Positive Affirmations & Positive Sayings

People today are living longer than ever before in history. With medical advancements people are able to live to be older than ever thought possible. In fact, living to be 100 years old may soon be the norm and not the exception. How can you be prepared to live to 100?

Exercise

Regular exercise can actually help to cure many of the aches and pains that happen as we age. Older adults don't need to keep up the pace they did when they were younger. However daily exercise will help you stay younger and feel better as you get older. Choose exercises that you can easily do at home. Walking is one of the best physical activities you can do. Take a daily walk around the block.

Other exercises that you can do include flexibility exercises. Simple stretching helps keep the muscles toned and will assist you in avoiding many injuries. It's best to start slowly and work your way up to a longer and more rigorous workout. There are many DVD's and television programs that cater specifically to seniors. The exercises are less strenuous and many can be done while sitting to start with.

Aerobic exercise helps keep the circulatory system working properly. This is key to good health as we age. One great way to try aerobics is water aerobics. The water helps keep stress off the joints as you exercise and the water provides the perfect amount of resistance to help keep you toned. If you have participated in activities when you were younger you can continue to keep doing them. Just try to tone them down slightly. For example running can be too harsh on older joints so try brisk walking instead. If you're new to exercise start out very slowly and always check with your doctor first.

Exercising will not only prevent future illnesses it can help to give you an overall feeling of well-being. Exercise helps your mind think more clearly and the result is that you'll not only feel better but will think better as well. If you are overweight losing some of the extra pounds will go a long way towards helping your overall health.

Healthy Diet

Exercise is a great start to a healthy old age but another necessary component is a healthy diet. Eating right is important to overall health. Good diet coupled with regular exercise is the sure way to a healthy old age. You don't need as many calories when you're older but you still need nutritious food. The body slows down as it ages so eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to keep it going. Increase fiber intake to keep your digestion functioning properly. Lower your fat to keep cholesterol levels down.

Many older adults don't like to cook for just one or two people. As a result they may not be eating properly. Try cooking a larger portion and freeze portions to eat later on. Use fresh ingredients as opposed to processed foods that can contain too many unnecessary ingredients. Cut back on red meat. Eat smaller portions of food - eat several small meals per day. This helps digestion and gives you a steady supply of fuel throughout the day.

One of the biggest problems that adults face with exercise is motivation. It can be challenging to fit an exercise regime into a schedule that's already filled with work, kids, housework, cooking and all the things that go with adulthood. Younger adults are working more while older adults have families to care for. With busy schedules it seem almost impossible to add fitness into the mix. Most adults understand the importance of regular exercise yet they may procrastinate.

Of course new medical and scientific findings continue to show the link between good physical fitness and the reduced risk of many diseases. It is increasingly apparent that staying active can contribute to better health. Many adults are overweight and this can cause many medical problems ranging from high blood pressure and cholesterol to higher risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Start Now

Adults that exercise reduce their risk of many diseases and also have a better mental outlook on life. Start now to develop a regular exercise routine that you can accomplish at least several times per week. Getting in shape now will greatly reduce risks even if you've been overweight. In fact if you've been dealing with any types of chronic illnesses you may find that they subside once you lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Keep Moving

Being inactive is the most common cause of obesity in adults. Other contributing factors include a poor diet and increased stress. The best way to counteract these problems is to keep moving. It doesn't matter as much what you do - just do it! There are two main types of exercise - aerobic and anaerobic types. You should try to alternate exercise routines from both types. Aerobic exercises work the heart and lungs while anaerobic exercise consists of strength training to keep muscles toned.

Choose Your Exercises

Many adults think that they need to join an expensive gym in order to work out. The thought of going to a gym every day or exercising in front of others can be daunting to some. But you needn't workout at the gym to exercise. There are plenty of physical activities that you can do every day at home that won't cost you anything. The best thing to do is to find several types of activities that you like to do so that you'll enjoy your workout and want to keep doing it. Find both indoor and outdoor activities to try. Yoga and Pilates can both be done at home.

Stay Active

Staying active is important to staying healthy. Try to incorporate movement into your everyday lifestyle. For example park further away at work so you will have a nice walk to and from your auto. Use your lunch hour to take a walk around the building or around the block. Allow yourself only so much time in front of the television set.

Eat Right

Eating a healthy diet helps to keep you at a healthy weight and keeps your body working at its peak. Avoid fad diets and instead opt for smaller portions of healthy food. Choose fruits or vegetables for snacks and keep your fat intake down. To find out your ideal diet check your own age, weight and height on the food pyramid.

Once kids have reached their teen years they are very self-sufficient. They have their own views and opinions and may not want to listen to what their parents have to say. Teen's bodies are changing and their hormones are in a state of flux. This makes them somewhat emotional at times. In order to keep your teen healthy and happy during this time it's important to exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet.

Teenagers seem to sleep a lot and parents can mistake this for being lazy. In fact teens need more sleep than any other age group besides infants. They are growing at a fast pace and they need extra sleep. When they are awake, however, it's important to make sure that they exercise regularly. One of the best ways to ensure that a teen gets enough exercise is by getting them involved in sports. Any sports activity that they choose will give them regular workouts and keep their bodies healthy.

If your teen isn't interested in an organized team sport he or she may be interested in some other types of activities. Don't discount some of the ideas that your teen has. For example, skateboarding provides a great workout and can be extremely athletic. Encourage them to ride their bicycle when possible. Try to put limits on the amount of time they can spend in front of the television or playing video games. Whether they say so or not most teens still like the security of having limits and boundaries.

To keep your whole family fit take weekly walks or bike rides. While teens may not want to participate you'll often find that they do enjoy the exercise as they do it. That's because exercise provides a great outlet for stress and helps even teens relieve everyday pressures that build up. You can also try taking your older teen to the gym or on special adult workouts. Some parks have fitness stations that are great for giving teens and adults a great workout. Try getting your child interested in a sport that you enjoy. If you like to golf try taking your teen out with you on the course. Sometimes allowing them to participate in adult sports helps them exercise while keeping their self-esteem intact.

If you enjoy taking exercise classes you can get your teen involved, too. Aerobics classes, step classes and yoga are all great fun and can be enjoyed by all ages. Check to see the ages of the people in class before enrolling - most teens don't want to be the only youngster in the class! If your teen is interested in tennis or racquetball get them involved in local classes. There are often weekly lessons and competitions as they improve giving them a fun way to improve their physical fitness. Give teens plenty of choices so that they feel they had a say-so in their fitness plan.

Help teens understand the importance of proper diet. Provide healthy meals when they are at home. Limit fast food and junk food from their menu. One way to do this is to allow one fast-food meal per week. This lets them go with their friends to the local hamburger spot without feeling badly. If you notice that your teen is starting to become overweight try to improve their diet and exercise regime before the problem gets out of control.

By the time kids are in grade school they are making friends and learning to meet new people. Suddenly they are near peers and are not close to their mothers during the day. This gives them new freedom. Schools provide phys-ed courses that are perfect for introducing kids to many different activities. Youngsters are impressionable and will enjoy many types of new ideas.

This is the best time to continue to encourage physical activities at home. Stress the importance of fitness and provide opportunities for your child to participate in many types of sports or activities. There are many choices that are available for kids but if parents don't place importance on them kids may prefer to stay inside and play video games or watch television. Technology has provided a new outlet for kids, which is likely to make them lazy, and can lead to obesity.

Diet is also increasingly vital at this age. Kids are away from home for much of the day and parents have less control over what their youngster is eating. Emphasize the importance of good diet. Also, provide nutritious dinnertime meals for the family to ensure that they eat properly. Don't send kids off to school in the morning until they eat breakfast. Avoid junk food and fast food.

As children get older they reach adolescence. As their bodies start to change they will often start to see areas of fat on their bodies. Remind kids that this is perfectly normal and help them maintain a healthy body image. Support sports teams and plan weekend family activities to keep everyone active. Kids learn from their parents so it's important for adults to stay active to be healthy role models for their youngsters. Provide healthy snacks and don't keep junk food around the house. Minimize soft drinks and instead give juice, milk and water.

There are many different types of activities that kids this age enjoy. Bike riding is an excellent form of exercise that helps not only the muscles but also the cardiovascular system. Skateboarding, rollerblading and bicycle riding are all things your child can do at home. They might also like getting involved in organized sports such as baseball, football, basketball, volleyball and soccer. Local recreation facilities offer classes in gymnastics, karate, swimming and other sports. Let your child enroll in a different class each season to find one that interests him the most.

Always encourage your children to try new games and stay active while at home. Install a basketball hoop and make sure that each family member has a bicycle. Take family bike rides to the local park or take nature walks. In winter try skiing, snowboarding and sledding for fun. Make sure all seasons are covered. Your child may become interested in an activity that you are unfamiliar with. Nonetheless, learn what you can about it and help your child participate if possible. Never discourage physical activity.

The importance of getting kids involved in physical activity cannot be overstated. Children who regularly participate in sports and are active are developing good fitness habits that they'll carry with them throughout their lives.

When children mature they begin to get increased management of their motor skills. When a baby reaches over a year old he or she will start to walk. The first stages of walking begin with short unsteady attempts until the steps are perfected. As they master walking they're ready to be on the go. Get ready for a fun-filled stage!

Teach Movements

Before babies walk they crawl. You'll often see little ones who are tired of trying to stand or walk revert back to crawling since they have already mastered that skill. Now is the best time to add exercise into their daily regime. Adding fun exercises that get kids moving can be better than trying to stick to a firm schedule. Kids this age have short attention spans. Start by teaching small arm or leg movements, hopping and jumping. Keep everything simple and don't worry if they can't master a task - just concentrate on motion. Even dancing can be fun for tots.

Healthy Diet

Now is the time to start introducing new and healthy foods to the toddler's diet. New teeth mean they can chew foods that they weren't able to eat previously. Toddlers are actually now at risk for becoming overweight. It's more important now than ever to feed them foods that are suitable for their age. Giving them some foods may trigger food allergies. Kids at this age are discovering their own tastes so give them plenty of healthy choices. This is the ideal time to give new fruits and vegetables to put them on a lifelong road to a good diet.

Physical Routines

Toddlers are exuberant and seem to constantly be on the move. Tots like to discover things around them and move quickly while constantly having fun. Running and playing use most of the little one's muscles including those in the arms and legs. Start now by helping tots learn how to organize actions into physical fitness routines. Keep movements simple and routines short. Try to include some short running activities that add aerobic exercise. Get them a tricycle to learn coordination skills. Practice routines together for added fun.

Take to the Park

Outdoor activities are great for this age group. Outside parks and play yards have many different types of play apparatus specifically for kids. The latest parks offer all types of ergonomic items that are just perfect for building little one's strength. Spending time using this equipment will surely improve your child's overall physical fitness level giving them a great workout. Best of all parks are built with safety in mind so there's no need to worry. Look for parks specifically designed for tots. Try to visit several times per week.

Indoor Fun

Back at home you can start to teach some basic tumbling skills. Show little ones how to skip, roll, hop and jump. Try anything that is easy and allows for movements. Join in the fun so you'll get some exercise at the same time. Throw in a little silliness since kids love to laugh. It's great fun to exercise with your toddler. Enjoy time spent with your little ones and marvel at the joy they get in trying new actions. They will soon take pride in their newfound talents.