Fitness Tech Tips for Older Adults
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Technology and fitness have formed a tight-knit relationship over the last several years. With the use of tools like pedometers, calorie trackers, and calorie counting apps, there are many benefits to adding technology to your fitness routine, no matter your age.
As you age, it’s more important than ever to stay healthy, and that includes staying active. Exercising regularly can help to keep you more mobile, can boost your energy, and can even keep your brain sharper and improve your memory. Even assisted living facilities and nursing homes across the country often include exercise classes and other fitness ideas because they know how important it is for seniors to stay active.
Introducing technology into your life for health and wellness purposes can make things easier for you, especially in your golden years. Fitness apps can help to motivate you to get moving. Heart rate monitors can make sure you stay safe. Food-tracking devices can help to keep you on track with your diet.
If you’ve never tried to combine tech and fitness, or you’re not sure how to get started, let’s go over a few tips that can make the transition easy and fun.
Make Aging Easier
There’s an old saying that suggests you’re only as old as you feel. So if you choose to sit down and remain inactive as you get older, you’re probably going to feel older than you are! Healthy aging is important. Not only can it increase your longevity, but it will make the entire aging experience a more pleasant and fulfilling one.
Part of healthy aging includes staying active and exercising regularly. Another healthy aging tip is to try new things that push you out of your comfort zone. When you start incorporating technology into your fitness routines, you can do both.
Let’s use wearable fitness trackers as an example. Fitbit has 28 million active users all over the world. Their devices were originally designed to count steps and calories for wearers. But today, they are all-around health trackers, with features like:
- Heart rate tracking
- Floors climbed
- Sleep tracking
- Guided breathing
- Calendar alerts
Some trackers, including Fitbits, even include workout routines preloaded when they’re purchased. These workouts can run the gamut from running workouts for the more athletic to yoga and meditation routines that can help with post-workout recovery. Other features can help you with any outstanding health issues, like heart conditions, stress, or even high blood pressure. If you take certain medications, the calendar alerts can also help to remind you when to take them.
One of the biggest reasons why health apps are so effective, especially for seniors, is that they can show you real-time data in the palm of your hand. You can see what’s going on with your body on a daily basis, which works both as a motivational tool, and an informative solution that can keep you healthy and educated.
Food Tracking Tech
Another aspect of staying healthy as you age is eating right. Your dietary needs change as you age, and you may even have dietary restrictions based on underlying health conditions. Seniors tend to need diets that are high in protein, fiber, and calcium-rich foods to promote bone strength. The right diet as you age can also help you to fight off symptoms of conditions like GERD and acid reflux.
Technology can make a big difference in your diet. Food tracking apps are about more than just counting your calories. They’re about letting you keep track of what you eat in a day and how your diet could be impacting your health. Many food tracking apps can provide a nutritional breakdown of the things you eat. If you’re not feeling well or you’re experiencing some negative symptoms, you can take a look back at your diet and try to find some common themes to identify the problem.
When you combine food tracking apps with fitness tech, you’ll have an easier time taking care of your overall physical health on a daily basis, because the technology is doing a lot of the work for you! All you have to do is show up, work out, and eat right.
Staying Fit at Any Age
Getting into fitness technology as a senior doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Wearable devices are especially effective because they’re with you at all times, so you’re less likely to forget about things. Investing in a fitness tracker can help you to set up your own goals and better understand your own limits. Plus, you’ll receive information about your health right away, which you can share with your doctor, friends, and family members.
If staying active in your golden years is important to you, but you’re not sure where to get started, technology can help. You don’t have to be a fitness buff or a computer expert to combine the two and get in the best shape of your life. It’s never too late to get moving and tracking your progress as you go. Making your physical health a priority can help you to feel younger for many years to come and can help to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure as you age.
Dan Matthews is a writer with a degree in English from Boise State University. He has extensive experience writing online at the intersection of business, marketing, lifestyle, and health. You can find him on Twitter and LinkedIn.
