Want to have a healthier 2022? Same here! So, Senior Planet polled our best experts and asked: What’s a smart health move for 2022? They all had solid suggestions.
Ditch the Resolutions. Yes, yes, we know, what’s New Year’s without resolutions….and, a few weeks later, moping about broken resolutions? Forget resolutions, suggests Janet M. Harvey, CEO of inviteCHANGE, a coaching and education company in Seattle. “A resolution is a hope without a prayer,” she says. Think goals. “A goal is tangible.” Meeting a goal requires planning the steps along the way, pivoting to a new or revised goal when necessary, and figuring out what you need to do and what skills you need to accomplish the goal.
Resolution: Lose weight. Goal: Lose 10 pounds by dropping a pound a week; enlist a friend as a walking buddy. Check in with my doctor if the pounds haven’t started to drop in a month. See the difference?
Change Your Eating Schedule. “Eat more early [in the day] and less later,” says Michael Crupain, MD, on faculty at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine. “Our body’s circadian rhythm (our internal clock) changes our metabolism throughout the day. In the morning we are more sensitive to insulin and in the evening most resistant.” Insulin resistance boosts blood sugar levels and increases the risk of diabetes and other health issues. “So this year, start shifting when you eat and make breakfast and lunch your biggest meals of the day and dinner the smallest,” Crupain says. Some ethnicities are at higher risk of developing diabetes.
Think of Fitness as Medicine. And forget the myth that you’re too old, suggests Kenneth Cooper, MD, the legendary “Father of Aerobics” who founded The Cooper Institute in Dallas and wrote the 1968 best-seller Aerobics. “Exercise at 60 years of age [and over] is extremely important,” Cooper says. “Even a 10% improvement in your fitness will give you benefits past 60.” Cooper is 90 and walks the talk. A former runner, he had to switch up his routine to stationary cycling after a skiing accident. He also does resistance training, crucial to maintaining muscle mass. Exercise can slow down the progression of Parkinson’s disease, reverse muscle mass loss (and reduce fall risk) and reduce risk of dementia, among other benefits. “No drug can take the place of an active lifestyle,” Cooper says.
Think of Socializing as a Health Habit. “We all found out during COVID how important relationships are,” says Karen Studer, MD, on faculty at the Loma Linda (CA) School of Medicine and a fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine. “Strengthen your current bonds and make new friends.” It will likely boost well-being and reduce depression.
Balance Yourself. “We know that every year we get older, our balance changes, which puts us at risk for falls and fractures,” says Amy Hess-Fischl, a certified diabetes educator at Kovler Diabetes Center, Chicago. Balance exercises can help greatly, she says. And it’s never too late to start. One example: for a calf stretch, stand facing a wall and push the toes of your right foot against the wall to stretch the calves; hold and repeat on the left. The Mayo Clinic has more balance exercises.
This article offered by Senior Planet and Older Adults Technology Services is for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding any medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
COMMENTS
8 responses to “Six Smart Moves for a Healthier 2022”
Eating your “big meal” in the morning is all “bunk.” Here’s my testimony, a former 5’9″ 403 pounder, who lost 20 pounds a month for five months, a total of 100 pounds. Did not exercise. Did not walk. Ate one meal per day, around 2-3 PM, Ate nothing but pinto bean soup with a can of chopped hot peppers and tomatoes thrown into the pot. Pinto Beans are loaded with protein and fiber. Took tons of vitamins. Drank lots of water, including two tablespoons of pure vinegar in water at bedtime
Fusion with cas? Is it still available, and how do I access it?
Senior Planet exercises are the best thing that AARP offers. During this pandemic it has been wonderful to tune in to these classes, has been a life saver. My favorite is Fusion with Cas, he is a sure reason to get fit. I have taken exercise classes all my life and what a treat it is during these times to find such energetic and helpful classes!!
Exercise more important in the early AM or late afternoon?
I am sorta stiff in the morning and so I’m inclined to do regular activities while I loosen up. So, afternoon is my preferred time to exercise. Do it when you can and when your body will cooperate.
My guess is more seniors have high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, as 3 examples. Your exercise programs help with those challenges. However, could you be offering classes on those 3 topics, and other topics for this age group? I think yes, but not sure I have seen any so far. I
But you offer many topics, some with a lot of freedom, allowing leaders, or speakers, to focus on desired topics. That itself, is excellent. Freedom to bring your own topic. BYOT. Jim
Goals s as in weight loss through more exercise are a great idea. My stationary bike awaits.
What is the cost?
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