Saturday, May 23, 2015

Lessons for living longer from the people who've lived the longest -- Lesson 1: Move naturally

Lesson one: Move naturally 

Be active without having to think about it
Longevity all stars dont run marathons or compete in triathlons; they don't transform themselves into weekend warriors on Saturday morning. Instead, they engage in regular, low-intensity physical activity, often as part of a daily work routine. The data suggests that a moderate level of exercise that is sustained in quite helpful.
An ideal routine would include a combination of aerobic, balancing, and muscle-strengthening activities. The overal goal is to get into the habit of doing at least 30 minutes ( ideally at least 60 minutes) of exercise at least five times a week. It doesn't have to be all at once, although that seems to be better.

Lesson one strategies

- inconvenience yourself.

By making life a little tougher, you can easily add more activity to your days. Little things, like getting up to change the channel or taking the stairs, can add up to a more active lifestyle. Get rid of as many of the following as possible: TV remote control, garage door opener, electric can opener, electric blendre, snow blower, and power lawn mower, be ready to use as many of these as possible: bicycle, comfortable walking shoes, rake, broom, snow shovel.

Have fun, keep moving.

Make a list of physicla activities you enjoy. Rather than exercising for the sake of exercising, make your lifestyle active. Ride a bicycle instead of driving. Walk to the store. At work, take a walking break instead of a coffee and donut break. Build activity into your routine and lifestyle. Do what you enjoy. Forget the gym if you don't like it - you are not likely to go there if its a chore. Don't force yourself to do things you dislike

Walk.

This is the one activity that all successful centenarian did - and do - almost daily. Its free, easier on the joints than running, always accessible, invites company and if you are walking briskly, may have the same cardivoscular benefits as running. After a hard day, a walk can relieve stress: after a meal, it can aid digestion.

Make a date

Getting out and about can be more fun with other people. Make a list of people to walk with; combing walking and socializing may be the best strategy for setting yourself up for the habit. Knowing someone else is counting on you may motivate you to keep a walking date. A good place to start is to think, whose company do I enjoy? who do I like to spend time with? who has about the same level of physical ability?

Plant a garden.

Working in a garden requires frequent, low intensity, full-range-of-montion activity. you dig to plant, bend to weed, and carry to harvest. Gardening can relieve stress. And you emerge from the season with fresh vegetables- a blue zones trifecta
Enroll in a yoga class
Be sure to practice it at least twice weekly.

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