If you’re 50+ and want a fun way to keep active and healthy without having to face a gym, read on…
Something I hear a lot of people who visits my clinic talk about is wanting to be healthier but something holds them back…
They’re either:
a) Not sure where to start and what activity to do
or
b) They think they have to join a gym to keep fit – which they don’t like the thought of doing
So I’m going to talk about something today that doesn’t require a gym, and something that’s a fun and easy activity to do…
And that’s jogging.
Now I know you might be thinking; “I hate the thought of running”…
But here’s the thing, jogging isn’t to be confused with running.
When you run, you move at a much faster pace than when you jog.
Think about it this way – jogging if you like, is somewhere between walking and running.
It’s kind of like taking walking to the next level.
And while walking is a great way to keep active, and I recommend finding ways to fit more walking into your day, if you want to do something that gets your heart rate elevated that little bit more…
Jogging could be perfect for you and might even become your favourite way to maintain keeping active and mobile.
As I’m sure you already know, staying active as you get older is critical to staying happy, healthy, active and independent.
And while walking is one of the most popular ways to remain active among people aged50+ as it’s a safe, low-impact activity…
Swapping walking for a jog can have great health benefits too, and it doesn’t have to be high impact.
Firstly, not only does jogging improve your overall fitness, it improves your bone density which is important to keep your body strong and reducing your risk of injury.
It also improves your cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation and boost your mood, making it the perfect exercise to kick start your day.
And the best part is you don’t have to be a marathon runner to reap the health benefits!
Just five to ten minutes per day of jogging, even at a slow pace, is all you need to start feeling the positive effects.
As well as that, jogging burns a lot of calories.
Have I caught your attention now?
Why does it help burn so many calories?
Because jogging is a full body exercise and it uses a lot of different muscles, requires a strong core and uses your upper and lower body for balance.
Any activity that uses your core, upper and lower body to move – will burn more calories than an activity that doesn’t require as much muscle recruitment.
Don’t enjoy exercising alone?
Jogging is one of those activities, just like walking, that can be made social and the perfect activity to do with friends.
Instead of sitting in your living room with a cup of tea for a catch up, head outside for a jog instead.
Jogging at a low intensity allows you to carry on a conversation while staying active – which very few activities do.
So now you can kill two birds with one stone.
But what if you’re not used to keeping active, and the idea of getting off the soda and jogging a few miles right now feels daunting?…
Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a seasoned jogger to get started.
In fact, slow and steady is better for your body, giving it time to adapt and reducing your risk of any injury.
The last thing you want is a bad ankle or knee getting in the way.
Begin slow and over the months, as you feel you’re confidently able to take on more, increase your time and distance.
A lot of people worry because they think running, or even strenuous walking will hurt their joints.
However, if done right and taken slow, even with some added breaks for water and a stretch, you’ll be just fine.
Another benefit of jogging and why you don’t need the gym is this – jogging doesn’t require any equipment.
It’s accessible to almost everyone regardless of space and equipment.
There’s only one thing you will need, and that’s a good part of running shoes.
The best way to find the right pair for you is to get a jogging analysis.
You can do this at any running store, we even do it here at Benchmark Physio.
We’ll examine the wear of your current and old shoes, and assess how you walk and run – then based on that we can get a moulded pair of orthotics customised to your foot, which you insert in your running shoes so you know you’re doing it properly.
Wearing a pair of orthotics when you run will enhance your movement, support your running technique and reduce the likelihood of injury.
Jogging is a smart way to stay active as you age, especially because you don’t have to run fast or jog five times a week to reap the benefits.
With just 50 minutes of jogging each week, you can lose weight, boost heart health, catch up with friends and know you’re looking after yourself.
Make jogging a regular part of your active lifestyle and you’ll be feeling stronger and healthier in no time.
