STAYING FIT AFTER 50

When I was a young girl I never ever thought I would be wearing a bikini after 4o, let alone after 50!  I am proud to say that even though my body may not be what it was in my twenties, I am a bikini wearing grandma now! Who would have thunk!  And  I am not the only bikini wearing grandma out there!

If I can do anything at all, I would like to inspire everyone to learn the benefits of taking care of yourself and making the right choices throughout your life, and by starting today.  Having a healthy lifestyle not only helps you to keep your bikini body longer, it more importantly helps you live a longer and healthier life, which is really what this is all about.

The world is changing with the baby boom generation; We are all getting more health conscious and we are now living longer because of it! You don’t have to be a fitness model or a gym rat to look good…it’s really all about making the right choices and consistently sticking to it.

It is never too late to get in shape. The key is to start with the commitment, then to stick with it. This was ALWAYS my most difficult step.  Getting started is one thing….but sticking to it for me has always been an entirely different thing!  I always liked physical activities, but hated ‘working out.’ I could think of a lot more things I’d rather do with my time. All I can say is, the day you finally  find that secret KEY that motivates you, it will change your life. Then once you do begin, at long last, another thing you must consider is to take it slowly. Pace yourself and build up your endurance accordingly.  If you are over 50, and a first timer, it is recommended that you check with your physician  before beginning any fitness regime, and a good rule of thumb, if it hurts, stop.

A lot of people today have the desire to look good and they want it instantaneously because we have all gotten accustomed to instant gratification with everything at our fingertips in a matter of seconds. So we honestly can’t help but look for a quick fix, an instant cream, injection, or surgery to make it all better without putting any effort into getting fit and healthy the old fashion way, which is with a little sweat and effort. I know I certainly fell into that trap myself in the past. This photo to the left makes me laugh so much because that is exactly how I felt each time I broke down and tried a quick fix, which in the end did not fix anything!  Not only is it painful and risky, whatever the good results may be (if any), they are not long lasting. The hard truth is,  consistent exercise combined with proper diet is the only way to achieve real and lasting benefits because the truth is, there is no quick fix, magic cream,  injection, surgery or pill that will bring you the body  you want and deserve to have.  The only way to do it is to do it right, and with no short cuts.

Yes that’s right ladies and gentlemen, once you hit 50 there is NO SHORT CUT to stay fit! But don’t lose heart. It is never too late to start and starting is where it all begins. The key is to stick with it and remain consistent. If you are consistent, it will pay off, then before you know it, your new healthy habits will become your new way of life!

At sweat joint, we strongly advise that you do not begin working out alone. You should do it with a personal trainer that is certified. This way you will know for sure that he or she  will not put you at risk for injury, and it is also a huge plus to have someone there to motivate you each morning and encourage you to stick to your plan – especially if it is something you dread.  I say this because there is no way I would have ever stuck to my fitness plan of training in a gym without the encouragement of my life partner and fitness mentor, Matthias Hues.  He did all the right things to get me started by making it a fun experience and setting it at a pace that was right for me.  I encourage you to do the same.

When you reach 50, your body will show what you did with it throughout your life. If you were lazy with yourself  it will show up radically when you get older. It will be revealed through unwanted fat, disease, and loss of vitality.  Let’s face it, most of us who love life have done things we regret that effects our health, but there is no reason to think that the damage cannot be reversed or improved upon, because it can be!   The body you have is the most precious thing you own, so why not start NOW investing in it by giving it the best care possible so it can work for you well and last longer!

I want to personally encourage all of you out there that are at the point in your life when you want to make a change to do it now. There comes a time in all of our lives when we look in the mirror and realize that we can do much better than what our reflection is showing us. Believe me, I know what it is,  and if I can finally switch my thinking and make it to the gym at my age, so can you.  And ironically the one thing that helped me to really start enjoying my work outs was when I began to educate myself on fitness. I encourage you to do the same because once you begin to learn the dynamics of your body and how and why it responds a certain way to various exercises, you will most likely get inspired as I did and will want to see the positive results.

By, Leslie Carleton  www.personaltrainer4La.com,