Senior fitness is based on activity, not age

By Santa Ynez Valley Star Staff · Tue Mar 17 2020

By Jim Riley

Contributing Writer

Healthy longevity is a goal for seniors. Who doesn’t want to be healthy and move well in the activities they like and need to do as they progress through their senior years?

Good fortune in the genetic pool and in life is part of the equation. However, accidents, arthritis, and diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease may alter our desired lifestyle regardless of how disciplined we’ve been about diet and exercise.

Misfortune may happen and, to some degree, life is a crapshoot — but our focus needs to be on improving our odds for a long, healthy and active life.

This column is about establishing a minimal level of fitness to create a foundation for a healthy, active life. Those desiring to improve sports performance or a higher level of fitness will need more activity targeted toward their specific goals, but this basic maintenance program still provides everyone a good foundation for fitness: