Family Fitness Magazine

Feeling Your Age: Over 40 but not Over the Hil
Local Grandmother, Laura, shares her approach to ageing

I’ve reached that certain age when youthful vigour is definitely on the wane. The spring in my step is losing its bounce and muscle elasticity is slacker. Things seem to become heavier and harder to move, and then there are those ever present minor aches and pains. If this sounds familiar then you too are feeling the tell tale signs of ageing that no amount of Botox can rectify.

Mid Life Crisis: Our bodies are not exactly in crisis but we are experiencing genuine muscle loss (sarcopenia) which in turn causes a decline in metabolic rate and calorie burning. The experience of feeling weaker also leads us to become more sedentary and slow-moving. Hence middle-age spread! We will also be losing bone density (osteoporosis). In short, we are in decline but thankfully we can take control of the speed and incline of that descent into decrepitude!

More Not Less: The bad news is that instead of coasting through mid-life we have to make more effort than our fitter younger selves. Think about physical activities which stretch muscles and joints, improve balance, strengthen muscle, and those which maintain cardiovascular fitness. The best service we can do our bodies is to keep them flexible and balanced and so yoga and Tai Chi is my chosen fitness regime. If you feel more adventurous, try something like a Triathlon.

Everyday Activities: If organized activity does not appeal, then there are lots of ways we can be active every day. I love gardening and have also joined a Green Gym for outdoor environmental pursuits. Walking is another favourite activity but unless it’s brisk, it won’t do much for aerobic exercise. Fortunately I also have a grandson who likes to ‘playfight’ so he gives me a workout whenever I visit, as well as a judo lesson!

Somewhere between Bootcamp and Botox is a pace of life that suits us. Our ageing does not have to be a limitation but can be taken as a challenge.

After all Age is not a Destination, it’s a Journey’. Enjoy the trip!

My Daily Challenges!

Stand to Dress:
Don’t’ sit or lean to dress yourself – it requires balance and flexibility to put your socks on!
Beat the Traffic:
Pick a vehicle stuck in traffic and see how far you can walk before it overtakes you
Run for the Bus:
Don’t be tempted to wait for the next one – try and beat it to the bus stop
Shopping Trolley Boycott:
Balance your shopping bags and carry them home