As you age, you naturally don’t feel quite the same any more.  Like a vehicle, as your body accumulates “mileage”, it gets a little more sensitive and needs a little more maintenance.  That’s a normal part of your life cycle.  But what we’ve learned in recent research about the human body is that there are proven ways to do that maintenance and prolong your body’s capability into “old age” (whatever that term means to you)!  

A few tips can go a long way.  Here are some pointers on the way your body’s joints and systems age, and what you can do about it.

1: Metabolism – Stoking the furnace

As you get older, your metabolism may slow, making it harder to keep those pounds off or get that energy that you need.  Some great tips: eat more small meals per day rather than fewer large ones.  You may need to turn “three squares” into six to eight snacks to keep your body firing on all cylinders and prevent cholesterol buildup or other issues.

2: Yoga for the joints and spine

Your body will increasingly be less supple and more “brittle” – one way to combat that is with the challenging positions of this ancient art that “stress” the body while “de-stressing” the mind.  

3: “Prime” your workout

This one is extremely important.  Scientific analysis shows that stretching and other light training before and after athletic or manual activities releases specific spinal and joint lubricants, making this an essential part of protecting your body from strain during aggressive physical activity.

4: Carry Muscle

Experts say that a pound of muscle is better for hauling around than a pound of fat – but we already knew that.  How to get there: Train several days a week with small weights, gradually increasing resistance, for great muscle forming and toning.

5: Poise yourself for health

There are also tips for maintaining your body in the “off hours”, while you’re not training or thinking about fitness.  A lot of this has to do with avoiding a sedentary day: get up and move around, doing some light manual work whenever possible.  Another tip is to avoid a sedentary posture.  This is where experts say your “poise” counts: keeping an active, dynamic posture (versus slouching down into a lethargic sprawl while resting) will increase your joint and spine strength and keep you healthy and able-bodied.

These are just some of the ways you can delay aging processes related to your body’s range of motion.  As for motivation and follow-through, that’s a whole other story!  It can help to rely on a close friend or family member for “training accountability”, and keeping a journal or record of progress can also boost your chances of success.  With these and other good habits, you can really tack on additional “good days” to your life calendar!