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Get moving! Physical activity stimulates feel-good hormones while reducing stress and can help you feel younger no matter your age. In fact, exercise favors the availability of the amino acid tryptophan, which aids in the production of serotonin (the feel-good neurotransmitter), after 30 minutes of pumping your muscles, and the effect can last up to 90 minutes, according to a study published in Medicine & Exercise Science in Sports & Exercise.
You're Never Too Old to be Active
Don't think that all is lost just because you've seen the turn of many decades. Here are few suggestions on how to begin and continue
Make Exercise Fun, not a Burden
Evidence shows you can rejuvenate your body at any age once you begin to exercise, even if the last time you wore your sneakers was to run to the supermarket. The most daunting obstacle to overcome is not your age or lack of time, but rather making that commitment to begin.
Your first steps are to find something you really enjoy and get rid of the mindset that you "have to" exercise. You should want to. Once you make that mental switch, you'll feel more empowered and exercise will become part of your lifestyle
How do you find that special something? Consider your personality and tastes. Once you have an idea of what you like, you're ready to jump in.
Set yourself up for exercise success
Create a variety of goals. While it's good to have a long-term goal (dropping X number of pounds, exercising five days a week, running your first 10K, etc.), it's even more important to have several mini, short-term goals that lead to the bigger ones. Experts agree that the feeling of achievement is a necessary fuel to help you stay on track.
Tell everyone.
Make sure your friends and family are aware of your new fitness endeavor. Their support will be valuable.
Respect your plan.
Exercising is neither a luxury nor leisure time, even though you should have fun while doing it. Exercise is a medical appointment without the tests and paperwork. It will make you look and feel healthier, younger and happier. So don't feel bad if you have to rearrange your life at times to make this important meeting.
Set up rewards and periodic re-evaluations.
Next to your mini goals, pencil in some mini rewards, such as a new dress or a massage, but make sure it's something you truly look forward to. Reevaluate your goals and exercise plan every three weeks to avoid reaching a plateau.
Believe!
Positive thinking has been shown to improve health, exercise behaviors, exercise adherence and overall optimism across a lifespan. "Specifically, research has indicated that individuals who think they can lose weight or increase their physical activity typically do," says Charmaine Defranceso, Ph.D., associate professor of movement science and sports psychology at Florida State University.
Prevention Magazine
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