The next phase ...

I've been blogging for some time, here: http://stayfitover50.blogspot.co.uk/

But it has just dawned on me (OK, maybe not very bright ... ) that I'm quite a long way past 50. Actually quite a long way past 60, and heading for 70 in the next few months but I don't intend to worry about that yet.

Thing is, getting and staying fit at 50 is not quite the same as at 60-plus. The fundamentals are the same: exercise regularly, don't totally pig out all the time, don't smoke or drink too much, use your common sense, etc. etc. You pretty certainly know all this.

What starts to change is that bodies need a bit more attention and you can't just take them and their fitness for granted. And doctors, whom I try quite hard to avoid, do have their uses.

Which brings me on to the subject of statins. A lot of people I know in my age group are given them by their GPs because their cholesterol levels are higher than they should be (the patients' cholesterol levels, not the GPs - sorry, that was a bit unclear). I'm not a doctor (obviously) so you need to listen to the professionals when big issues like CHD and stroke are the kinds of risks we're talking about, but I think this advice from the Mayo Clinic is REALLY sensible:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/statins/CL00010

Basically, it's saying that if you ONLY have high cholesterol, it's worth talking to your doctor about lifestyle changes before you go on to statins, which of course are not side-effect free - no drugs are. And I'd argue really strongly for exercise, either starting if you haven't done much before, or upping it a bit if you feel you can. Obviously check with your GP first if your health isn't great.

Walking - good exercise, but a slow shuffle for five minutes won't do it. Stride out and keep going for long enough to make yourself feel a bit out of breath. And do it again tomorrow, and the next day ...

Running - this is what I love, and at the moment I'm incapacitated by a broken metatarsal (plastered and on crutches) and it's very, very, very annoying. You see runners in all shapes and sizes and ages so don't think you'll feel weird. Start SLOWLY. If you're not used to exercise, start walking, then walking 50 paces and running 50 paces, and gradually extend the time running. Don't push yourself  - if you do you'll either get injured or thoroughly discouraged, and in either case you'll have to stop and that's just stupid. The running magazines all recommend joining a running club. I'm not sure about this for our age group; the clubs are almost always friendly and welcoming, but they assume you're twenty-four and capable of responding to the challenge of doing more and faster. I don't think this is good. Take it at your own speed - if you can manage, after weeks of training, to do a slow 20 minute jog, you've done brilliantly. Most people can't do this.

Swimming - makes you wet and cold but plenty of people like it. As you may have gathered, I don't but that's mainly because I'm rubbish at it.

Dancing - great, for all sorts of reasons.

Going to the gym - I think it's useful if you can't get outside or if you want to vary your exercise.

More about this next time. I'd love to hear your views.