How often do I hear this question? Well, all the time actually.
Exercise and Healthy Eating: it’s all about Motivation vs Obligation – so here are the answers to a much happier and healthier lifestyle for you starting from right now.
Chronic health conditions are often signs we are getting older, and despite having access to Medicare since 1984, they also come with many out of pocket expenses for we older members of society.
Did you know the 12 major chronic disease groups are responsible for 87.5% of the ongoing total health expenditure in Australia? Of interest though is the fact that nearly all senior Australians have at least one chronic health condition and more than 80% have three or more chronic health conditions and these figures are pretty much the same in the UK and USA as well.
“As you age, inactivity becomes the quiet killer; it’s NEVER too late to discover the benefits and pleasure of healthy eating or to start an exercise program.” – John Falkinder.
But before you jump the gun and say all this healthy stuff is not for me just let me entice you to keep reading by saying fitness is NOT necessarily all cross machines, treadmills, weights and working yourself into a state of pure exhaustion. Exercise has to be something you enjoy doing and there are many different forms of exercise to choose from. So why am I giving you all this information?
Because lately I’ve had quite a few comments and emails from relatives and friends of baby boomers like me who just cannot get through to their older relatives how important regular exercise and good nutrition really is: for good health and for longevity (plus our kids like to have healthy and sprightly grandparents).
Plus it upsets me to continually hear these types of comments especially when I know something can be quite easily done about it.
So see if you can you relate to this?
Here are two of the comments that sum up a lot of the feedback I have been receiving lately:
1. I’ve been reading through the articles on your blog today and I most liked the ‘Easy Start to Cardio’. I’ve been talking to my parents about doing some walking but they keep coming up with excuses, eg. there are not enough walking paths in the area, dogs, hot weather, rain etc. I thought about hiring or buying a treadmill for them but they have resisted that as well. Reading your article made me think it might be good if they could go to a gym once or twice a week and use the treadmill there and get some advice. I’ll ask.
2. (From a forty-five year old lady on her parents who happened to be staying with her at the time she told me this story). They have not got a clue about good eating habits. They think doughnuts and coffee for morning tea is eating well…it won’t harm you just once a day. They don’t think this sort of diet can cause any health related problems. They don’t understand labels. Because they have been eating like this all their lives (and are still alive now) then they think they must be eating ok. The ailments they have are just things older people normally get!
This alerted me to a common issue that keeps recurring for many of the people I talk to about active ageing: there are so many educated and well informed people out there, who know exactly what they should be doing to stay healthy, but they just don’t do it.
And I can’t understand why?
Too busy, too stressed, too caught in their ways… there are a multitude of excuses for not doing being passed around, but the bottom line is: if you don’t look after your body and mind (you only get one of each every lifetime), you are going to be chronically sick and it is going to cost you a heap in out of pocket medical expenses plus you are going to be very dissatisfied with your declining lifestyle to boot.
So I’ve decided to delve a little deeper with my research and explain why it is that people stop themselves from reaching their goals in life and ultimately, in being successful with their endeavours.
Now Read Part 2.
[…] Continued from Part 1……. […]