Stay fit after 45
Everyone’s going to get old eventually but some of us will feel it sooner than others. Research has shown that levels of of fitness tend to go down gradually as we get older but that fitness levels take a nosedive after the age of 45.
A group of men and women underwent medical exams over a 32 year period. Their cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) or the health of the heart and lungs was measured during the exams. Heart and lung health was even worse for those that were overweight, smoked and did not get much exercise.
What does this mean for you?
First, you need to exercise. Exercise does so much for your body and mind that it’s something you just have to do. It doesn’t have to be complicated either. the easiest way to start exercising is to walk. The latest joint American Heart Association/American College of Sports Medicine guidelines on physical activity recommend that all healthy adults ages 18–65 should be getting at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity five days of the week. You can walk to nearby shops instead of taking the car, use more steps instead of elavators, walk at least part of the way to work, the seemingly mundane things can really help.
Tip for a healthy retirement- work!
That may be the last thing you want to hear after working hard for so many years so that you can enjoy your golden years in peace and tranquility. But research has shown that people who continue to work part-time or do some form of temping after they retire are less likely to suffer from:
- high blood pressure
- diabetes
- cancer
- lung disease
- heart disease
- arthritis
- stroke and
- psychiatric illnesses
Those who worked were also better able to carry out day to day activities like getting dressed, getting into bed and taking care care of themselves for longer periods of time. These findings were from a study of 12,000 men and women between the ages of 51 and 61 years.
Working after retirement is good for you because you tend to engage in more physical activity. You also interact with more people, maybe learn new skills or continue to do something you’re already experienced in and good at. Continuing to work may also bring in some extra cash. All this helps to boost self esteem.
Many retired people have been forced to work out of necessity and people already in work sometimes opt to continue working because of financial pressures. People who worked in their original field after retiring had better mental health than those who worked in different areas after retiring. This may be due to the stress have having to retrain or learn new skills.
Even if you don’t need the extra money, doing some volunteer work for example will do wonders for your physical and mental health.
Lessons from a bra fitting.
It’s truly amazing the funny little things that happen to change our little prejudices and misconceptions about other people and life in general.
I visit the lingerie section of one of my favourite department stores quite regularly. They have a special bra section for the DD+ cup sizes. I remember breezing past smugly on many occasions safe in the illusion that I would never have to venture into the realm of the women with huge jugs. I have been reasonably well endowed by nature, no complaints there, but I always felt that women with DD and above cup sizes had to have quite huge breasts.
Confident in this “knowledge” and insulated by my ignorance, I decided to have a free bra fitting last week. According to much-bandied statistics, about 70% of women are wearing the wrong bra size and I didn’t want to be one of them.
When the bra fitting attendant gave me the news, I had to hang on to my chin to stop it from hitting the floor. I won’t go into the gory details. Suffice it to say, I have found a new home in the DD+ bra section.
Many women assume that the bra they wear doesn’t matter, after all, no-one can see it. Wearing the right size bra makes sure that your breasts get adequate support or enhances them. It also affects the way you look in your clothes. Often, after childbirth, you may find that your breasts aren’t quite as perky as they used to be (a gross understatement for some of us!!). Wearing a good bra helps to give your breasts some lift and you look better in your clothes. If you look good, you tend to be more confident. Some of you out there have your breast flapping somewhere around you navel, and that’s with your bra on!!
Also, as your body changes and with changes in pregnancy, weight loss/gain e.t.c. your bra size will change.
Don’t forget to wear a sports bra if you’re exercising (of course you are).
Many department stores offer free bra fittings and some even give you a voucher towards a new bra. You can also get advice on the type of bra to get depending on your size and what you’re wearing.
Menopause Symptoms
