The key to staying fit and active is in these three words; Visualise, Improvise, Measure

If you’re not yet on The LifeCurve, that’s good news: it means you’re already doing an effective job of staying fit and healthy. The important thing is to keep it that way for as long as possible. Here are some simple pointers to help you stay off The LifeCurve, or to slow your decline if you are already on it. Don’t worry, research shows that as little as 2.5 hours of activity per week can make a real difference. That’s just 21 minutes each day! The key thing to remember is Visualise, Improvise and Measure – or VIM for short.

Why bother?

The key to staying fit and active is simple. Clinical research shows that just 150 minutes of physical activity per week can help older people significantly reduce all sorts of common health issues, some potentially very serious or even fatal. For example, you can shrink the risk of dying from a heart attack or other cardiovascular disease by as much as 25-40%, or cut the risk of fractures by almost a third. Your mind will benefit too, because a little physical exercise can help ward off dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease as well as boosting your brain function by up to 40%.

Visualise

Start by thinking about how you want your future fitness to look, then set yourself some achievable goals. For example, perhaps you’d like to be hiking in the hills well into your 70s.

Improvise

Do activities and exercises that suit you, your surroundings and your circumstances: you don’t need to buy expensive kit or join organised groups if you don’t want to. The main thing to remember is that you’ll need to perform either moderate or vigorous physical activity to count towards your 150 minutes. Moderate means that you won’t physically be able to sing while you’re doing it, while vigorous means you won’t even be able to talk. A casual stroll in the park won’t cut the mustard; sorry! Having said that, a gentle swim, bike ride, dance class or some strength training is considered exercise, and even energetic gardening counts. One last thing: try to be a little sociable and stay connected. Feeling isolated or lonely in middle and older age is shown to have an impact on our physical health, which could push you along The LifeCurve.

Measure

Research shows that when we measure our activities and progress, we stand a better chance of sticking to our new routines. It only takes around a couple of months before a new healthy habit is formed, and then it becomes second nature. You can use technology like a Fitbit to keep track of how you’re doing, or even just counting your exercises or timing yourself will help.

So, in conclusion, the key to staying fit and active? 21 mins of activity each day that you enjoy. Take a look at some of our tips and facts for starters.

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