Healthy Living After 50: Exercise, Screenings, and Self-Advocacy Tips

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Well, hey there. If you're new, welcome. If

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you're a regular, welcome back to another episode

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of Aging with Grace and Style. The podcast where we

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inspire women over 50 to embrace the next chapter of our

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lives with confidence and grace. I'm Valerie, and

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touch, we're diving into a topic that's close to

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many of us, especially those of us who've reached

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the fabulous milestones of 50, 60,

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and beyond. As we grow older, our

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health needs change. We might face new

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challenges like managing chronic conditions,

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finding ways to stay active with joint friendly

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exercises, and ensuring that we keep up

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with regular health screening. This episode is

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dedicated to helping you navigate these

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aspects of aging with practical advice and

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tips.

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Hey, friend. Ever feel like those old

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fashioned ideas about aging just don't fit you? If you're

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ready to own this incredible chapter with grace, style, and a touch

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of sass, this is your space. Welcome to the aging

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with grace and style podcast. I'm Valerie Hatcher, and I'm

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here with empowering tips, inspiring stories, and a whole lot

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of fun just for us, women over 50. So

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grab your favorite beverage, turn up the volume, and

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let's get started.

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Now I know you might be thinking, oh, Lord, here we go

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again. Another lecture about eating salads

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and going to the gym. But fear not. I'm not

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here to tag or preach. Who am I to do that?

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Hey. I need this information

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just as much as you might. I just want to

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have a friendly chat or share some

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practical tips and enjoy a encourage

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Hatcher you to to take charge of your

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well-being. After all, age is just a number.

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Right? Now let's face with. As we get

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older, chronic conditions like diabetes,

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heart disease, arthritis, or high blood pressure

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might become a part of our lives. These conditions

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can significantly impact our

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quality of life if not a properly.

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But guess what? We don't have to let these

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conditions control us. We can take charge and

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manage them like pros. Staying

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active can also be

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more challenging. Joint pain or mobility

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issues might make it difficult to maintain

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the same level of physical activity that we enjoyed in

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our younger years. I went through this when

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or before undergoing my hip replacement surgery.

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It was really hard. There were I had joint pain. I

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wasn't mobile. All of that really was because

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I was sedentary. It hurt to move. It hurt when

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I didn't move, but staying active is crucial for

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our overall health and well-being. Additionally,

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regular health screenings and checkups become even more

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important. Early detection of potential

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health issues can make a significant difference in

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treatment outcomes. Yes. It's easy

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to let these appointments slip by, especially if we're

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feeling relatively well. Now I can say

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that I'm diligent in keeping my appointments. Now and

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you, I sometimes have to reschedule them, but I do get

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there. It's essential to to pay

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attention to our bodies and to follow doctor's orders.

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One of the easiest and most effective things you can

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do is to keep your eye on your numbers. That

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means checking things such as blood pressure,

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blood sugar, and other important health markers at

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home. It's like being your own health detective.

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And when you go to the doctor, then you can share these numbers. It

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helps them to understand what's going on and to make

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the best decisions for your care. Now

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a it may feel like doctors

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are dismissive of our concerns as we age,

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but it's crucial to advocate for ourselves or

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to have someone there to support us. This is

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also something that we need to keep in mind for

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our older family members. As a matter of fact, I'm going through

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this now myself with my mom.

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Now let's break this down into 4

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main areas with actionable advice and tips.

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Those 4 areas are managing chronic conditions,

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staying active with joint friendly exercises,

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the importance of regular health screenings, and advocating for your

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health. So starting with managing

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chronic and, the first step in

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managing chronic, any chronic and, is understanding

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it. Educate yourself about your condition,

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its symptoms, its treatment options. Speak with

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your health care provider to to develop a a

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plan tailored to your needs. Then there's

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medication and treatment adherence. Now I know

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those pill bottles can start to pile up. It's

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easy to forget which ones to take when, but here's

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the thing. Medications are there to help

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us not to stress us out. It's essential

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to take medications as prescribed and and to

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follow your treatment plan. So find a

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system that works for you. Maybe use a pillbox.

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You know, they have those that have the days of the week on them, or

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set reminders of your on your phone. After I had my

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hip replacement surgery, I found an app where I could put in

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there what medications I needed to take and how often I needed to

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take them, and it would remind me. It was actually really

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Grace. Or you can ask your pharmacist for tips,

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but don't be afraid to ask questions about your

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a, their potential side effects,

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any concerns you have. Your doctor and

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your pharmacist should be your allies on this health journey, And

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remember, skipping doses

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or not following through with treatment can lead to

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complications. Also

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Style life Style changes can

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have a big impact. Now I'm not a to tell you to give

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up all the foods you love or to run a marathon tomorrow,

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but making small changes to your diet and exercise

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routine can make a world of difference. This might

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include quitting smoking

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or reducing alcohol intake. For instance, if

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you have diabetes, then monitoring your blood sugar levels

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and eating a balanced diet is crucial.

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Pay attention to your body. Listen to your

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body and take note of any changes or new symptoms.

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Early detection of issues can prevent

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complications. Now let's talk

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about staying active with what I'm calling

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joint friendly exercises. As we

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age, our joints might not be as flexible

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or pain free as they want to work, But that

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doesn't mean that we have to resign ourselves to a

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sedentary lifestyle. Movement helps

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keep our joints flexible and our muscles

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strong, whereas a sedentary lifestyle can lead

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to stiffness, reduce mobility, and

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increase risk of chronic diseases. I can tell you

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when we talk about sedentary lifestyle. So when

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I have sat at my desk for too long without actually

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standing up to take a break, and when when I do stand up,

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lord, I am so stiff. So I Hatcher to

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move around and jiggle, and it seems like I get the

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blood flowing in those joints again so I can lubricate

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them in order to get the mobility back.

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Low impact activities like swimming,

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cycling, and walking are an excellent way for

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staying active without putting too much strain on your

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joints. These exercises, they

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help maintain cardiovascular health, they

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improve your mood, and they increase overall

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mobility. Also,

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incorporating light strength training can help

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maintain muscle mass and improve joint stability.

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Using resistance bands or or light weights can be very

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effective, And this is where I'll be a, I

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struggle with the strength training, part,

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but I know it is so important to

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do as we age. Flexibility and

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balance exercises. So practices like yoga and

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tai chi are great for improving flexibility

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and balance, which in turn can help prevent

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falls and injuries. They also and

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have a calming effect on the mind, which is an added

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benefit. Chair yoga is

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good and adaptable for different mobility levels,

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and it enhances flexibility and and relaxation.

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I use the Peloton app, but I know there are other apps out there.

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And I do chair yoga exercises sometimes during the

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day when I need a break from the monotony of sitting at

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my desk. Also, one that that we

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may sometimes forget is resistance bands.

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They strengthen muscles without heavy weights,

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which is ideal for home workouts or maybe if you're just getting

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started. But whatever you do, start

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slowly and gradually increase. I know

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it can be so tempting to just jump right in, but your

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joints, they'll thank you if you take it slow.

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Here's a side note. The other day, I was listening to a

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podcast. I do that a lot. And they

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said it was a podcast about, you know, fitness and those kind of

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things at this Aging. And they said 3 exercises that

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we should do daily are planks,

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push a, and squats. What do you think?

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Now let's talk about something that's not always the most

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exciting topic and that's checkups and screenings. But

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trust me, they're important.

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Think of checkups and screenings as

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your car's regular maintenance. Now you

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wouldn't skip on those oil changes and other

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services that are required when the light comes on. Right? Well, our

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bodies, they deserve the same kind of attention.

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Maybe create a schedule. So grab your calendar

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and a pencil and and pencil in those

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annual checkups. And then while you're at it, mark

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down dates for any recommended screenings, like

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blood pressure checks, cholesterol tests, cancer screenings,

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colonoscopies, vision, and hearing tests.

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You you get my drift. Right? It might seem

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like a lot, but trust me, it's worth it.

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Early detection can be a real lifesaver.

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And then be prepared for your appointment. Jot down any

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questions or concerns that you have. This way, you

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won't forget anything that's important when you're sitting in that

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examiner. And here's the Aging, don't forget a then

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don't be afraid to ask for clarification if you

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don't understand something that your doctor says. Remember,

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it's your health, and you have a right to be informed.

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Don't let them rush you out. Also, speaking of staying

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informed, stay up to date on

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recommended screenings and and health guidelines.

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Talk to your doctor. Check out reputable websites

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like the National Institute on Aging,

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or even check with friends and family who may

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have have gone through or are going through some of the

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same conditions that you're dealing with. Girl,

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you know, we're all in this together.

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Lastly, we have to advocate for our

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health and also the health of our loved ones.

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Don't be afraid to to voice your concerns and to ask

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questions during medical appointments. It's your right

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to understand your health and your treatment options.

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Consider bringing a family member or a friend to

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an appointment with you for extra support. They can

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help remember information and can ask additional questions.

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And then keep record, maybe maintain a health journal

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with notes from your doctor's visits or medication list

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or any changes in your health. This can be a

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valuable resource for both you and your health

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care providers. And then Sass, be

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persistent. If you feel your concerns

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are not being taken seriously, don't hesitate

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to seek a second opinion. Your health

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is too important to be overlooked.

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Now let's cover some practical tips that you

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can start implementing to stay healthy. Number

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1 is create a health management plan.

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Work with your health care provider to create

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a comprehensive health management plan.

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This could include medication schedules,

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dietary guidelines, and exercise routines tailored

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to your needs. And then secondly, stay physically

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active. Aim for, let's Sass, at

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least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the

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week. The key is to find activities that

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you actually enjoy. So I told you I'm not

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I'm not thrilled about strength training, but I know it's important. So that

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couldn't be my only activity because I'm not gonna do it.

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I'm just gonna be honest. I'm not gonna do it regularly. So, therefore, I

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have to find different ways to fit it in. So

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I like boxing. So I go for my boxing workout. Well, the good thing

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is I can hit the bag, but then we do fit in strength Aging,

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or I might get on my bike and ride my bike or get on the

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treadmill. But those are activities that I actually enjoy.

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So, therefore, when I do have to fit in strength training,

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then it's not as grueling as I make it

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out to be. Because remember, the goal is just to keep moving

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in a way that makes your body feel good. And then

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number 3, monitor your health regularly. So

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keep a health journal to track your symptoms, your

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medication intake, and any changes in your condition.

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This can be a valuable tool for both you and your

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health care provider. 4, join a

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support group. So connecting with others who

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are dealing with similar health issues can

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provide emotional support and practical advice.

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Look for a local or maybe an online

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support group where you can share experiences and

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tips. And then 5, prioritize mental

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health. Mental health is just as

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important as physical health. As a matter of fact,

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sometimes mental health can have an impact on your physical

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health. Practice a, engage

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in hobbies that you love, and stay connected with

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friends and family. If you're feeling overwhelmed,

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don't hesitate to seek professional help.

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Well, my friend, we've covered a lot of ground today.

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By the way, I've added some resources and links

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in the notes below. Remember that

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staying healthy over 5060 and

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beyond is about managing chronic conditions

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as well as preventative care. We talked about

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staying active with joint friendly exercise and the

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importance of regular checkups and screenings. We

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also a the power of advocating for yourself,

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asking questions, and being persistent in seeking

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information and care. It's about

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taking control of your health and making choices

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that enhance your quality of life. So this

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week and I always have something that I want you to do during the week.

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So this week, I encourage you to take a

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step towards better health. So whether it's

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scheduling a checkup, starting a new exercise

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routine, or joining a support group,

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every step counts. Remember,

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you're not alone on this journey. A of people

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our age are living vibrant, healthy lives.

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By taking charge of our health and making

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informed decisions and and finding joy in each day,

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we can do the same. Your health is your wealth, and

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is never too late to make positive changes. So

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here's to health, happiness, and many more

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years of adventure. Take care and keep moving forward.

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See you next time.

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Thanks for hanging out with me today. I hope you're feeling

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inspired and ready to own your awesomeness. I love

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sharing this space with you. And if you of today's episode,

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do me a favor. Share it with a friend who could use some

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extra inspiration. A quick rating and review

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really helps too. Don't forget to subscribe so

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you never miss an episode. Let's keep this conversation

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going. Head over to poddot aging with

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grace and style.com to sign up for my newsletter.

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Until next time, keep shining with grace,

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style, and a whole lot of sass.