical therapist for appropriate ways to work out. In fact, WebMD, like all responsible authorities, recommends consulting a physician about your exercise program once you have sent the excuses packing.
'I Am Too Old'
Use it or lose it! "If you don't use your muscles, you will lose them -- and as you get older, you will lose them at a faster pace," Price says. "If you want to stay independent, you need to exercise."
Still, many people, especially women, she says, think that once you get past age 50, it's too late to make a difference in your health by exercising. An article in the May 2003 Journal of the American Medical Association, however, suggested that starting to exercise or pumping up a program at mid-life lengthens life spans of older women.
Almost 10,000 women were studied over 10 years. Compared with sedentary women, those who increased their physical activity had a 48% reduced risk of dying. What were the newly active women doing? Nothing so hard: They were walking. For the newly active women, 8.2 miles a week brought a positive change. For those stepping up their routines, the average was 9.3 miles a week. So it's truly never too late to become active.
| Next page: | Just do it |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
 |
Back to all news
|
|
Print this page
|