5 Tips to Defy Aging, Feel More Energetic, Move Better and Keep Up with Your Younger Friends and Coworkers

It seems like this has been the summer of aches and pains. Wherever I go, I wind up getting into a conversation with someone who is complaining about achy knees, or lack of energy, or who is just not feeling as young and vibrant as they used to. It's a normal part of getting older, but I don't know many people 40-50+ who are ready to sit back and watch as life goes on around them.

I love this quote by Cassidy Phillips, the founder and CEO of Trigger Point Performance:

"What you tolerate, you accept--and you don't have to tolerate poor biomechanics or getting older."

Can I get an AMEN!?

It was this train of thought that led me to create this week's podcast. Yes, there are things you can do to change your appearance that cost money... hair dye, Botox, cosmetic surgeries.... but I'm not talking about these things. I wanted to touch on some everyday things we can all do that will make us FEEL and MOVE better.

Aging is a function of lifestyle, and there are SO MANY things we can do to age well. Even if you are late to the game, many of the age-related declines can be reversed or slowed.

You can listen to the full podcast on iTunes or by clicking on the player embedded right here. I'm gonna give you just a few bullet points and highlights here.

1. Improved Nutrition: Poor nutrition makes us feel bad and contributes to the aging process. Fuel your body with a variety of nutrient-dense foods, reduce sugars, and hydrate!
2. Mobility Work: Mobility is your body's ability to move through the range of motion that is intended for a particular joint. Two examples of lifestyle factors that affect our mobility are shortened hip flexors as a result of sitting at a desk or driving all day, and rounded shoulders from spending lots of time in a computer/reading/texting position. Our bodies are masters at compensating when we have pain or range or motion issues. The body is amazing that way, but it can also cause new issues or areas of pain if we aren't addressing the underlying causes. Good mobility also means being able to twist to put your seatbelt on, being able to walk up the stairs with a bag of groceries, and being able to walk down the stairs (toes pointed forward, and not side shuffling!) first thing in the morning. The good news is: there are lots of things you can do to address your mobility. A good place to start is a yoga class.
3. Regular Exercise: The majority of Americans to do not get the amount of exercise recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Their recommendation is 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise a week, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week. AND, strength training for all major muscle groups at least twice a week.  If you are not a regular exerciser, you can start with walking and some body weight exercises. You could also look at a dance fitness class, a step class, swimming or cycling. Spend some time finding an activity that you enjoy.
4. Hydration: This one is crazy to me! Your body is anywhere from 55-75% water, and people feel thirsty when they are already 2-3% dehydrated. But, before you feel thirsty, you are not physically or mentally as sharp -- at just 1% dehydrated. This means we would think, feel and perform better if we all paid more attention to hydration! Want younger looking skin? Drink up! Want to run faster? Stay hydrated! Want to do better on that test? Make sure you're hydrated!
5. Mindset: This one is soooo important! How you look at the world, respond to stress, interact with others... all affects your health. And even if it didn't, isn't it more fun to experience life with a positive outlook? You can change and control your mindset by surrounding yourself with people who lift you up (rather than suck your energy!), by choosing to use language that reflects possibility and positivity, by showing appreciation and gratitude, by focusing on the good (rather than all the things that went wrong) and looking at failure as an opportunity. 

 I talked about a whole lot more in the podcast, but that will get you started if you only have time to skim today! Be sure to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Google Play and Spotify so that you catch all the upcoming episodes! And it would mean the world to me if you rated and reviewed the podcast on iTunes! <3

If you're not already in my FREE Strength Challenge Group, click here and join! We talk wellness and exercise and that's where I host my strength challenges ... and it's where I go first to post news and scoop! 

You can also follow me on all social media as @PowerOfRun. I'll be posting some additional content -- mobility exercises and shoulder and hip stretches -- this week to go along with this podcast and blog post. 

Thanks for reading and listening!

Coach Kim