Senior Fitness

Senior fitness is important to overall senior health and senior fitness has commanded a good deal of attention of late for that reason. Senior fitness, for those not seriously ill or disabled, can be approached in many of the same ways as fitness for younger persons. Senior fitness, after all, refers to the physical condition of anyone past the mid-fifties, so senior fitness can be relevant to more than the truly elderly.

Senior fitness, like fitness for everyone, begins with a good diet. Senior fitness is impossible to achieve if healthy foods are not eaten to support the body systems. Many seniors (and others, too) have developed poor eating habits over years, and to achieve senior fitness this is perhaps the first area to address. A good diet directed to supporting senior fitness is more than just having a standard amount of protein, carbohydrates and sugars. A good diet directed toward senior fitness must eliminate fast foods, prepared and packaged foods, and return to cooking generous amounts of vegetables and fruits, fresh salads, moderate meat consumption and an absolute minimum of sugar. Such a diet will help condition the body to maintain senior fitness.

The other major element in senior fitness is exercise. If a senior has not been exercising regularly, he or she should not rush into a strenuous exercise program, and should have a physical exam before embarking on a serious change in exercise. The easiest way to approach senior fitness in terms of exercise is simply to walk on a daily basis, gradually increasing distance. Many seniors concerned with senior fitness walk several miles daily, having found this contributes in a major way to overall senior fitness.

Some seniors, particularly those in their fifties and sixties, regularly participate in active sports, ranging from golf to tennis to swimming, all of which contribute to senior fitness. Swimming is particularly good exercise as there is less chance of injury to muscles or bones in maintaining overall senior fitness. There are also many seniors of more advanced age, well into their eighties, who exercise regularly to maintain senior fitness, including particularly walking, swimming and mild aerobics.

Ballroom dancing is another activity which can contribute to senior fitness. It has the added advantage of environment, with music and social activities included. This contributes to senior fitness at more than the purely physical level. Senior fitness, after all, must include a healthy mental and emotional status, and social activities contribute to these conditions.
Senior fitness is also related to good partnerships and an active sex life. There is no age limit to the latter and sexual activity contributes to well being and general senior fitness.

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