Vicky's Staying Fit opener
Vicky Waite says it is never too late to get in shape. Physical activity is more important than ever today. The digital age where cell phones, the internet and fast instant contact messaging strips us of our time and peace. In fact, teenagers spend a whopping 9 hours a day online.
Vicky, like many of us, grew up when people spent much of their time outdoors—riding their bikes, swimming, fishing, hiking, chasing lightning bugs, skating, sledding and playing sports. Today, you must force people outside. They not only spend more time on their cell phones, but they also spend more time on the couch.
Staying fit takes discipline in the way you eat and way you move. The daily stress we experience in our overly fast-paced instant access world causes us to eat too much sugar. The body releases hormones that increase the desire for sugar which can give you a quick boost of dopamine. It’s an addictive cycle that becomes a downward spiral. Healthier choices can be learned and can lead us to an upward cycle. For example, we can eat high energy snacks such as peanut butter on a rice cake. Or a banana in yogurt. The truth is that healthy choices and exercise can make your body more resistant to deleterious effects of stress in our digital age.
We need to move. And we need to tone up. A balanced exercise program using weights will increase your muscle tone. Starting while you are young is the best way to learn good habits but you can start to stay fit at any age. But it is never too late to begin toning up. Seniors over 60 need weight training to build muscle tone. As we age, we lose muscle. Resistance training has been shown to increase longevity and improve strength, and the weights we need to lift are heavy weights. Vicky emphasizes how crucial weight training is after turning 60. Staying in shape should include weights, even if you never used them before.