Denise Austin's Fit Over 50 - Make This Your Year!

These past 12 months have been an absolute roller coaster, but despite the ups and downs, you made it. And for that, you deserve a pat on the back! Now, as we usher in the new year—and a fresh start!—there’s absolutely no better time to set meaningful goals and renew our commitment to living the best, healthiest and happiest lives we can. And I’m here to help! To truly make this your year to get fit and feel fab, you’ll need to develop positive habits, and exercising regularly is one of the most positive habits you can have! All the success, good health, energy, happiness and peace of mind I have enjoyed are directly related to positive habits. These are nothing more than simple changes we make in our daily choices.…

Denise is a firm believer that any bit of activity is better than nothing when it comes to exercise. But if you’re ready to up your fitness game in the new year, Denise’s Stop the Clock plan is guaranteed to help you see results, no matter what level of fitness you’re at currently—if you stick with it. As we know, exercise is vital to overall healthy aging. Without physical activity, your body may age prematurely. Your bones may become brittle, putting you at risk of debilitating fractures. You’re more likely to feel stiff when you get up in the morning or when you’re standing up after sitting for long periods. Research shows that the majority of those aches and pains are actually the result of atrophy, not old age. And exercise…

1. Aerobic Capacity Track how far you can walk in 5 minutes. You can use a treadmill, a fitness tracker or an app to complete this test. Mark your stats below. 2. Strength Capacity Complete a push-up test and a crunch test before you start and then again when you are done with the plan. One-minute push-up test • Rest your weight on your hands and knees, hands shoulder-width apart, lower legs bent up at a 90-degree angle. (Crossing your ankles will increase your stability.) Your body should form a straight line from head to knees.• Bend your elbows, lowering your body until your chest all but touches the floor; do not break the line of your body by letting your waist bend or your stomach droop. Raise yourself up to the starting position, extending…

If you’re looking to commit to a more active lifestyle, a great way to ease in is by walking. Thinking about starting a new exercise routine can be daunting, and you might be asking yourself some of the following: Where do I begin? How often do I need to work out? Am I going to have to learn a new set of skills to get going? There’s no need to make things complicated. You can get fit and improve your health just by walking! The best part: It requires no equipment, it can be done anywhere, and it’s something most anyone can do. If you’re already working out regularly, adding walking into the mix is the perfect way to burn extra calories and fat and mix up your workout routines. By making a…

“I LOVE walking in my Easy Spirit shoes!” Denise says. Check out her Easy Spirit picks at easyspirit.com/collections/denise-austin To get the most out of a walking routine, be sure to wear the right shoes. They should be comfortable, provide plenty of arch support and not be too worn-out. (See sidebar below for more tips!) Wearing a pedometer to track your steps can also be a great motivator. And don’t forget to bring a water bottle with you to help you stay hydrated. Go for a brisk 30-minute walk every day and you’ll burn about 43,800 calories in a year! 1 WARM UP Start by walking for 5 minutes at an easy, relaxed pace (that’s about 2.5 to 3.2 mph on a treadmill) to help warm up your muscles and loosen up your joints. This…

Stretching after your daily walk is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and feeling your best. Stretching increases flexibility, releases stiffness from the muscles, improves posture by helping you stand straighter (which in turn makes you look taller, leaner and more confident), and, most importantly, can prevent injury. After all, muscles that are stretched can make movement easier. Not only that, stretching enhances blood circulation, which brings fresh oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to your muscles and brain, giving you a natural energy boost! Muscles that are constantly tense tend to cut off their own circulation, which reduces their supply of oxygen, glucose and other nutrients. Warm, supple muscles utilize oxygen more efficiently than tight ones. Plus, stretching can be a pocket of peace in an otherwise frantic day. Chronically tight muscles signal…