Now put on your sneakers and hit the treadmill or go outside for some fast exercise. Walking or running is Dr. Klodas' routine activity for good reason. Five years ago, I started a walking/running program and despised every step.
these aerobic exercises improve cardiovascular health and stress management. Walking and running also build stamina. According to her, "Stress often makes us be less mindful of what we eat (and what we eat affects everything)," thus reducing stress via exercise is great for nutrition and heart health.
Strength training is amazing. Adding bodyweight workouts and weights to your program will improve your fitness, health, and independence as you age. Weight training at least 30 minutes a week reduces coronary heart disease risk by 23% compared to non-weight training.
"A more muscular body is like a hotter furnace so you burn calories faster—vital for staying metabolically healthy as we age," Dr. Klodas says. Strength training also helps maintain balance as we age. It can also retain cognitive function with aging."
Flexibility and stretching are heart-healthy, according to research. A 2020 Journal of Physiology study found that 12 weeks of stretching increased blood flow, lessened artery stiffness, and lowered blood pressure.
Enjoying everyday exercise makes it more sustainable. According to Dr. Klodas, "I enjoy hiking and skiing, so I do them when I can. Physical activity should be entertaining, not simply healthy. Sometimes enjoyment takes time."
Science supports the benefits of downhill skiing. Downhill skiing improves VO2 max, which reduces cardiovascular events, and "more favorable" lifestyle traits and health, according to Frontiers in Physiology research.
Starting with more hard daily activity is great. "The advice to park farther from the store entry or to take the stairs instead of the elevator is great advice," Dr. Klodas. "Move whenever possible to boost your metabolism and burn calories. We follow physics: A body in motion stays in motion."