Aging Freely: Accepting, Loving and Caring For Yourself as You Get Older

You need only to look as far as the magazine rack of a checkout counter to notice how much value society places on youth and anti-aging. However, the focus shouldn’t be on how to slather yourself with creams and starve yourself skinny to look more like the beautifully posed and retouched images on the cover of your favorite publication. Instead, you should embrace everything that comes with this stage of your life, and work to improve yourself from the inside.

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About The Author

Indy Summers's picture

Indy Summers is a freelance writer interested in fashion, healthy living, and fitness. She has worked as a master in esthetician, as a personal trainer, and as a freelance model for several years so considers herself an expert in these industries. For more of her work, visit https://nouw.com/indysummers.

Dancing: Good for Your Body, Great for Your Brain

We all know that staying active is what keeps us going now and for the future.

And dancing is simply so much fun, you don’t think about it the same way as exercise, right?

In this study, published in Science Daily, comparing dance to standard exercise routines, it turns out that dancing was shown to have an even greater impact on the brain than the exercise plan of about equal intensity!

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About The Author

Steven Siemons ACSM CPT's picture

As a lifelong fitness enthusiast and armchair philosopher (BA in Social Science, UC Irvine), Steven communicates his passion for health and wellness with an offbeat slant. It's a lifestyle, he will insist; and fitness is really a journey to find what fits--for you. His personal fitness journey has primarily centered on resistance training for more than fifty years. An intense three-year exposure to Shotokan Karate under Sensei Ray Dalke and Sensei Edmond Otis in Southern California during his thirties (he is now 65, since you're wondering) had a significant impact on his appreciation for the martial arts as fitness disciplines. It is his sincere hope that you will find insight, inspiration, and knowledge from the ideas he sends your way. Find more of his work at The Senior Health and Fitness Blog.
 

Fitness - It's About Discovering What Fits

Let’s take a look at three potentially enjoyable ways that you can change the course of your life with fitness.

Before we go there, however, let’s focus on the process of discovery, itself.

It involves doing something different.

Obviously–how else could anything be discovered?

I guarantee you that there is an exercise activity that you can and will enjoy, that will change your life in major ways. You simply have to make the effort to discover it.

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About The Author

Steven Siemons ACSM CPT's picture

As a lifelong fitness enthusiast and armchair philosopher (BA in Social Science, UC Irvine), Steven communicates his passion for health and wellness with an offbeat slant. It's a lifestyle, he will insist; and fitness is really a journey to find what fits--for you. His personal fitness journey has primarily centered on resistance training for more than fifty years. An intense three-year exposure to Shotokan Karate under Sensei Ray Dalke and Sensei Edmond Otis in Southern California during his thirties (he is now 65, since you're wondering) had a significant impact on his appreciation for the martial arts as fitness disciplines. It is his sincere hope that you will find insight, inspiration, and knowledge from the ideas he sends your way. Find more of his work at The Senior Health and Fitness Blog.
 

Senior Fitness - I Can't Exercise, Because...

But...

In the not too distant past, having a serious respiratory or cardiac condition would result in medical recommendations of mostly rest and a modest ‘be careful’ lifestyle. Of course, caution regarding such issues is always appropriate. However, we know much more now about how exercise changes our body systems than we did in the past. 

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About The Author

Steven Siemons ACSM CPT's picture

As a lifelong fitness enthusiast and armchair philosopher (BA in Social Science, UC Irvine), Steven communicates his passion for health and wellness with an offbeat slant. It's a lifestyle, he will insist; and fitness is really a journey to find what fits--for you. His personal fitness journey has primarily centered on resistance training for more than fifty years. An intense three-year exposure to Shotokan Karate under Sensei Ray Dalke and Sensei Edmond Otis in Southern California during his thirties (he is now 65, since you're wondering) had a significant impact on his appreciation for the martial arts as fitness disciplines. It is his sincere hope that you will find insight, inspiration, and knowledge from the ideas he sends your way. Find more of his work at The Senior Health and Fitness Blog.
 

Exercise Form - Why Attention to Detail Matters

Whether the January Effect at the gym — “Gympocalypse” as someone has described it — or the spring frenzy to get summer-body-ready, any time is the perfect time to remind beginners and old timers, as well, that form matters.

Good Form Matters Greatly

To categorize it simply, your form of movement is either helping you or hurting you.

Let’s understand why…

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About The Author

Steven Siemons ACSM CPT's picture

As a lifelong fitness enthusiast and armchair philosopher (BA in Social Science, UC Irvine), Steven communicates his passion for health and wellness with an offbeat slant. It's a lifestyle, he will insist; and fitness is really a journey to find what fits--for you. His personal fitness journey has primarily centered on resistance training for more than fifty years. An intense three-year exposure to Shotokan Karate under Sensei Ray Dalke and Sensei Edmond Otis in Southern California during his thirties (he is now 65, since you're wondering) had a significant impact on his appreciation for the martial arts as fitness disciplines. It is his sincere hope that you will find insight, inspiration, and knowledge from the ideas he sends your way. Find more of his work at The Senior Health and Fitness Blog.
 

Senior Fitness Goals for Right Now - The Big 3

Let me help you prioritize your fitness goals. 

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About The Author

Steven Siemons ACSM CPT's picture

As a lifelong fitness enthusiast and armchair philosopher (BA in Social Science, UC Irvine), Steven communicates his passion for health and wellness with an offbeat slant. It's a lifestyle, he will insist; and fitness is really a journey to find what fits--for you. His personal fitness journey has primarily centered on resistance training for more than fifty years. An intense three-year exposure to Shotokan Karate under Sensei Ray Dalke and Sensei Edmond Otis in Southern California during his thirties (he is now 65, since you're wondering) had a significant impact on his appreciation for the martial arts as fitness disciplines. It is his sincere hope that you will find insight, inspiration, and knowledge from the ideas he sends your way. Find more of his work at The Senior Health and Fitness Blog.
 

Building Muscle as a Senior Man - It's Not as Hard as You Think

Building Blocks

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About The Author

Jennifer Madsen's picture

Jennifer Madsen is an experienced freelance writer with a background in health and wellness. When not working she loves to travel and especially enjoys lakeside and seaside locations.

 

Stretching - Ignored, Boring, and Misunderstood

How It Started

Thirty years ago, in my mid thirties, when I experienced my first episode of debilitating back pain, it scared me to the point of fear.

I will never forget simply getting up from the couch and feeling like I had been stabbed in the back, crumbling to the floor in pain. With the passage of time bringing relief, I concluded that it was simply my first exposure to the idiosyncrasies of nerves channeled between the movable bony structures called vertebrae.

Tags: 

About The Author

Steven Siemons ACSM CPT's picture

As a lifelong fitness enthusiast and armchair philosopher (BA in Social Science, UC Irvine), Steven communicates his passion for health and wellness with an offbeat slant. It's a lifestyle, he will insist; and fitness is really a journey to find what fits--for you. His personal fitness journey has primarily centered on resistance training for more than fifty years. An intense three-year exposure to Shotokan Karate under Sensei Ray Dalke and Sensei Edmond Otis in Southern California during his thirties (he is now 65, since you're wondering) had a significant impact on his appreciation for the martial arts as fitness disciplines. It is his sincere hope that you will find insight, inspiration, and knowledge from the ideas he sends your way. Find more of his work at The Senior Health and Fitness Blog.
 

Squat, Seniors, Squat!

Hip Check

Interested in continued mobility? Would you like to improve your odds of surviving an increasingly likely fall?

Let me make my case for you regarding the overwhelming importance of strengthening your hips.

And as you can see from the title, the best exercise to make sure your Senior years are safer is the squat.

All the following statements in bold print are quotes from the CDC website:

Tags: 

About The Author

Steven Siemons ACSM CPT's picture

As a lifelong fitness enthusiast and armchair philosopher (BA in Social Science, UC Irvine), Steven communicates his passion for health and wellness with an offbeat slant. It's a lifestyle, he will insist; and fitness is really a journey to find what fits--for you. His personal fitness journey has primarily centered on resistance training for more than fifty years. An intense three-year exposure to Shotokan Karate under Sensei Ray Dalke and Sensei Edmond Otis in Southern California during his thirties (he is now 65, since you're wondering) had a significant impact on his appreciation for the martial arts as fitness disciplines. It is his sincere hope that you will find insight, inspiration, and knowledge from the ideas he sends your way. Find more of his work at The Senior Health and Fitness Blog.
 

Mobility: Movement is Life...Longer Life

“These findings suggest that any self-reported knee pain in osteoarthritis, as opposed to hand pain, seems to be a crucial factor leading to early cardiovascular mortality and is likely to be linked with decreased mobility,…”

This is the conclusion of a study involving middle age women over a period of 22 years…

Tags: 

About The Author

Steven Siemons ACSM CPT's picture

As a lifelong fitness enthusiast and armchair philosopher (BA in Social Science, UC Irvine), Steven communicates his passion for health and wellness with an offbeat slant. It's a lifestyle, he will insist; and fitness is really a journey to find what fits--for you. His personal fitness journey has primarily centered on resistance training for more than fifty years. An intense three-year exposure to Shotokan Karate under Sensei Ray Dalke and Sensei Edmond Otis in Southern California during his thirties (he is now 65, since you're wondering) had a significant impact on his appreciation for the martial arts as fitness disciplines. It is his sincere hope that you will find insight, inspiration, and knowledge from the ideas he sends your way. Find more of his work at The Senior Health and Fitness Blog.
 

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Woman standing partially behind gold-colored surfboard
10/14/2021
You need only to look as far as the magazine rack of a checkout counter to notice how much value society places on youth and anti-aging. However, the focus shouldn’t be on how to slather yourself... read more
Couple standing on couch dancing
02/13/2020
We all know that staying active is what keeps us going now and for the future. And dancing is simply so much fun, you don’t think about it the same way as exercise, right? In this... read more
Rusty wrench set of various sizes.
09/07/2018
Let’s take a look at three potentially enjoyable ways that you can change the course of your life with fitness. Before we go there, however, let’s focus on the process of discovery, itself. It... read more
Person lying sick on a couch, wrapped in blankets
06/12/2018
But... In the not too distant past, having a serious respiratory or cardiac condition would result in medical recommendations of mostly rest and a modest ‘be careful’ lifestyle. Of course, caution... read more
Man taking a break from working out in gym, sitting on floor drinking water.
04/04/2018
Whether the January Effect at the gym — “Gympocalypse” as someone has described it — or the spring frenzy to get summer-body-ready, any time is the perfect time to remind beginners and... read more
Male and female baby boomers working out at the gym
01/17/2018
Let me help you prioritize your fitness goals.  To do this, I need to clarify some basic but critical assumptions. Given that my posts are directed at Seniors, I am going to speak bluntly... read more
Stacks of colorful dumbbells in a gym weight rack
01/05/2018
Building Blocks Age-related muscle loss, or sarcopenia, is a completely natural part of aging and can take effect from the age of 30 when you start losing as much as 5% muscle mass per decade.... read more
Active older couple in meadow with dog, stretching and exercising.
12/22/2017
How It Started Thirty years ago, in my mid thirties, when I experienced my first episode of debilitating back pain, it scared me to the point of fear. I will never forget simply getting up from... read more
Woman in workout clothes demonstrating proper technique for a squat
11/17/2017
Hip Check Interested in continued mobility? Would you like to improve your odds of surviving an increasingly likely fall? Let me make my case for you regarding the overwhelming importance... read more

Pages

Woman standing partially behind gold-colored surfboard
10/14/2021
You need only to look as far as the magazine rack of a checkout counter to notice how much value society places on youth and anti-aging. However, the focus shouldn’t be on how to slather yourself... read more
Couple standing on couch dancing
02/13/2020
We all know that staying active is what keeps us going now and for the future. And dancing is simply so much fun, you don’t think about it the same way as exercise, right? In this... read more
Rusty wrench set of various sizes.
09/07/2018
Let’s take a look at three potentially enjoyable ways that you can change the course of your life with fitness. Before we go there, however, let’s focus on the process of discovery, itself. It... read more
Person lying sick on a couch, wrapped in blankets
06/12/2018
But... In the not too distant past, having a serious respiratory or cardiac condition would result in medical recommendations of mostly rest and a modest ‘be careful’ lifestyle. Of course, caution... read more
Man taking a break from working out in gym, sitting on floor drinking water.
04/04/2018
Whether the January Effect at the gym — “Gympocalypse” as someone has described it — or the spring frenzy to get summer-body-ready, any time is the perfect time to remind beginners and... read more
Male and female baby boomers working out at the gym
01/17/2018
Let me help you prioritize your fitness goals.  To do this, I need to clarify some basic but critical assumptions. Given that my posts are directed at Seniors, I am going to speak bluntly... read more
Stacks of colorful dumbbells in a gym weight rack
01/05/2018
Building Blocks Age-related muscle loss, or sarcopenia, is a completely natural part of aging and can take effect from the age of 30 when you start losing as much as 5% muscle mass per decade.... read more
Active older couple in meadow with dog, stretching and exercising.
12/22/2017
How It Started Thirty years ago, in my mid thirties, when I experienced my first episode of debilitating back pain, it scared me to the point of fear. I will never forget simply getting up from... read more
Woman in workout clothes demonstrating proper technique for a squat
11/17/2017
Hip Check Interested in continued mobility? Would you like to improve your odds of surviving an increasingly likely fall? Let me make my case for you regarding the overwhelming importance... read more

Pages