 At the age of 70, Harriet Erickson, of Durham, North Carolina, tended her husband through the terminal illness that took his life. The loss of her husband hurt her deeply. “It was a horrible time for me. I wasn’t in very good shape, physically or emotionally,” she told us.
Soon after, Ms. Erickson volunteered to take part in a study of exercise for older adults. Participants did endurance and flexibility exercises. Erickson liked how the exercises made her feel and kept doing them at home after the study ended.
She has this to say about exercise: “It’s made my life a lot better. I was slumped over. Now, I stand up straight, and I can look the world right in the eye. I don’t intend to stop. I know what a difference it has made for me.”
Researchers have shown that exercise can help relieve anxiety and stress, and can improve mood. They just aren’t able to tell you that in quite the same way Ms. Erickson can.
Sticking With It: What Works
According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s report, you are more likely to keep doing physical activities if you:
* think that, overall, you will benefit from them
* include activities you enjoy
* feel you can do the activities correctly and safely
* have regular access to the activities
* can fit the activities into your daily schedule
* feel that the activities don’t impose financial or social costs you aren’t willing to take on
* have few negative consequences from doing your activities (such as injury, lost time, or negative peer pressure)
In other words, set yourself up to succeed right from the start.
Choose realistic goals, learn to do the exercises correctly and safely, and chart your progress to see your improvement.Labels: anti-aging, exercise |
