Fitness Over Fifty: An Exercise Guide From the National Institute on Aging [Paperback]

National Institute On Aging (Author), Senator John Glenn (Foreword), National Institute on Aging (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 6, 2003

Exercise is not just for the young! Studies show that, in the long term, older adults in all age groups hurt their health far more by not exercising than by exercising. As a rule, older people should stay as physically active as they can. The good news is that just about every older adult can safely do some form of physical activity at little or no cost. And they don't have to exercise in a public place or use expensive equipment, if they don't want to.

Fitness Over Fifty is the National Institute on Aging's guide to getting started. For the most part, when older people lose their ability to do things on their own, it doesn't happen just because they have aged. More likely, it is because they have become inactive. Fitness Over Fifty offers practical advice about the four areas that are important for staying healthy and independent: endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility. 200 b/w photos.

Fitness Over Fifty includes:
• Exercise safety tips
• Ways to get—and stay—motivated
• Strength, endurance, and balance exercises
• Tips on stretching and increasing flexibility
• Daily, weekly, and monthly exercise and nutrition records and more!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health, conducts research aimed at improving the health of older people. For this book, the NIA brought together nine of the nation's best-informed experts on the topic of exercise for older adults and consulted many more in different specialties. Together they lead a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life.

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: Hatherleigh Press (May 6, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578261368
• ISBN-13: 978-1578261369
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 0.4 x 9.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,327 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Let's Get Moving!, May 27, 2005

By 

Virginia Allain "(retired librarian)" (Poinciana, FL) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Fitness Over Fifty: An Exercise Guide From the National Institute on Aging (Paperback)

I strongly feel the need to get moving and this book has the exercises geared for mature adults. After hearing scary stories about osteoporosis and heart problems, I recognize that much of our problems stem from inactivity and sedentary lifestyle. The choice is mine and this book can help me make the change.
The exercises show fit-looking seniors using home equipment (a chair or a towel) to work out. No expensive gym or fancy equipment, just get started right at home.
It includes activities to improve balance and flexibility (great for very frail elderly). They give warnings for special situations (if you've had hip replacement, pace maker, etc.) It includes a weekly plan for minimum and maximum use of the exercises and blank charts to track your efforts.
Chapter 1: What Can Exercise Do for Me?
Chapter 2: Is It Safe for Me to Exercise?
Chapter 3: How to Keep Going
Chapter 4: Sample Exercises
Chapter 5: How Am I Doing?
Chapter 6: What Should I Eat?
Appendix:
A. Target Heart Rate
B. Exercise Plan
C. Activity and Progress Charts
D. Resources

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very highly recommended health and exercise guide, June 12, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fitness Over Fifty: An Exercise Guide From the National Institute on Aging (Paperback)

The National Institute on Aging is part of the National Institutes of Health and has the mission of improving the health of older people. Their latest manual, Fitness Over Fifty: Strength, Flexibility, Vitality, Balance, presents twenty-five, easy-to-practice exercises for improve a mature man or woman's basic health, physical fitness, and emotional sense of well-being. Exercise safety tips; motivational assistance, tips on nutrition and healthy eating, as well as records for daily, weekly, and monthly exercise and nutrition records are clearly presented for older readers. Black-and-white photographs enhance the meticulous instructions for activities which are designed especially with the brittle bone and other concerns older men and women must be concerned about fill the pages of this useful, accessible, and very highly recommended health and exercise guide.

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Way over 50!, June 24, 2006

By 

keweldog "kt" (Oregon) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fitness Over Fifty: An Exercise Guide From the National Institute on Aging (Paperback)

I couldn't give this book 5 stars because, although it looks like a great book in and of itself, it should be titled, "Fitness Over 65" since most of the quotes, stories and photos are of people well over the age of 50, and more like over 65. Keep in mind if you are 52, like me, that with very little current exercise you might be better physically fit and beyond the simple exercises in this book. It's VERY basic. But if you haven't done anything beyond sitting on your couch munching chips and watching the tube your whole life, this book would be a perfect way to break into beginning to get fit.

I admit, it's kinda scary looking at 70 year olds (even though they're in great shape!) demonstrating the exercises in a book for the over 50 crowd, but I also purchased a book called, "Strength Training Past 50" and although it's basic in it's own way (it demonstrates free weights, and if you're into going to a gym also machines), many of the photos in it are of people much closer to my own age, and that at least speaks to my comfort zone on working out and aging! It's also more of what I needed to start getting more fit.