Walking After 50Walking After 50 Is Vital As middle aged spread takes hold we need to look after our heart, our lungs, our bones and our muscle mass like never before. It’s amazing how quickly our health can deteriorate after 50. The first step (pardon the pun) is to start walking. Walk to the corner store. Walk to work if possible. Otherwise, walk to the train station or bus terminal. Get into the habit of leaving the car at home. Go for a walk at lunch time. Skip an hour of TV each day and just walk. Where to? Anywhere. When? Any time. Why? Thousands of reasons. As I said.....walking after 50 is essential. Walking improves your health, strengthens your heart, cleans your lungs and puts a smile on your face. Walking helps you to think clearly, see things that you can’t see at home and you will find that some of your best ideas will come to you when you walk. Walk To Save Your Life In the Year 2000, at the age of 50, I was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis. My doctor insisted that I stop smoking, lose weight and start walking. He maintained that I would die early if I didn’t change my lifestyle immediately. As he put it, "Do what I say or you may not see 60. I tell all my patients that they should be walking after 50". Initially, I bought a treadmill and walked for 10-20 minutes a day. A few months later I got bored with the treadmill and started to walk around the neighbourhood. When I started to walk I had no specific plan. I just walked.....as often as possible. I kept it up and within 2 years I was walking in fun runs of 10-15 Kms. Later, I even started running and now I enter half marathons and marathons. I still do lots of walking. Mixed with running, I cover 20-40 Kms every week…..sometimes more. My lungs are no longer a worry and I am 7 Kms lighter than when I started. I don’t diet. I just eat good food, I walk, I run and I don’t smoke.
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