3 FITNESS TIPS TO PUT THE BOOM BACK IN BABY BOOMERS IN 2018

Baby boomers whose exercise routines have gone bust
may be thinking about putting the boom – and a little
sweat – back into their lives as they ponder New Year’s
resolutions for 2018.
But thinking and doing are two different things.
“In our society, everyone wants a great body,” says
Jaime Brenkus, a nationally recognized fitness expert
and brand ambassador for Evergreen Wellness® In
some cases, baby boomers – those born from 1946
to 1964 – may consider themselves “too far gone” to
embark on a serious fitness regimen at this stage in life.
But you don’t need to train for a triathlon, Brenkus says.
Even out-of-shape people in their 50s, 60s, and 70s can
take manageable strides toward improving their physical
wellness. “Success in life is not about a matter of
inches and pounds,” Brenkus says. “It’s when you start
taking your first steps toward a realistic and reachable
goal.”
For out-of-shape boomers who want to lose weight,
feel better, look better, get fit and put that boom back
in their lives in 2018, Brenkus offers a few simple exercises
to get started:
• Sit and get fit. Four easy moves you can do on a
chair will give you a slimmer, trimmer and tighter waistline.
Do at least 20 repetitions of each exercise. For
the first, place your hands behind your head, crunch
forward and then lean back as far as you can while
keeping your feet on the ground. For the second, you
can do side bends. Place your hands behind your head
again, but this time alternate bending from one side to
the other. For the third, rotate your body side to side with
more twists. Finally, scoot to the edge of the chair. Bring
both knees into your chest and then lower your legs to
the starting position.
• Round-the-world lunges. You will do a forward, a
side and a reverse lunge. Perform each in one movement.
(1.) Forward lunge. Stand with your feet together
and back straight. Place your left hand on a chair for
balance and support. Slowly take a big step forward
with the right foot. Lower your body until your right thigh
is parallel to the floor and your right shin is vertical.
Then move back to the starting position. (2.) Side lunge.
Slowly step to the side with your right foot about 3 feet
and squat so your thighs are parallel to the ground.
Move back to the starting position. (3.) Reverse lunge.
Slowly step back with your right foot about 3 feet. Bend
both knees and lower yourself until your left thigh is parallel
with the ground. Return to starting position.
• Morning rituals. Brenkus says he starts each morning
with fitness moves that work the entire body. The
first is push ups. Start with an amount you’re comfortable
with. For example, if you do 10 every day, that adds
up to 300 for the month. If you’re a beginner, it’s okay to
start your push ups by doing them on a wall. Next are
squats. Your feet should be shoulder width apart. With
your abs held tight and your back straight, slowly lower
yourself into a seating position until your bottom touches
a seat. Make sure your knees don’t go past your toes
and are aligned straight. If just starting out, try quarter to
half squats where you’re not bending down as far.
“WHEN IT COMES TO EXERCISE, PEOPLE
THINK MORE IS BETTER,” BRENKUS SAYS.
“THAT’S NOT TRUE. BETTER IS BETTER.”