How to Stay Fit Past 50

You know I don’t want everyone to think this post today is only for those that are indeed 50 and up. This is more of a motivational message going out to a general audience.

Its just crazy how the human body works. Forget genetics for a second. I mean we all have the ability to take our health and natural physiques to such great heights. It is a constant reminder when I go to a place where there is an abundance of active and healthy minded people that we all can do it, it just comes down to personal choice.

Sure, I get taking small vacations from exercise. Yes, I also get why some people during the holidays and when on vacation feel its almost necessary to overindulge with food. But why some completely disregard the whole fit picture escapes me.

I understand that in today’s economically hard pressed times we all don’t have the luxury to find that extra time when there’s things like work and other responsibilities to be taken care of. But telling yourself you can’t set aside 20 minutes a day for exercise and making at the very least one healthy meal or even one healthy thing every day is just you lying to yourself.

Because that does not require a ton of effort. Anyone can start from scratch and slowly work their way up to the top.

I want everyone to really listen to what I’m about to say very clearly. Because an excuse to this statement is like trying to out cry  a baby.

Age is not a factor.

What gives me the right to say this? How would I know if it is or if it isn’t you say? Well I’ve already gotten a slight taste of aging in the mid-20′s, but obviously nothing severely disadvantaging.

Most would say oh I’m to young to understand what it feels like to be past 50 and what goes along with it, when in fact I know exactly how the machine operates period. I’ve done enough homework and research on human anatomy to safely make this bold statement.

I’ve also gotten enough insight from others past 50 in the recent years anyway. But this topic obviously isn’t about me, it’s about you regardless of your age. Allow me to elaborate on the “personal choice” point as mentioned before.

It really comes down to you making the choice of how far and how long you want to take being physically fit. Having the complete package also requires you to be constantly educating and applying smart eating habits with your diet.

It totally shocked me, no, it totally stunned me when I came across a few elderly people last week that where seriously in better shape than perhaps even myself.

How can that be possible?

What’s even more inspiring is that their confidence shines right through their skin. They project this aura of total control and self acceptance. I can sense that they are also spiritually at peace.

The human body can sustain itself for over 100 years.

This is not uncommon either as we’re getting to see and hear about more and more people living out longer, and more fulfilling lives. Alongside modern medicine, I think a huge contributing part of this is how one handles their health in not only the earlier but later stages of they’re lives.

If we can live well past 100 years in this life, then that would mean being 50 is only the halfway maker of your life. Think about that for a second. That means there’s a whole other half to go!

And what’s to say that the second half of your life could hold more fulfillment and be more satisfying than the first? Sure childhood is a precious and unique time in our lives, but its only the beginning, the opening chapters.

You can learn a lot from older fit people I guess, and just by looking at them. It makes you want to be the same way. I know for me, the more people like this I see and meet, the more I make this goal for myself later in life because I know I want to hold onto my solid health for many years to come. Its motivational because it shows me that getting older doesn’t have to mean I’ll lose it just because I’m older. In fact its the complete opposite in that getting older could mean only getting and improving my health from where I’m at now.

It is just really inspiring to be around for me, and thought it was well worth mentioning today.

Before I go, let me answer the question to the title. So how can this all be done? How do we get out of a fitness funk, or dieting disaster?

Well the first step is recognizing and then acknowledging the fact that you have gotten a bit careless with things over the years of mid-life. Then its time to slowly start to claw your way back into shape. Starting with the basic restructuring of your diet and then as mentioned before starting slow with 20 minutes or so a day of something physical.

Up your intensity and what your body can handle. Remember, if you’re over 50, your bones, ligaments, joints, muscle tissue, tendons, and other anatomical components may not have to density, flexibility, or responsiveness as they did when you were younger. However, with the right diet, and regular bodily conditioning through exercising, you can get everything back to tip top performance.

That is why it is possible for a 55 year old man to have a higher muscle density and accompanied by a better stamina than any typical 18 year old kid.

True it is more likely for any older person to pull something because they’re frame is generally a little bit more prone to injury simply because it is older. So getting back into the swing of things “cautiously” is the last point I’ll make here.

Being fit past 50 is like a gourmet chef putting icing on the cake, but blindfolded and making a perfect swirl every time. Inspirational? I’d say so…