Fitness proof at any age!

Read this article this morning and it demonstrates how important exercise is and the benefits derived after just 6 weeks. Another interesting point is that one if the participants hadn't exercised for 15 years and was able to find a programme which worked for her!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2895463/Three-women-prove-fit-far-faster-thought.html

Feel ready to have a go?

Listen to Your Body!

Sometimes exercise seems a real effort and at other times seems relatively easy.  This morning I went to the gym ...more people in attendance today.......

Settled down on the cross trainer, ear phones in, TV channel chosen and set the time.  I remembered my "fitbit" and looked forward to my usual hour......

Couple of people I know came over for a brief chat and I occupied rest of time watching TV programmes I never would have considered at home :)

The hour went very quickly and so I adjusted time for another 10 minutes and felt quite energised.  I also had the reassurance of my GP being on the stepper next to me in case I keeled over!!  All in all I did 1.5 hours, 614 calories and 7430 steps according to fitbit.  I felt quite elated.  Not that I could do this everyday but took the opportunity while I could.

I returned home and my husband had noticed I had been away longer than usual - he is always concerned I am doing too much - however he was suitably impressed with my achievement and will be coming with me to the gym on Monday morning.  Sometimes we need the encouragement of others to reboot :)

I enjoy keeping up my regime as I am reaping the many benefits - maybe the most important one is that at 64 I do not regard myself as "old" even though the number is big.  I have no intention of slowing down until I physically can't cope.

Sadly can't ski anymore as my I know my knees won't like it but there are many people older than me who have found this is their preferred mode of exercise.  We all know our limits!!

Now many of my contemporaries may not feel they want to be active to this extent but I hope they can see the real benefits of a brisk walk, of not taking the car and walking to the shops (within reason), to walk up stairs rather than taking lifts.......   Appearance, weight, energy, mobility and longevity are all parts of the rewards!

Age is no longer a barrier to all the things we want to do providing we do what is necessary - keep up the motivation!!

Ask the Doctor!

Well having monitored my blood pressure over the past week I am disappointed that my systolic level is high and reasonably happy that the diastolic is 84 - not brilliant but better.  As my cholesterol level and BP are higher than they should be I have to see the doctor in a fortnights time and have a chat!!

When you are doing all the right things it is very frustrating when these readings do not reflect the effort!

However I did find this article helpful as it gives a sense of perspective and helps in demystifying!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2626608/ASK-THE-DOCTOR-Im-healthy-whys-blood-pressure-high.html
Anyway I  am still determined to maintain fitness levels as my thoughts are that if I didn't do it just think how much worse my health indicators might be.........

So if you are not already aware....the European and Local Council elections are underway and as usual my husband and I are delivering leaflets.  Not only do we fulfil our political obligations but we also maintain our daily exercise quota.
I have installed a Pedometer App on my iPhone and can now record steps - yesterday we did 5000 steps in an hour....
If you are interested in using one on your phone there are many to choose from - many are free! Hers one to consider...........

http://ri.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9mSs2_qVHNTOEIAFLhLBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTE0NmFrYXBuBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDNQRjb2xvA2lyMgR2dGlkA1VLQzAwMl83Mg--/RV=2/RE=1400096107/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fitunes.apple.com%2fgb%2fapp%2ffootsteps-pedometer%2fid329766980/RK=0/RS=xSkujmC5hq3t7O6qkFehd8D05bQ-

Barking in Essex!

Last week my husband and I went to see "Barking in Essex" at the Wyndham Theatre.  We had been warned in advance by friends that there is a lot of lets say choice language and we were not disappointed!!! We didn't really know what to expect and we were pleasantly surprised as to how enjoyable this play turned out to be..... essentially a silly, farcical with lots of British humour and excellent acting from all the cast.

The reason why I am singling out this play more than others is down to the truly magnificent Sheila Hancock.  This statuesque lady is now 80 years old but it hard to accept that she is this age.  She has extremely good posture and a great figure and wonderful cheekbones.  She is someone who seems to regard age as just a number and continues to work in energetic roles despite having had major illnesses.  What a fighter and an inspiration for women of all ages.  Lesson for us not to talk yourself old!  Keeping fit and active must be her mantra!

Health and Fitness - role models??

There are so many people who are the influencers, decision makers, and professionals associated with health and fitness.  The problem with many of them don't practice what they preach .....

Very often it is a question of

"Physician heal thyself"   Luke 4:23

Look at the MPs sitting in Parliament in Prime Minister's Question Time.  As the front benches address  questions of the day the camera pans around the House and focuses on  attendees and inevitably picks up the relaxed posture of the incumbents  revealing their excesses. Check out the size, the large stomachs, the many chins.  There are quite a few jacketed individuals both male and female who seem to be intent on fastening at least one button which obviously presents a challenge to the fabric and its robustness. Now it could be that their lifestyle as an MP does not help but enough of excuses - surely as many speak about the needs of our children to eat sensibly, to exercise more and generally lead a healthy life then they should also think about the image they are projecting.

Think about the hospitals you have visited and the health professionals you have met.  Do they strike you as healthy specimens.  When my mother was very ill a couple of years ago I attended several hospitals regularly in the London area.  I was absolutely staggered as to how many doctors and nurses were seriously overweight.  How can they seek to improve the attitude of patients to encourage them to follow healthier lifestyles if they don't follow their own advice?

Everyday we hear about the growing trend of obesity - we need more visible role models not a do as I say not as I do contingent!!