Fitness After 50?

You bet, and your heart will thank you too. The number one cause of death in women over 65 is heart disease. In fact more women over 65 will die from a heart attack than all other cancers combined. That's a pretty astonishing statistic. The good news is you can help improve your chances of beating those odds. We've talked a lot about "vigorous" exercise and how to lose weight, and maybe run in a race, but the reality is that that isn't for everyone, especially women like my mom. However, there is a lot she can do to help her heart and we started by coming up with some simple core exercises that are not too strenuous. Having the mentality of engaging your core is a great way to start. When out for a walk, think about pulling in the stomach. While driving, cooking, gardening, anything, think about engaging the core, and it will begin to happen subconsciously. An exercise I recommend is to sit on a fitness ball and just try to balance. Start with your hand on a couch or something to brace yourself, then let go. Keep your feet on the ground and just balance. As your core becomes stronger, try making it more difficult by just lifting a leg, then try closing your eyes. The fundamental element here is balance, and when you test your balance, you are engaging your core and thus building strength. Another core builder is to sit in a chair and lift your legs straight out, see how long you can hold them out in front of you. If you need to use your arms, put them on the arms of the chair to take some of the intensity off of your core, but gradually build up to using no arms. These are starters for core building, which will improve overall strength, which in turn will allow you to get out and treat your heart to something special like a walk or a bike ride! If you need motivation to get outside and go for a walk, and the fact that your heart needs it to decrease your chances of having a heart attack isn't enough motivation, get a dog! Dogs love walks and force you to get out and enjoy the moment. Pets are proven to increase longevity and overall happiness; other good things for your heart! If you would like more information on heart disease prevention, please visit www.americanheart.org