Exercise: Getting Back on Track

Starting Over Again

We set a goal, so we need to get back on track and move towards it! We're talking about exercise!

I’m not sure how it KEEPS happening, but we sometimes get off track and stop moving and exercising as much as we KNOW we should. Getting out of the habit seems so easy, while reestablishing good habits seems to take a bit longer.

Like us, you probably already know that exercise is essential to maintaining a healthy and long life, but just how much exercise do we need to get those life extending benefits?

The guidelines established by the American College of Sports Medicine recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity every week. That’s 30 minutes of brisk walking, dancing, or cycling five times a week. 

And they also suggest strength training twice a week. But is 150 minutes enough, or should you aim for more? What if you track your exercise in steps, not in minutes. And how many years do strength and balance training add?

Recent studies on the links between activity and longevity have some surprising takeaways for us Boomers. While you may be tempted not to bother at all, since you can’t possibly hit the 150 minute benchmark, that would be a mistake. According to William E. Kraus, M.D., past president of the American College of Sports Medicine, research shows that even small amounts of exercise give you a longevity boost.

That's right, in fact, a 2022 study found that people ages 40 to 69 who engaged in spurts of movement for just one or two minutes, three times a day, significantly reduced their risk of death from heart disease or cancer, compared with those who didn’t exercise.

If you're unable to do the recommended 150 minutes a week, don't worry! Experts say that anything is better than nothing. The optimal amount of exercise for a long life is still being debated by the experts. They also can’t tell us exactly how many years, months, weeks, or days activity adds to our life, but it certainly can improve our current quality of life and extend our days. 

So, let's get moving, even if it's just a little bit at a time!

(Note: All the pictures are of friends and family who've given us permission to post their pics. Except the golf shot, I think that's from a free image site, since none of us play golf! lol.)