Ricky Banks is a walking advertisement for fitness over 50 – which makes sense, because he owns a successful gym and turned 57 this year. But it’s true now more than ever after a near-fatal medical emergency this year. Doctors and Ricky believe his healthy lifestyle helped him survive the loss of blood, the surgery,
Everyone wants a “magic bullet” about healthy living and staying fit. But the truth is, there simply isn’t one. Still, successful active agers do share a few traits, along with the basics of exercising regularly, eating well, sleeping enough, and managing stress. Here are 5 truths among them: Slow Progress Is Ideal. You’ve learned that
Befitting for a theatrical performer, Dan Grady’s fitness journey can be told in three acts. Act I: A talented youth trains for years among ballet’s elite, then begins decades-long career dancing on Broadway. Act 2: After his dancing career ends, he grows frustrated with his body’s limitations and realizes change is essential in his attitude
Our bodies keep changing as we age, and we need to pay attention to what we eat in new ways. For example, after age 50 or so, people need to eat a little more protein than before. Yet this is also the time of life when many are less likely than ever to get enough.
We often underestimate how much our friendship means to others, a new study says. So, we’re shy to reach out to old friends, afraid it will be awkward or unappreciated. The research says: Reach out! You’ll be glad you did. “People are fundamentally social beings and enjoy connecting with others,” wrote Peggy Liu, the study’s
When Glenna Brown’s husband became ill, she found that regular exercise at a nearby studio helped her deal with the stress and remain strong enough to be a good caregiver. When he died, Glenna (above, left) found more: a loving support group that helped her through her loss, and a new friend who was going
Don Phillips won a slew of medals at the recent National Senior Games. But the real value of his healthy lifestyle is far more ordinary. It’s also what so many people want as they get older: Functional fitness. Don, a 91-year-old retired veterinarian, recently drove 250 miles to a school reunion. He putzes around
After 50, people start getting frail and helpless, and it just gets worse every year. They don’t care about how they look. They hate to try new things. Right? Wrong! We’ve all heard these persistent, damaging falsehoods forever, and we love chipping away at them every day – just like the millions of active agers
Surveys and media reports recently are suggesting that people are losing their pandemic-fueled fever for at-home workouts – and returning to the gym and fitness studios like before. And that’s great news for people over 50 – who were hit particularly hard by Covid-19 and who often need to focus on social interactions to overcome
You’re never too old to get back to doing the physical activities you used to love. Just look at Kay Glynn, a 68-year-old grandmother who regained her athletic devotion after she saw other “older” people having fun running on a track. Back in high school, she had set a long jump record that held for