Fun Fitness Facts to Motivate You

By now you know that exercise is good for a lot more than weight maintenance. It acts as inexpensive medicine, positively affects the aging process, and makes us better people all around. Every year new studies reveal more ways movement increases happiness, healthiness, and longevity.  We baby boomers continue to redefine aging as we take advantage of increased awareness of the benefits of activity.

Let’s skim through a few fun fitness facts culled from recent research to get our motivation and life quality up, up, up! Nothing like some quick, practical hits to renew our “commit to be fit!”

Exercise acts as inexpensive medicine and positively affects the aging process. Get more Fit…
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General Fun Fitness Facts

• You can increase memory function, improve overall brain health, and reduce loss of brain matter via exercise.
• Physically active older adults have more variable brain activity while resting than those who are not active. Brain variability is linked to enhanced cognitive function.
• Indoor cyclists who pedaled vigorously for 45 minutes continued to burn additional calories for up to 14 hours post cycling than on days they did not cycle. (Burn baby, burn disc inferno! Come join me for a class as I just got Schwinn indoor cycling certified).
• Not only does a good night’s sleep improve your memory, but also taking naps of 45-60 minutes helps you retain more information.

Taking naps of 45-60 minutes helps you retain more information & improve memory ZZZZzzzz…
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Medical Fitness Facts

• People who exercise moderately are less likely to have risk factors for glaucoma compared to inactive people. (“The better to see you with, my dear.”)
• Exercise may be almost as effective as flu vaccines for reducing respiratory infections. (Take two walks and see me in the morning).
• Good nutrition is the least expensive form of health care.

Yoga and Mind/Body Fitness Facts

• Taking yoga even just once a week can help people reduce lower back pain and the need for pain medications. (Save money when you practice yoga and don’t have to buy pain meds!)
• Those who participate in yoga may also be more likely to eat mindfully and be physically active in other modes in addition to yoga.
  
• Mindfulness, such as cultivated in yoga, enhances self-regulation abilities.  

• A consistent Pilates program may improve dynamic balance for older adult women, helping prevent falls.
• Older adults who took yoga twice a week combined with memory training for four weeks experienced improvements in memory performance and the ability to manage activities of daily living.

Mindfulness, such as cultivated in #yoga, enhances self-regulation abilities #Activeaging
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Food Fitness Facts

• Peanuts or peanut butter for breakfast can control your blood sugar throughout the day and reduce your desire to eat for up to twelve hours. (I am not saying “nuts” to that! And See’s candies offers a dark chocolate with peanuts so that’s good news).
• Drinking just 1-3 additional cups of water can help with weight control. Hydrators reduce intake of three S’s when they drink up – sugar, saturated fat, and sodium.
  
• People who consume a greater variety of foods tend to have less body fat and be at less risk for metabolic syndrome than those who follow more limited food plans.

I don’t know about you, but I love Fun Fit Facts and Stats. You are seeing here just a few of the many I collect. What do you think? Do fitness facts, stats, and quotes motivate you as well?

If so, layer some Motivational Quotes with your Fun Fit Facts to keep yourself active and on track.  Get more quick hits in our posts, Motivational Quotes to Move You and Motivation, Fun Fit Facts, and Pretty Pictures for Boomers.

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By Kymberly Williams-Evans, MA

The post Fun Fitness Facts to Motivate You appeared first on Fun and Fit: Active Aging Answers for Boom Chicka Boomers.