10 Health Tips
from Connie Tyne, Director, Cooper
Wellness Programs, Dallas, TX

1. Watch your waist – if you are a man with a waist over 40 inches or a woman with a waist over 35 inches, you are almost certainly in danger of “metabolic syndrome”. Along with this syndrome comes high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and other possibly diabetes. Tyne says your waist size is a huge predictor of future medical issues.

2. Start slowly and build good feelings about exercise. Pick an activity and stop when you get tired, Tyne says. Then congratulate yourself on your achievement. Don’t burn out in the early going. Keep the good feelings flowing as you gradually increase your regiment. “Nothing defeats your plan quicker than feeling like a failure,” she said.

3. Integrate variety in your exercise. Find something you like, which could be speed walking, aerobics, water aerobics, Pilates, yoga or a “spin” bike class. Don’t stick with one exercise because your body will adapt and you will only be efficient in one aspect of your body. Keep things fresh!

4. Keep a log. Weigh yourself every week. “Keep track of how many healthy meals you ate…how many times you exercised….how many hours you slept. This helps you hold yourself accountable to your goal.

5. Create options for exercise at home. Consider buying resistance bands, an inflatable ball or hand weights. Set aside time and space for home exercise.

6. Consider a personal trainer. A trainer keeps you on track and helps educate you on the benefits of certain exercises. “50+ folks didn’t understand how important weight training was when they were growing up because only body builders lifted weights,” said Tyne.

7. Understand that people over 30 automatically lose ½ pound of muscle every year if they do nothing. “More than every, people want to maintain their good health and youth, but they understand it’s not going to happen by itself,” the fitness expert added.

8. Plan an active vacation. Plan a hike or a trip to a walkable city or a biking adventure. Work toward your fitness level with these vacations in mind.

9. Understand how much your life can be enhanced by exercise and good health. Regular exercise produces new insulin receptors which absorb sugar into your cells. Exercise helps your memory and how you feel about yourself.

10. If you are retired or semi-retired, create exercise as a routine, just like your former job. “Exercise can give your whole life purpose,” Tyne said. “Make it a big part of your life.”

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