Life Begins At » Top Tips for Seniors on Staying Motivated to Eat Well and Exercise Regularly
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Top Tips for Seniors on Staying Motivated to Eat Well and Exercise Regularly

Exercise Right Week, coming up on 21-27 May 2018, is all about inspiring everyday Australians to share their motivation to move and highlight how exercise has improved their life and enhanced their future. Ruth Samer, Founder and CEO of care service, Care For Family, says “To prevent certain types of illnesses, it’s key for seniors to ensure that they are staying strong and active as they age and maintain a healthy diet.” Ruth has shared some tips, below, on the interesting and enjoyable ways you can keep fit and healthy as you age.

Make your plate look like a rainbow

A great way to ensure you are getting the best nutrients is to fill your plate up with colourful fruits and vegetables throughout the day as they contain many naturally occurring plant pigments and vitamins that are great for you, such as:[ii]

  • Red fruits and vegetables which contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that can help keep our hearts healthy.
  • Blue/purple fruits and vegetables which contain Anthocyanin, a powerful antioxidant that protects cells from damage and reduces the risk of some cardiovascular diseases.
  • Orange/yellow fruits and vegetables such as sweet potato, pumpkin and carrots which contain Beta-carotene which converts to vitamin and can help eye health and mucous membranes.
  • Green fruits and vegetables which contain several phytochemicals such as carotenoids, indoles and saponins which can all help to fight cancers. Leafy greens are also an ideal source of folate.

Portion Control

The definition of a healthy and nutritious diet shifts as you age, due to the fact our metabolism slows down and therefore we should be consuming fewer calories[iii]. Portion control is the best way to ensure that we can stay healthy but continue to enjoy delicious food as we get older.

Try out some new activities

One of the simplest exercises you can do to stay active is walking regularly and there are some great ways to make this activity more exciting and enjoyable. Depending on where you are in Australia, there are some scenic walking routes to explore such as the Bondi to Coogee walk in Sydney, the Royal Park walk in Melbourne or the Brisbane Riverwalk from Brisbane to New Farm.

You may also like to get a group of friends or family together to take part in some fantastic charity walks that take place in Australia such as Memory Walk & Jog to raise funds for dementia or The Bloody Long Walk to raise funds for mitochondrial disease.

Trying out new activities is also an effective method of staying motivated to keep up your fitness. Some new activities seniors may like to try that are in-keeping with their physical abilities are –

  • Gardening – helps mobility and flexibility, improves strength and endurance, and encourages relaxation
  • Dancing – improves seniors gait, balance, and coordination[iv] and is a fun way to fit in some cardio
  • Swimming – this doesn’t just mean swimming laps, it means water aerobics and aqua jogging, and gives you the opportunity to socialise at the same time
  • Bike riding – helps improve balance and is a great low-impact exercise to enjoy on a day or evening with nice weather

 

Find the right supplements 

Some research into the necessary supplements you can add to your daily routine to boost your health as you age is super important. Supplements containing vitamin D and calcium should be considered by all seniors as these nutrients can help to maintain bone health and decrease your chances of fractures and breaks[i]. Vitamin A is also important for seniors as it can help to maintain good vision and boost the immune system[ii]. You can find both vitamins in cod liver oil supplements, which are available in many pharmacies and supermarkets.

About the author

Life Begins At Editor

Life Begins At Magazine is the ultimate lifestyle publication for those who are retired, semi-retired or approaching retirement. But most importantly, those who believe that life really does begin at 50! Life Begins At has loads of features from celebrity interviews, domestic and international travel, home improvements and gardening, health and well-being, as well as financial tips and advice. The magazine is designed to meet the needs of a whole new generation of informed, healthy and active retirees.

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