My ancient workout clothes are neatly folded (and folded) under a pile of sweaters on a shelf in my closet. They were cute – from the '90s – once I cared loads about how I checked out the gym. Decades later, I skip the gym and as an alternative walk and do body weight exercises most days, all while wearing a sweatshirt and yoga pants. But each time I take a look at my old gym outfit (blue leotard “overalls” with a cropped t-shirt), I’m wondering if possibly I could get more out of a gym workout. It wouldn't be hard to leap back in, would it not?
Just a second
Other changes can occur: arthritis that weakens the joints, and vision changes, nerve disease, joint pain, or inner ear problems that may throw off balance. There may additionally be underlying conditions we don't learn about, akin to hypertension or heart disease, which may increase the danger of significant health consequences if we attempt to exercise today with the keenness of our youth. Is.
The downside of jumping back in
If you've been sedentary for a very long time, jumping back into exercise sets you up for injury. “Lifting too much weight or taking an exercise class that's too strenuous often causes problems, and it's usually a muscle tear or strain,” says Dr. Safran-Norton.
Other risks include
- Rotator cuff tears, together with bone spurs from arthritic shoulders that may rub on the tendon
- Falls resulting from poor balance, and broken bones from falls
- Heart attack or stroke from vigorous exercise, especially if you might have undiagnosed hypertension or heart problems.
You may additionally fail to acknowledge the symptoms of heart disease in case you are taking medications that mask them, akin to beta blockers. If you’re taking beta-blockers and begin exercising again, it’s best to stop in case you experience any symptoms that might indicate heart disease.
A brand new normal
Before starting any form of exercise program after sitting, be absolutely clear along with your doctor, especially if you might have heart disease, risk aspects for heart disease, or lung problems. Ask if you could monitor your heart rate during exercise.
Once you might have the green light, take into consideration what type of exercise routine you might have, akin to taking a tai chi or yoga class, hitting the gym or exercising at home, or taking a brisk each day walk. Make it something you need to do, so that you persist with this system.
Think about your current abilities as you concentrate on your options. “If it's a yoga, cycling, or tai chi class, you need a lot of strength and flexibility. You need to be able to do the basics, like lifting your arms over your head and lifting your legs easily. ” says Dr. Safran-Norton.
Then, ease into exercise. “Start with 20 or 30 minutes of low-intensity exercise. Increase the intensity and duration over time,” suggests Dr. Safran Norton. “It's the same for working out with weights. Try a little resistance first, and then moderate.”
More sensible exercise
To prevent injury, warm up your muscles before exercising, especially in case you're off form. Dr. Safran-Norton recommends five minutes of brisk walking or time on an elliptical machine to get the blood flowing to the muscles to make them flexible. You should stretch afterwards and repeat the entire process two or thrice per week.
Don't feel self-conscious in case you're not the fittest person within the room, if you could modify a specific exercise, or if you could take breaks. And don't feel ridiculous about your gym clothes. We are all getting older and wiser in terms of health. And now we all know that feeling good is more vital than looking good.