Extending Your Personal Shelf Life
By ageadmin
Published On January 21, 2021
Blog

Extending THIS 6 Week Shelf Life Just Might Extend Your Personal Shelf Life!

In the market for a deal on second-hand work-out equipment? Or perhaps a discount on a gym membership? Now might just be the best time!

It is commonly accepted that 60% of gym memberships are left unused; and following an initial flurry of ‘New Year Newcomers’, the regular gym attendance reverts back to normal by the middle of February. Looks like exercise intentions have a shelf life of about 6 weeks.

We all know that exercise is good for us — but I wonder if we truly appreciate the depth and extent of the benefits. It has been said that if the benefits of exercise were distilled into a pill or portion, we would have access to the real ‘fountain of youth.’

Exercise and Cognitive Aging
A variety of studies confirm that a regular exercise routine can reduce age-related cognitive decline, and may postpone or even prevent the onset of dementia. Now that’s an incentive!

We already know that exercise contributes toward a stronger cardiovascular system, and we are learning that what is good for the heart is also good for the head. Exercise helps to maintain and stabilize healthy blood glucose levels. Excessive blood glucose levels can lead to shrinkage of our hippocampus (area responsible for memory) and a re-establishment of healthier levels can contribute toward stalling and reversing this condition.

The hippocampus is not the only area impacted in a positive way. Want to think ‘smarter’ thoughts? Move more! Our pre-frontal cortex, which assumes primary responsibility for our higher ‘executive’ thinking, actually improves with aerobic exercise. Indeed, the reverse is also true. Less physically fit seniors showed reduced grey and white matter in the frontal and other temporal and parietal cortexes in the brain.

Exercise and Our Sense of Happiness and Well-Being
In addition to increased energy, physically fit folks have better sleep patterns and reduced anxiety. There is often an increased sense of well-being, accomplishment and confidence. Those who really take it up a notch may in fact reach a place where endorphins give you that often touted ‘natural high!’

Remember our friend, the hippocampus? In addition to helping with memory, it also serves to regulate our mood — another great reason to exercise to prevent this important area of our brain from dwindling away.

Exercise and Functional Fitness
You may be thinking that the opportunity to conquer the four-minute mile has long-since passed, so why bother? What about climbing a single set of stairs? Reaching for a glass from a cupboard, getting up from a chair, or bending down to tie your shoes? What about dancing with your sweetheart, walking a dog, or playing with your grandkids? All of these regular daily activities require a basic level of flexibility, strength, and endurance.

Exercise and Our Cellular Health
There is a lot of buzz in the literature about good cellular health. The cells in older muscles do not regenerate as easily, and become weaker as their mitochondria diminish in vitality and number. Of all age groups, older persons showed the greatest positive impact in cellular improvement and change in response to specific exercise protocols. Although both strength and endurance exercises stimulated positive change, high intensity interval training had the most significant impact on cellular regeneration.
It is, of course, critically important to first check with your health practitioner before starting out on any exercise program. The literature is clear. It is never too late to benefit from a consistent exercise program.

Whether you are motivated by the challenge of your own ‘personal bests’, are restored by a hike in nature, or enjoy the social connection of a group class, the results will change the quality of your life. Choose now and choose you and just maybe we can
extend our own personal shelf life!

Rhonda Latreille, MBA, CPCA
Founder & CEO
Age-Friendly Business

 

Nutrition

Good nutrition goes hand in hand with a solid exercise routine. Avoid food treats as a reward for your exercise discipline and instead, choose a bubble bath, a good book, call with a friend, lottery ticket, a movie or a single rose. Remember — you can’t outrun a bad diet!

 

Determination

“I already know what giving up feels like. I want to see what happens if I don’t.”

Neila Ray

You may also like…

Light – Circadian Rhythms – Health and Well Being

Did you know that your tissues and organs have their own biological clocks?  Even more compelling is the fact that these clocks are coordinated and synchronized! The conductor of this grand synchronization is a ‘master clock’ residing in nerve cells in a part of the...

Sleep Better to Live Longer

It has long been accepted that we need good nutrition and regular exercise to contribute toward our health and longevity. Did you know that quality sleep was just as important? We always think about sleep as being restive – and this is true. However, there exists...

Cognitive Reserve – Can We Beat Biology?

We know we are living longer — but are we living better?  Most would agree that it is not just about adding more years to our life story, it is about making sure those years enriching and rewarding. Too often, though, we know of friends and family who struggle...

Intergenerational Learning : What Is Old Is New Again

Imagine young and old coming together to experience, learn, and share. Innovative new programming, or a dusting off of the way it used to be? With our aging population, we see emerging examples of intergenerational programs being offered on many continents. Although...

Power of Older Workers Part 2

The previous Maturity Matters Newsletter alerted us to the exodus of a highly skilled and knowledgeable workforce leaving many organizations.  More than half of their management teams and employees are positioned to leave as Baby Boomers are preparing for...

Power of Older Workers – Part 1

In praise of wine, cheese, and older workers – why we need to woo, engage and retain maturing employees. The majority of maturing workers are there because they want to be, and increasing numbers need to be there.  They are reliable, loyal, mature, professional...

Tax Time Scams – Time for a Review and Update

The phone rings. You pick it up and the caller identifies himself as being from the government, contacting you on a problem with your taxes. Your heart races. You begin to wonder what could possibly be wrong? You picture investigations, fines, and trouble!...

National Advance Care Planning Day is April 16th

Keeping Our Voice – Part 2 – Advance Care Planning Life Happens….Be Ready.  This compelling theme underscores the significance of our National Advance Care Planning Day held annually on April 16. When we cannot speak for ourselves – who will speak for us, and what do...

Fall Prevention – Personal Risk Prevention

In the previous Maturity Matters Newsletter, we discussed how to reduce the potential of a fall by attending to the environmental risk factors looming inside and outside of your home. In this edition, we will introduce the biological influences and lifestyle changes...

0 Comments