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Have you ever wished for the endurance and strength that you had only a few years ago? Cal Courts in Eureka is offering a class to help make your daily living activities easier. Seniors Fit-N-Fun meets every Wednesday at 10 a.m. Build strength and endurance for carrying groceries, doing yard work, lifting grandchildren, and taking care of yourself. If you are not a Cal Courts member, this class is free on your initial visit.

ENDURANCE

As we age, our bodies go through changes that only exercise can help slow down. Much of our decline in health comes from inactivity. Increasing your endurance can control several disorders that increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. You don't have to take an hour aerobic class. Simply increase your metabolic rate for 10-20 minutes-walk a little faster pace than usual, swim with a little more aggressiveness, or walk up and down your stairs a couple extra times.

The heart, lungs and blood vessels all help increase oxygen delivery to muscles, organs, and brain and the production of energy. High blood pressure is often decreased, HDL cholesterol (good kind) increased and blood triglycerides lowered. Endurance activity can maintain or reduce your body fat that may contribute to risks of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

STRENGTH

Muscle and joint strength are important to make daily living activities feel easier and help increase balance. This combination will help prevent falls which lead to broken bones.

Resistance (weight) training comes in different forms such as weights, elastic tubing, water, or your own body weight. Strength training 20 to 30 minutes two or three times a week yields noticeable results. Included with strength comes flexibility training. Relief from sore muscles, increase in reaching skills, and better posture are positive results with 10 minutes of extra stretching.

MENTAL HEALTH

Exercise can help people with depression or low self-esteem. Setting small goals and reaching them one at a time builds a sense of capability, control and determination. It will also help you feel stronger and increase hormones that help with sad feelings. As you feel better, stronger and healthier, other people will wonder what new health secret you found!

Unless you have a medical problem that can be made worse by exercise, you are never too old to start a program. Always consult your physician before you begin. Start slowly and gradually increase your goals. You may or may not increase your life in years, but you surely will increase the life in your years. So, come join us at Cal Courts every Wednesday at 10 a.m. for group exercise and coffee social afterwards.

One-time article Copyright 1999 by Humboldt Senior Resource Center.