Don’t tell us. We know. Summer’s here, so there’s no more hiding behind bulky sweaters and big jeans.
But don’t panic. You can get your backside ready for shorts and swimwear fast with these three simple exercise tips from fitness expert Tina Vindum, author of Outdoor Fitness. Continue reading
Blood pressure under control? Check. Cholesterol level okay? Check. Gait speed good? Umm . . . why does that matter, you ask?
Because gait speed may very well be another important “vital sign” — like heart rate, blood pressure, and cholesterol level — that helps predict how long you’ll live.
Ready, Set, Go
Your gait speed is the speed at which you walk when you’re really trying. Faster walkers may be more resilient and able to bounce back better from a health crisis. Which may explain why the zippy over-65 walkers in a recent study enjoyed lower mortality rates. The magic speed for staying young? At least 2.25 miles per hour for people 65 and older. So time yourself on a treadmill or around the track.
Contingency Plan for Slow Walkers
If you don’t hit the 2-mile-per-hour mark, don’t despair. Improving your gait speed boosts your longevity, too. Start by doing some interval training, where you intermittently pick up the pace for a short distance. Some strength training can help you walk better and stronger, too.
Exercising regularly can make your RealAge as much as 9 years younger.
We’ve got a surefire way to keep the happy feelings pouring in. And you don’t have to inhale.
Just grab your workout shoes and get going. Research now confirms it: Sustained aerobic exercise can give you a natural high.
Happiness Is All in Your Head
Researchers recently noted all sorts of endorphin activity when they studied the brain scans of people who’d gone for a 2-hour run. Their emotion- and mood-controlling brain regions were particularly saturated with the feel-good hormones. But you don’t necessarily have to run marathons to boost the natural mood-enhancing chemicals in your blood. In fact, you might not need to run at all.
Taking care of your emotional health and well-being can make your RealAge up to 16 years younger.