An Active Life is a Healthy Life

Staying active is one of the most important things you can do to stay healthy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Only a few lifestyle choices have as large an impact on your health as physical activity.”

Benefits of an Active Lifestyle

Staying active improves whole-body wellness. Physical activity has an immediate, positive impact on brain health. For adults over 50, consistent physical activity can improve cognition, memory and processing speed. When you remain active, you’ll find yourself in an overall better mood, have more confidence and self-esteem, and maintain better energy for the activities you enjoy.

Living an active lifestyle also helps you maintain your weight, which can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes. By adding in some strength training, you can also help keep your bones and muscles healthy, reducing the risk of falls and breaks.

Other parts of your life are also positively impacted by physical activity. From improving anxiety and depression symptoms to lowering the risk of developing some common cancers, physical activity touches all facets of wellness.

Essentials for Staying Active

Follow these guidelines to help maintain a healthy body, mind and soul.

1. Aerobic training. You don’t have to run a marathon. Instead, a combination of moderate and vigorous walking, swimming or bike riding provides a significant health benefit. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity weekly. Do a little bit every day. The National Academy of Medicine recommends that smaller amounts of exercise spread throughout the day may provide a more significant health benefit.
2. Strength training. Experts recommend strength training two or three times each week. Ideally, complete three sets of 12 to 15 repetitions of strength-training exercises. You might opt to use weight machines, but you don’t have to join a gym. You can use hand-held weights and resistance bands at home or use cans of food, books or other household items.
3. Connect with friends. When you have friends who like to get out and enjoy life, you can enjoy staying active together.
4. Nurture your soul. You now have the time to enjoy things you always wanted to do. Take that painting class or learn to play an instrument. Check out lifelong learning courses or join a book club.

Living an Active Lifestyle

There are so many different ways you can keep living the active lifestyle you enjoy. While going to a gym or working with a personal trainer are options, they’re not the only ways. You can go walking, dancing, hiking and biking. Plan vacations with a balance of relaxation and active exploration. Schedule times to meet up with friends and take walks.

If you could use more guidance and a supportive community to help you stay on track, we invite you to visit Pines Village, where we offer everything you need to live a healthy, active life on your terms. When you move home to Pines Village, you can take advantage of the group exercises, work one-on-one with your own personal trainer, and let our on-staff dietician help you discover the foods that make you feel great. You’ll find a community of like-minded people who understand why staying active isn’t just important—it’s a lifestyle.