If you love doing physical activities, that’s great, as you recognize the benefits of staying active as an adult. However, exercising and doing sports come with certain challenges when you get older. It’s not just a thing that people say; it’s been proven that upon passing the age of 35, the body starts to slow down in its production of hormones that it needs to work out.
It’s no doubt that muscle building and staying fit and lean is significantly easier when you’re younger, as you have sufficient amounts of those hormones. That’s why a lot of older athletes experience a dip in their performance as they age. But does that mean you should stop with your physical activities? Not at all! It only means that there are certain things that you need to do to ensure your safety. Remember that you’re not in your 20s anymore. Your body needs recovery after a marathon, not another hour at the gym!
Here are some of the things that you can do when you’re doing physical activities as an older athlete:
Be Mindful of the Weather and Temperature
Yes, the hotness or coldness of the day can affect you more than it would a younger athlete. Not only are you at risk of experiencing hyperthermia or hypothermia when the weather is extreme, but you may also be at risk of experiencing heat stroke or other illnesses.
If you are working out on a hot day, make sure that you drink plenty of fluids and wear light and loose-fitting clothes. When it’s cold, dress in layers instead. Also, when the weather is terrible, it’s better to do your workouts indoors since there are lots of workout videos online that you can do without any equipment.
Change Your Goals and Tweak Your Workouts Accordingly
You might have goals that you had set when you were younger. If you were competing professionally as an athlete before, those goals might even be high, but they may be too high, especially for your age. You should realize that the goals you set for yourself 10 or 15 years ago might not be realistic now. It may be hard to admit it, but you will have to make some changes, whether that’s in the number of laps you do, the intensity of your workouts, or the duration of the activities. Listen to your body, and don’t ignore signs that could be telling you that you need to pause.
Get Enough Sleep and Relaxation
Sleep is one of the best things that you can do for muscle recovery. Don’t deprive yourself of a good night’s rest, especially when you work all day and do intense workouts. It’s your body’s chance to recover and repair itself, and if you don’t have enough of it, that could lead to health problems. Another thing that you can do is get an athletic massage regularly to help your muscles recover faster.
Get Advice from a Physician
Even if you feel perfectly fine, it’s still best to consult your doctor and have tests done to ensure that you are healthy and that there won’t be any problem with you doing strenuous physical activities. Health complications often come with age, and while staying active certainly help keep you in great shape, overdoing it can be dangerous if you have a health condition that you don’t know about.
Conclusion
It’s an incredible and inspiring thing when you see older adults maintaining a very active lifestyle. If you are one of them, well done for doing what you can to stay healthy and strong! As a reminder, aging comes with certain limitations, and your body might not be as equipped as it was before to handle workouts that are too intense. So, make sure that you are in tune with your body. Likewise, having a health and wellness coach who can provide you with proper guidance is also a good idea!
Meg Parker of Hello Meg Parker in New York is a massage therapist and intentional health coach who can help you maintain an active lifestyle that is safe for your age. From guiding you on how to recover after a marathon to providing you with relaxing massages after an intense workout, you can trust Meg to prioritize your health and fitness at all times! Get in touch today to know more or learn more about details in her fantastic book, ReCharge Your Champion Drive!
