by Caitlin H,
January 15, 2024
As we age, life becomes more complicated. Our time becomes more limited as responsibilities increase, we have kids, we focus on building our careers, you name it.
The more complex the situation, the more challenging it can be to adapt to movement and focus on taking care of our physical health. You may have prioritized fitness, working out at least four to five days a week when you were younger, but as you got older, fitness fell by the wayside. You know science shows fitness protects against cancer and other diseases, but it’s nearly impossible to stick with it.
If this rings true for you, there may be some good news. A recent study found that staying healthy early in life can reduce the risk of nine types of cancer later in life.
The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, is unique in that it analyzed 33 years of data. Researchers followed more than 1 million Swedish men aged 16 to 25 from 1968 to 2005, monitoring their cardiorespiratory fitness and found that higher cardiorespiratory fitness in younger years was associated with greater risk of liver disease. the risk is lower. He suffered from lung cancer and esophageal cancer in his later years.
This is a strong testament to the importance of promoting movement and active lifestyles among children, teenagers and young adults, while also reaffirming how important it is for adults of all ages to prioritize fitness.
Tips for daily exercise
Now is the perfect time to incorporate fitness back into your daily routine. If you’ve struggled to incorporate it into your daily life in recent years, following these tips may help:
If you live within 5 miles of your office, consider getting up early and walking or biking to and from get off work. This is a simple, straightforward method suitable for 30 minutes (or more) of exercise. As a bonus, it’s good for the environment too!
Most of us live and die by our calendar, whether it’s work or personal life. Set and schedule your exercise time or fitness session just like any other important meeting or appointment. This is a foolproof way to make sure you have to let them in.
If you have children at home, make time for the whole family to play together. Go for a walk or bike ride. Join them as they play virtual reality games. Walk around the building while they do physical training. Find ways to get yourself moving while they’re still around!
You never know when you’ll have free time to work out for 20 to 30 minutes. Whether you’re traveling or in a rush between appointments and find yourself with a (shocking!) free window of time, keeping workout clothes in your car or suitcase will ensure you can take advantage of it!
Exercise becomes more fun when you have someone to exercise with. Consider suggesting an outing to a friend or partner that includes doing something active, such as skating, skating, walking, biking, hiking, or running. Every minute flies by when you have a loved one to share it with!
You may have heard that taking breaks at work can go a long way toward improving your productivity and mental health. Well, the same goes for fitness! Use your breaks (or add more breaks) to do a 5-minute “mini workout” by lifting weights or doing a few laps around the building. Exercise is important no matter when you do it.
It’s easy to think of exercise as a chore, something you have to do but don’t want to do. Try changing your mindset to focus on the positive, something you enjoy, or a strong good feeling that challenges yourself. When you think exercise is a fun activity, you’re more likely to stick with it.
Exercising at any time in your life can go a long way toward keeping you healthy and whole as you age. Use these tips to reinvigorate your fitness, make exercise a part of your daily routine again, and feel like your younger self again!
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Author: Caitlin H
Food community manager
Caitlin is the Diet-to-Go community manager and an avid runner. She is passionate about connecting with others online and maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. She believes moderation is key and that people will have the greatest weight loss success if they practice common-sense healthy eating and fitness.