As a Youth
We were all a little athletic in our youth when we had abundant energy.
Then, many started avoiding sports because of the competition. It became harder to have fun.
But conditioning becomes more important as you age. However, available time for exercise becomes limited by your job and family demands.
I am retired but luckily, I never lost sight of the need for exercise. However, my portion control at the dinner table has been a problem for me.
I want to encourage you to train for better health, strength, and endurance. That can lead to healthy wealth. And that is part of why I write this blog, to help you build a better mindset for money!
Foot Pain Is Alarming
I was able to run track and play football in high school. My dad did, and so did I. And our practices could be intense. Training can feel painful.
Our coaches reminded us that this was the result of pushing your muscles past their current limits. They become sore, which is referred to as the training effect.
My track coach talked about pushing back the pain barrier. And if you get serious about becoming stronger and building your endurance, you must read and be aware of this cycle called the training effect.
Muscles strain and recover to become stronger. “No pain, no gain” is a simple reminder of this cycle. Try not to hurt yourself but gradually build the amount of weight you lift and the number of reps or the distance and speed you run or walk.
If you do experience foot pain, don’t be alarmed, try different shoes or inserts for better arch support and cushion on your heel. You can also try topical pain-relieving cream for relief.
Leg Strength to Climb
Stairs start to be intimidating to us as we age. Knee pain is also alarming. But training will help.
Hopefully, you will not experience arthritis and loss of fluid in your knee joints. I had both knee joints replaced, which required physical therapy to make those new joints more user friendly!
You must commit to regular walking and other related exercise, even stair climbing, to build good strength and endurance in your legs.
Your confidence will build and you might even take up hiking on elevated trails!
Core to Stabilize
There are many opportunities for entertainment, including streaming services, where you sit a lot.
You will find your middle start to get bigger. That is a good sign that you need to train for more stable core muscles.
Core muscles include your stomach area muscles, lower back muscles, and your side muscles. All of them help you stand erect. Your head and chest have a lot of weight to keep upright!
The older you get the more important stability becomes.
And that can add to your quality of life. If you ignore your core, you may lose your ability to balance.
Walk for Endurance
Even if you have avoided exercise for a long time, you can start your journey back to a healthy status. But don’t forget the training effect. It may hurt a little at first.
My personal experience has confirmed that consistent walking will build your endurance. For a mindset, think of it as training for your next life event, like a move, helping a friend with a project, a vacation, or a concert with a long walk from the parking lot.
Give yourself a reason to exercise.
Your good health will be better with a strong core, legs that endure long walks, and arms strong enough to carry heavy bags of groceries.
Endurance is good for many reasons over a long life!
Sore Muscles
Sore muscles can be a side effect of physical training, especially if you push too hard and fail to warm up by stretching your muscles and joints.
If you take time to read about it, there are more efficient and safer ways to lift weights and walk and run. Athletes study body mechanics to gain an edge over their opponents. Perhaps you can study how to function better doing things you enjoy, like casting a fly rod, playing golf, or playing pickleball.
Maybe you should study to get an advantage over aging!
How will you handle sore muscles?
Pain medicine in pill form can eventually lead to liver or kidney problems. Be careful not to take them too often.
Topical creams for pain can be a good alternative to pain pills.
The Pain Barrier
Some long-distance runners call it the pain barrier. Some coaches refer to it as the pain threshold. Both relate to the level of pain you are willing to endure.
Many people have nerve pain from bulging discs in their spine. I am not referring to that kind of pain. I am referring to muscle strain and the recognition of the method for recovery.
Our bodies were designed to be able to recover from physical stress!
That is something to be thankful for and to utilize as you work on a healthier you!
How much pain are you willing to endure?
Push Back and Build Up
As we age, we forget that we do not need to eat as much as when we were younger, no matter how good it tastes! So, do as my mom used to chide me, push back from the table (after eating only one plate of food)!
Then, remember the old proverb, “After lunch rest a while, after dinner walk a mile.”
Plan to be better prepared physically for the next event in your life. By intentional exercising, you will enjoy your activities more.
Plan your routines to build endurance that will help your enjoyment and keep you in the game of life longer!
Endure to Get Older
Most of us experience some hard times in our life. Our jobs demand a consistent work schedule, regardless of many difficulties in our family life.
Mental challenges are difficult. But long walks give you opportunity to think and pray about your situation. That makes exercising even more important than just building strength and endurance.
“A healthy mind needs a healthy body” is an ancient phrase.
Old age and retirement and the challenges that come with that will require a good attitude and a willingness to keep going, keep walking, and not let a little arthritic pain keep you from enjoying life.
Make being healthy a goal where you continue to get better. Think of physical setbacks as a cause for rest and recovery, not a reason to stop trying!
Walk for endurance and a way to refresh your mind. Then, add other forms of exercise to build your strength. Then test your endurance occasionally with a vacation, a golf outing, or a fishing trip. Your test setting may be different. But plan on doing something you will enjoy!
Give yourself a reason to build endurance.
Then age will become just a number because you have the strength to enjoy your life events!