I am in my 50ies and I love being fit, so why is fitness so important to me? Maybe you are asking yourself the same question. Why do we get up early in the morning to exercise? Going out for a walk every day with your dog or doing Pilates every week is not easy. But it is important.
keeping fitness real
I’ve looked at the reasons why I do this and what is best for me to do. A few years ago I quite literally stumbled upon running.
My daughter and I were really wanting to get fit but we did not want it to be too specialized or unrealistic for us. In the end, we decided to start with running.
For us, it was the most affordable, the most flexible, and the most enjoyable thing for us to do. All we had to do was go out and buy ourselves a good pair of running shoes and we were away.
There are plenty of things that one could do to build up fitness but before you decide, here are 10 reasons why you would want to even start on the journey.
the reasons why fitness is important
- keeps your energy levels stable
- gives you enough energy to get daily tasks done
- happy hormones are released
- makes you fun to be around
- helps cope with stressful situations
- has a positive influence on your life
- keeps you mobile
- flexibility then is a bonus
- gets you outside
- because it is fun to do something you thought you couldn’t
keeps your energy levels stable
I have often struggled with my energy dipping in the afternoon. Sleeping in the afternoon for a quick 10min or even an hour became a regular practice. I thought that this was normal!
Since I have been running, I have found that my energy levels have stabilized. I hardly ever sleep in the afternoon anymore. You will find that this will happen to you too. This is why fitness is important. Please be aware that you do also, very importantly, have to check with your doctor if this is not the case for you.
gives you enough energy to get daily tasks done
We all have lives to live. We all want to get through the day, right? I have found that if I eat well and if I exercise regularly, then I can sustain a good work pace through most days.
There are times when I let my exercise go. I am lazy too. Sometimes! But over time I have started to hate the sluggish feeling that I have when I do not exercise.
When I am not training for an event, then I try to maintain running a 5km, 3 times a week as maintenance. Find your maintenance mode, and do that regularly and you will get through your day well.
‘happy’ hormones are released
One of the ways to release or stimulate our ‘happy’ hormones is through exercise. One ‘happy’ hormone is Dopamine, this hormone helps you feel pleasure and motivation. If exercise does this for me, it may do so for you too.
Go for a walk or go for a run and give it a try. You may return home with a smile on your face. I have quite a stressful job. My job is great, but it is different every day. I deal with people and their lives. This is so important and sometimes it is difficult for me to carry the burden. When I go for a run, it relieves the stress – every single time.
makes you fun to be around
Who doesn’t love this being with a 50-year-old person who loves to run? Just asking? I also love to dance, just saying! Anyway, running gives me a spring in my step and it will do the same for you too.
I love discovering new running routes and I love trying out new races. They do make me feel nervous too, but I love them. This is a fun hobby and you get to meet new people too. There will be people there that are slower and fatter than you, I promise. And there will be plenty who are faster and slimmer than you too. But they will all cheer you on for getting out of your front door.
helps cope with stressful situations
Life is stressful this is true. Regular exercise helps to deal with this too. Another ‘happy’ hormone that is released with exercise is your Endorphins. They help your body cope with stress. This is another top reason why fitness is important for me. We all need help in this area. So take a walk around the block, as a start, when you come back – you will feel better.
The other day I was at the bank. For some reason, it totally stressed me out! I was having problems logging into my account and we were struggling to find out the reason why this was the case. It took 2 hours to solve this, and one or two other issues! When we left the bank, we got home, changed our shoes and went for a 3km walk. It was what I needed to come down and face the rest of the evening.
You have your triggers, go for a walk – it will help.
has positive influence on your life and gets you outdoors
Being positive about life is why fitness is important in our lives. We always come back with a positive view of the world after a walk or after a run. Our perspective on the problem changes as we enjoy the sunshine and being outdoors. It is also great to go with someone. Listening to someone else broadens you and your perspective. Give it a try.
The other day when we were walking our dog, we were stopped by a little girl. She had no fear of dogs and wanted to have the opportunity to pet our little Welsh Terrier, Caleb. I don’t know why but that cheered us up. It gave us such delight seeing her have delight in our little dog.
So, when you are outside – look around, it’s beautiful out there.
why is fitness important? – keeps you mobile and flexible
If I do not run or walk regularly, then everything starts to hurt. I find it difficult to sit cross-legged or to bend my knees. But, if I keep up with my regular exercise, that is not a problem.
What is your mobility like? If you’re feeling stiff and experiencing pain, then start walking slowly. Build up your exercise program to fit you with what you are dealing with. You will make progress and experience breakthrough in mobility. Check with your doctor, about how much you can do as you start out. Be wise. Enjoy the journey. Enjoy gaining mobility back.
because it is fun do do something you thought you couldn’t do
Who thinks about starting a triathlon career in their 50ies? You would be surprised! There are many people, those who are in their 50ies and 60ies and beyond. But it is not restricted to the golden oldies, there are many people trying out something new too.
What do you secretly wish you could do? You know you can. I have given you many reasons here as to why you should give it a try.
Now, about ten years later I am so happy to be fit. I didn’t get there in one day and it takes a bit of work to keep it up.
The determination to keep at it is often challenged, by my own laziness, situation, or circumstances beyond my control. I still try to reassess each situation, not overthink it and try to get back out there as quickly as possible.
Please REMEMBER that you do also, very importantly, have to check with your doctor. Have a thorough check-up and adhere to your doctor’s recommendations as you work on your fitness.
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