Instead of beating ourselves up and feeling shame, we need to keep striving and set small, achievable goals.Īnother roadblock to behavior change can be our mindset around physical activity. When our motivation wanes and we find ourselves back to sedentary habits, it is important to remember that these setbacks are normal. Stafford stresses that we must treat ourselves with self-compassion as we work to increase our physical activity. Many people gain additional ability to do things or do them more comfortably once they become more physically active.” Mindset and motivation “Physical activity has benefits that are immediate as well as sustained. “Even incorporating a few minutes of walking into one’s daily routine can be quite beneficial,” says Stafford. While it can feel discouraging to try to change decades-old habits, the good news is that it is never too late to reap the health benefits of physical activity and that even small steps can have enormous benefits. As our bodies age, however, it becomes more important to stick to a gradual training program, come up to speed slowly and allow time for rest and stretching to avoid injury. Stafford notes that nothing is set in stone and that some individuals can remain vigorously active into their later years. Continuing some activities may cause wear and tear on the body that may not be particularly helpful.”Īn example of such an evolution would be the gradual shift from jogging to hiking to walking to reduce strain on the knees and hips. “The things that we did in our teens and 20s may no longer be as accessible to us. ![]() Stafford says that is it important to think of physical activity as something that will evolve over your lifetime. “We need to start thinking about these being diseases of neglect, not necessarily of aging, that occur because people have not been able to maintain a lifelong pattern of healthy behavior.”įortunately, the science shows that increasing physical activity at any age improves outcomes and can do so in a relatively short amount of time. This is because people in their later years are most at risk for chronic disease, a risk that can be greatly reduced through physical activity. ![]() However, Stafford says that the group most able to directly and immediately benefit from physical activity is the older population. These benefits apply to everyone, regardless of age. Physical activity has been shown to reduce the risk for many adverse conditions including cardiovascular disease i, cognitive decline due to Alzheimer’s or other dementia forms ii, depression and anxiety iii and insulin resistance in diabetes iv, as well as to support improvements in sexual health v. Randall Stafford, professor of medicine at the Stanford School of Medicine and the director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, about the benefits of physical activity for an aging population. ![]() Physical activity has benefits for everyone, but it’s critical for people over 40.
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