I have oft informed my Sun City readers of the outstanding rewards of a fitness walk. As we approach the fall season of the year and its more modified, cooler temperatures, it’s time to reconsider this easy-to-do and “just about anywhere” sport.
Requiring low or little expenses, walking provides the aging body with many critical health benefits. According to our own Management’s First Service Residential Newsletter (Summer 2018), “Research shows that walking briskly for a total of 150 minutes a week in bouts of as little as 10 minutes – can help you to: lose weight, get rid of belly fat, lower your blood pressure, reduce your risk of diabetes and heart disease, improve your mood, and increase your creativity.” Running is not usually an option for most seniors over the age of 70. Walking, indoors or outside (weather depending) in well-fitted shoes for the occasion, however, is a sport that can be continued even by the healthy senior into his/her 90s. If necessary, have a physical exam before beginning your routine and make the exercise your life-long commitment!
For the Tech-Minded, here are some suggestions:
- Count Your Steps. Eclipsing the pedometer of yesterday, today’s modern seniors can choose from a multitude of smartphone apps to count their steps. More importantly use apps also to determine your speed of walking. Remember the more brisk your walk, the more you help your general health.
- Measure And Map Your Miles. For mapping your walking routes, your phone’s GPS system can track your distance and aid your choice of direction.
- Tune In (or Tune Out) While You Walk.Some seniors might need the extra motivation of blocking out environmental disturbances. This can be done easily with the use of earphones. Whether choosing a wide variety of music, or learning by downloading podcasts or audiobooks, you can truly personalize your exercise. Be sure to choose wireless earphones and a smartphone carrying solution for functionality.
- Take In A Show. Visual stimulation is very important for some of you who prefer to exercise indoors on a treadmill and in front of your own TV type monitor. Try to finish watching an entire story episode or divide watching a longer movie into several workouts.
For the Non-Techies, here are suggestions:
- Make A Walking Date: On occasion, I choose to do solo walks. But my preferred way of maintaining daily outside walking exercise is to choose friends and/or my husband to travel with me. The lengthy and varied Sun City sidewalks and trails offer an optimum experience of natural beauty and plenty of time for maintaining socialization skills. It does help to choose a walking mate/s with the same speed and endurance capabilities as your own. Agree to vary your direction of hike with your exercise pals.
- Join A Walking Group Or Tour. To help you stay on a fitness schedule, walking groups (like running clubs) offer terrific motivation. Consult Prairie Lodge’s and Meadowview’s Fitness Desks for the possibility of a walking group/s here at Sun City. You might even decide to organize a Neighborhood Hiking Club!
- Plan A Family Hike. If family members live in the area or are visiting, consult with them for a possible family trek. Nothing brings a family closer together than “exercising together.”
- Take A Walk On The Wild Side. Opt for a different kind of a walk while on a scenic vacation or here during different times of the day or different seasons of the year to catch changes in wildlife prevalence and foliage. Nothing is more spirit uplifting than to view the beautiful sunset over Wildflower Lake!
