Exercise as Dementia defense

  As befits somewhat in my profession (and author of this column), I love to exercise. Each day, I think to myself, "How am I going to workout? When am I going to workout? Where am I going to workout?"
   Owning a gym, I compare myself to the "the drunk who owns the bar, with a slightly healthier liver!"
   However, most people don't get enough exercise. Reasons may be time, dis-inclination, old injury, or boredom with the process.
   The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 80% of adults aren't getting enough movement, according to a recent article entitled "How to trick yourself into enjoying exercise," by Tony Dearing of the Newark Star-Ledger.
     And we all know how good exercise is for your heart, bones, and surrounding muscles, tendons, and ligaments. More and more research shows that it also greatly reduces your chance of dementia - which, in itself, should get you motivated to get moving!
      The recommendation of Neuroscience experts are not outlandish. About 30 minutes a day, five days a week, of any activity that brings your heart rate to between 110 and 140 beats per minute. (To compute your approximate heart rate max, subtract your age from 220. A 60-year-old has a theoretical max of 160, although that varies on many factors.)
        Belonging to a health club is ideal in many ways because you have professional supervision and guidance, emergency devices available, a wide variety of cardiovascular and strength machines, as well as balance and flexibility tools, to achieve any goal you have. A place like Mountain Fitness is also very supportive, as other members become a reinforcement for you, and a support group to share achievements and setbacks; aches and pains.    
         However, the great outdoors has it's benefits, too, like sunshine for Vitamin D, and cool, refreshing enviorns. Find out if you like to hike, run, swim, ride the bike, or merely go for extended walks with your dog.
      Gardening, housework, mowing the lawn, and raking leaves involve a variety of movements, engage the core muscles, and are strenuous enough to count towards your exercise totals.
      Figure out if your a "social exerciser" who likes the comradeship of a group exercise class or walking buddy. Or you may be a solo exerciser who enjoys listening to their music, or being alone in the deep thoughts that can come over you in exercise.
     Do you like nature? Get your exercise done in a park or along a trail. Or you may like the stimulation of seeing a lot of people and sights along a more urban route.
      Try to have more than one fitness option, so if bad weather, time, or injury prevents you from one activity, you have another to plug in. Plus, it's better for your body to mix up cardio and strength training, and also vary the routines on each. Shock the body with something different, and don't get stale!
      For your body and your mind, get out and do something!