FLEXIBILITY~My Senior Exercise Plan 2024; #1

With age, bones tend to shrink in size and density, weakening them and making them more susceptible to fracture - we have a high energy puppy; he is always darting about, and seems to take a perverse delight in dogging my feet, or stopping suddenly right in front of me.

I'm 67 years … I've never had any broken bones, and I don't want them now. With such a little jokester always under foot, I need to make sure my bones have the strength to survive Bleu ;-)

You might even become a bit shorter: please, NO. I'm already short.

Muscles generally lose strength, endurance and flexibility — factors that can affect your coordination, stability and balance: whole body toning is seriously necessary - thankfully I have always worked my body, and am still in pretty good shape. But since getting married a year ago, I've slacked off: I can be (and do) better.

I read online this morning, that for a woman my age, and my height  … 5’2” = 104–136 "ideal weight"; I laughed out loud. Even when I was much, much younger I was packing more weight than that - and less booby. NOW, my boob weight is about 1/3 of my "ideal weight" according to the medical field; if I shot for the charted "ideal" weight, I'd resemble an aging meth-mimic-cadaver with inflated chest balloons ;-)

If you do want to shed a few pounds, start by setting a realistic goal. My realistic goal is somewhere around 150 pounds - I'd be happy with that: at this age, I look reasonably good at that weight, I have clothes to fit that weight (and I would like to wear them again) … and I wouldn't be trying to kill myself trying to meet the medical profession's ridiculous {goal}.

Arms, torso, & legs workout aids ;-)

Get Rid Of Bat Wings And Go Sleeveless At Sixty:  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOlcqXdmk9U)

I was happily enjoying my stepper this morning before Holland woke up (and counting my steps - so I didn't answer back when he woke up and said 'good morning': I nodded ;-)); I have a heart arrhythmia, so I don't stress it any more than necessary: when I reach a certain point in exercising, I stop for a bit … and pick it up again later, if my heart rate and breathing have leveled out - heart and lung issues has been a lifelong thing: I have learned to pace myself, no matter what I am doing. When I finally counted 500 steps, and my heart rate was a little racy and my breathing a little labored - I quit, put the stepper aside, kissed my husband and explained why I didn't verbally respond earlier.

It can be normal to have a higher heart rate when you’re exercising. A high heart rate during exercise is considered safe as long as you do not go above your maximum heart rate.

Because I have a heart rhythm of *beat, beat, pause, beat ..*, and asthma - which causes my heart to race after using the inhaler, I don't get too concerned about heart rates: but, when I exercise, I pay attention; and I am using a fingertip 'Pulse Oximeter' while exercising.

Maximum heart rate varies from person to person, but in general, you can figure out your maximum heart rate by subtracting your age from 220: so, my maximum heart rate is 153.

I am also using my 'Power Stride' step counter while using my stepper.

Based on an average step length of 2-1/2 feet, there are approximately 2,000 steps in 1 mile. You can use step-counting devices, such as pedometers and accelerometers, to help count your daily steps and set an appropriate daily step goal. So for the average walker, 60 minutes of walking would rack up nearly 8,000 steps. This aligns well with general step targets. Many fitness trackers and health organizations recommend aiming for at least 8,000-10,000 steps per day for health benefits.

Steps Gauge & Heart Rate Monitor.

I figure I managed 20,000 steps today with the stepper this morning, 2 hours speed walking through Wal*Mart this afternoon, and a half hour walking back and forth through the house putting things away when we got home: every step counts ;-)