Healthy living is a journey, and mine is constantly evolving. Read  how  I expand my physical activity plan  with aging.

In my twenties I ran daily.  Back then, if you had asked me why I ran,  I’m not sure what I would have told you.  It wasn’t for speed. It wasn’t for  distance. It wasn’t for events. Looking back, it might have been nothing  more than to burn calories. Sigh. In my thirties, after having been through two pregnancies,  I realized I was losing lean body mass and muscle. My solution was to add resistance training followed up with foods to maximize muscle protein synthesis.  It worked! I gained both muscle and lean body mass; I was beginning to look fit.   Thinking that  I had it all figured out.. this fitness thing..I  saw no need to explore new or different modes of exercise. My  fitness routine was familiar, and I didn’t want to waiver from it. But here’s the flaw.. routines get easier and easier.  My routine wasn’t pushing  me, but it was leading to some overuse injuries and some extremely tight hamstrings and hips. Here is where I realized my fitness journey was suppose to evolve.

Feeling  desperate to improve my flexibility,  I found restorative yoga.  On most days I incorporate at least 10 minutes of stretching, usually on my own, with  the guided yoga app, down dog.

With age comes wisdom.  While I still enjoy running, mostly with my dogs for their benefit, I have modified my workouts to incorporate cardio and strength training that are both challenging and more functional.  I have been influenced by the trends HIIT,  metabolic conditioning, and group classes . Some of the workouts  require techniques that I have not been trained in. Moves like deadlifts, cleans, and squats, all  require correct technique.  My focus is now  appropriate biomechanics  to lessen potential for injury, and maintain  consitent training in a realive injury free state, along with improved flexibilty.

Today’s workout consisted of a one mile warm up run with my labs, a Murph workout,  and a 20 minute bout of restorative yoga.

How do you  keep fit as you age? How do you incorporate resistance training? How has your fitness journey evolved?