by Jen Foley – Healthy Lifestyles Director, Two Rivers YMCA
January can be anyone’s favorite month of the year, especially if it builds a strong foundation for keeping those important resolutions.
When it comes to fitness, Two Rivers YMCA Healthy Lifestyle Director Jen Foley has specific recommendations to help seniors keep their fitness resolutions.
- Get a doctor’s okay: Any time you start a new exercise regimen, get your physician’s approval.
- Go for small changes: Don’t try for too much, too soon. Keep changes in the routine achievable.
- Start walking: whether around the property or in the gym.
- Make friends: Get an exercise buddy or join an exercise group to help you stay motivated.
“Some adults think they are too old for exercise and wonder what the point is,” says Jen. “But exercise can change their lives. There is no age where you can’t do something.”
“I once had a 100 year-old woman who was in a wheelchair, but we gave her exercises that she could do from her chair and was so happy to be moving, and she was doing it with a smile on her face. There’s a tremendous benefit. It kept her active and happy.”
Related Story:
- Learn how two seniors have taken control of their wellness by spending a little time in the gym at Senior Star in Davenport.
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Jen Foley is the Healthy Lifestyles Director at the Two Rivers YMCA, Moline. Jen majored in Therapeutic Recreation at the University of Tennessee and Gerontology at Sonoma State University. She lives in Davenport with her husband, Tim and their two pugs Jack and Lucy. She enjoys having an active lifestyle and helping others achieve their goals.
For a listing of all of Jen’s blog posts, click here. |
Nice Post!
Sometimes its nearly too late when we realize that it’s much easier going through our golden years in a state of physical fitness. I’m in my sixties, and didn’t realize how out of shape I was. It sneaks up on you. When I realized how much trouble I was having climbing the stairs at my daughter’s house, I knew I had to do something. I started walking everyday and started doing some light weight training, and I found a parking garage where I could walk up and down stairs as much as I needed to. Now I feel great.
If you’re in your sixties now, don’t wait until you’re in your seventies to get started. Do it, and feel good now.