Keep Moving: Fitness is Easier Than You Think

 

Walking is the best movement! Thanks, © Mark Timberlake!

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or trained fitness practitioner. Before undertaking any fitness regimen, get your physician's approval and know your physical limitations. 

There are dozens of excuses why people won't or can't get fully engaged in physical fitness. I know because I've used some of them myself. Sure, some excuses may be legit, but most aren't. Among the reasons I've used in the past include: my fitness routine is time-consuming, and I need to get to work; the equipment I need is too expensive, or I can't because I'm still healing from surgery (that one is legit).

Health Clubs
You might think health clubs or gyms would be the perfect fitness solution. But not everyone agrees with that assumption. At one-time, health clubs were too expensive. When I was a young man living on the Gulf Coast, I dreamed of joining the health club in my neighborhood. But it had a $ 500-a-year membership fee, a $150 initiation fee, and a $ 10-a-month maintenance fee. Crazy costs! It's no wonder the health clubs of that time never stayed in business long.

Today, you can join a club for $10 a month without commitment. And they have tons of shiny new equipment to exercise any area of the body you desire. But you can achieve excellent health benefits without going to a gym. And many people, including me, don't care for health clubs or gyms anymore. Why?

• Viral infections have made health clubs feel risky because of their physical nature.
• Not all gyms are kept as clean as they promise. Many health club locker rooms remind me of my smelly junior high school locker room, where we stored our gym clothes and got them washed once a week. Phew!
• I don't care for the company of muscle heads or posers.
• Sweaty guys don't wipe down the machines like they're supposed to.
• Many folks feel self-conscious about their age or body type and don't want to be "exposed" in public.
• Others are intimidated by sophisticated machines and may need help knowing where to start.
• And some find it time-consuming to gather their gear, drive to the club, find parking, check-in at the desk, work out, shower, and go home.

Fitness on the cheap
If you're serious about improving your fitness, you don't have to spend hard-earned money on equipment, clothing, fees, or travel. You can learn dozens (probably hundreds) of movements that will help you stay fit without all the hassles.

You're wrong if you think you are too old, frail, or out of shape to start. And you don't have to pump iron, run marathons, cycle centuries, or swim the English Channel, although there's nothing wrong with that if you do.

With minimal effort and expense, you can find something that matches your capabilities and fits your lifestyle that you can enjoy doing every day. Doctors will agree these are excellent ways to get your muscles working, the heart pumping, and the physical movement you need to stay healthy. Here are a few things I do to keep fit.

• Instead of driving, consider walking or riding your bicycle to the places you need to go.
• When riding your bike, pedal much more than you coast.
• Don't worry about finding the best parking spot. Park far away, so you must walk a distance to the entrance.
• Do some or all of your own yard or garden work. It's good for the body and the mind.
• Try yoga or research stretching routines.
• Use resistance bands for building strength. They are safe and effective.
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
• Try body-weight exercises like situps, pushups, and pull-ups.

These are some of the things the world's centenarians do each day. You don't have to buy a stationary bike, a treadmill, or an elliptical machine, and there's no need for expensive workout clothes.

Fitness is primarily about movement. Minimize your conveniences to have more physicality in your day. Use a standup desk. Try chair yoga. Do light exercises while watching TV.

Getting started is hard, but once you do and start seeing results, which can happen very quickly, you will begin to enjoy your newfound activities and likely want to make them a part of your lifestyle.

Physical fitness provides benefits at any age, but the health perks physically fit elders enjoy are extraordinary. Physicians and researchers agree: Older folks should remain as active as possible.

Movement is key.