Keeping active has a whole range of benefits for your health. 

When people start to age, they generally start to take a closer look at how their habits are affecting their health. Past the age of 50, the effects of poor diet, lack of exercise, no fitness goals, and other unhealthy habits begin to seriously impact your quality of life.

It’s important for people over 50 to make very deliberate decisions regarding their health. Setting and sticking to some simple fitness goals can make all the difference. Below are 8 examples of fitness goals to work toward every day.

1. Improving Your Balance

Balance is an important aspect of fitness that becomes more difficult to maintain as you continue to age. Actively maintaining your balance at 50 can have a major impact on your physical abilities 10, 20, or even 30 years down the road.

There are a variety of different exercises that help improve balance. Balancing on one foot for a few minutes, then switching to the other is a simple way to help build balance that you can incorporate into your routine every day.

2. Trying Something New

There’s no reason why you should stick to exercises and activities you already know. You can explore many new ways to stay fit and active, so making one of your fitness goals to find something new could uncover the perfect routine for you.

You might try yoga or meditation to take care of both your physical and mental health. Keep an open mind about lower-impact activities, like aquatic exercises, that help maintain whole-body health.

3. Developing Range of Motion

An important aspect of exercise in middle age is ensuring that your range of motion doesn’t decline. Incorporating appropriate stretching into your routine can help keep your joints flexible and capable of extending.

Starting now can have a major impact on your ability to get around as you continue to age. Make sure to find a stretching routine from a reliable source to ensure that you’re doing it properly and to avoid injury.

4. Sticking to Your Schedule

Setting fitness goals is one thing, but sticking to them is another. It’s important that you really follow through with the commitment you make to maintain your health as you age. Setting a schedule is the best way to do so.

Instead of saying, “I’ll go for a walk once a day,” say, “I’ll go for a walk at 3 p.m. every day.” Being specific about your plans can make a huge difference in how well you follow your fitness routine. Of course, you can adjust your schedule as needed. Just be careful to avoid making excuses!

5. Building Up Endurance

Good cardiovascular health provides you with the best possible foundation for a long and enjoyable life. However, maintaining that health takes a real commitment. The most important part of any cardio exercise is sticking with it consistently.

You can find a wide range of activities that can make it easy to get the recommended 30 minutes of cardio every day. Hiking, walking, biking, swimming, and more all fulfill that purpose perfectly.

6. Maintaining Muscle Strength

A decline in muscle strength becomes a serious issue once you reach middle age. Muscle tissue itself isn’t the only contributing factor. The loss of bone density also reduces strength, an issue which is significantly higher in women after menopause.

Incorporating lifting weights or bodyweight exercises into your routine can help maintain strength. These more strenuous exercises should only be completed two to three days each week, and individuals with existing health issues should consult a doctor first to find out what type of exercise is right for them.

7. Paying Closer Attention to Diet

Fitness goals aren’t all about exercise. Your diet is just as important to your whole-body health. As you age, it’s best to start taking a more deliberate approach to your diet. Meal planning is one tactic that can really help you choose foods that will nourish your body. 

Healthy eating can prevent many common dietary issues that people develop as they age. While healthy diets are most closely associated with trying to lose weight, some people also need to be concerned about becoming underweight as they grow older.

8. Taking Care of Your Oral Health

Your oral health can have a significant impact on your whole-body health and quality of life. Taking care of your teeth now gives you the best chance of keeping them as you age. If you already have oral health problems, look into effective tooth replacement options to restore your natural eating and chewing abilities.

Farless Dental Group can help your oral health at any age. 

If you’re looking to maintain your oral health, reach out to your family dentist near Greensboro, NC, at Farless Dental Group. We’ll be happy to provide you with the preventative, cosmetic, and restorative dental treatments you need to stay healthy and keep smiling.