Exercising regularly is hard enough. If you are over 50 it is even harder. Your lifestyle habits are well engrained and for most adults over 50 exercise is not even on their radar screen. That is until they receive a health scare. They go for a routine physical and learn that their cholesterol is higher than it should be or that their border line high blood pressure is no longer border line but high enough to warrant medication. Their doctor tells them that they have to lose 25 lbs or they may develop diabetes or risk suffering a heart attack.
Getting the results of a physical after you reach 50 can be frightening and made even more so if you don’t know what to do after getting the results. Lose 25 lbs., eat a diet low in fat, reduce your stress, yeah right. You are a teacher, a banker, an accountant, a manager of software, you don’t know anything about exercise, and diet and living a stress feel lifestyle. Stress is part of your DNA. At least it has been for the last 25 to 30 years.
Where do you start, who do you talk to about getting fit and healthy and staying
that way. Finding a personal trainer is a good place to start. They are trained professionals with respect to exercise prescription and how to lead a healthy lifestyle. They are trained to work within your doctors guidelines, to identify what your health and fitness needs are, and to address them in a effective and safe way.
Personal trainers understand the challenges you will face in making changes in your lifestyle. They will act as motivators, counsellors and mentors for you so you can reach your fitness and health goals. They will never tell you that it will be easy to make the changes necessary but they also will never tell you that it cannot be done unless it is unrealistic or unsafe.
They will help you establish SMART goals. This means that the goals you set will be specific, measurable, action orientated, realistic and time lined. You will be taught that goal setting is necessary so you know why you are making the lifestyle changes you are and help you stay accountable when the “doing” gets a little difficult.
They will educate you on the importance of a balanced diet and the steps involved in planning your weekly grocery shopping and meal plans. Your personal trainer will teach you what a healthy snack is, and steer you away from fad diets that empty your pockets but have no long term success with respect to weight loss. They will also stress the importance of drinking lots of water throughout the day.
Most importantly, your personal trainer will tell you that you don’t have to be perfect when it comes to your exercise routine and diet. They realize that “life” sometimes gets in the way of the most perfectly laid plans and intentions. They believe in the “80/20 rule”, which states that if you adhered to your exercise plan and eat healthy 80% of the time you are doing great and will reap the benefits of your efforts to change and improve your fitness, health and lifestyle.
Personal trainers should become a valuable member of your health care team. They offer an expertise that other health care professionals cannot, are affordable and highly effective in helping you to live and enjoy a high quality of life as you face the physiological and emotional challenges of getting older.
If you’d like more info please contact Mike.