Don't Let Your Age Hold You Back

Start a fitness plan at any stage in life. It's never too late!

It's just a fact of life that as we get older, we begin to shrink and lose muscle mass and will most likely experience more heath issues. It is impossible to avoid completely but it is possible to minimize the amounts of issues we will face. How? With regular exercise. It's never too late to start!

Physical fitness in middle age and beyond can be one of the best ways to prevent old age conditions such as frailty, heart conditions, chronic illnesses and more! Fitness can even help prevent osteoporosis by strengthening your muscles and bones! With exercise, you can slow down the gradual muscle loss that begins when we reach the middle age range and keep your heart pumping strong.

So what do you think - ready to start moving again? It's really and truly never too late to get into the fitness game. If you feel overwhelmed or don't know where to begin, Everyday Health's article and video,How to Start a Fitness Plan Over 40, shares plenty of information and research findings about the amazing benefits of getting shape (no matter how late in life) and where to begin!

Image source: New York Times

PGX wants you to live life to the fullest!

Everybody's Free to Wear Sunscreen! -Baz Luhrmann

Have you ever seen the video for Sunscreen by Baz Luhrmann? It may be addressed to graduating students of the class of 1999 but its messages can hit home for anyone who lives and experiences the ups and downs of life. This Motivation Monday, take five minutes for yourself; listen or watch this video and you will feel inspired to live your life to the fullest!

Stay healthy and take care everyone! Have a fabulous week!

Age is just a number, but it's one that will feel less apparent to your body if you keep active.

This Weight-Wise Wednesday, as I was searching for something interesting to blog to you about, I came across a study on the CBC website. The results of which suggest that fit individuals experience a higher quality of life, healthwise, as they age; a fact that I thought was very worthy of sharing.

Learn more about the study here.

Summary of the Study:

"In summary, midlife fitness was associated with a lower risk of common chronic health conditions in men and women older than 65 years enrolled in Medicare."
-Authors of the study

Age, body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, blood glucose levels and alcohol were all also taken into account. Therefore, if cholesterol or blood sugar levels are things that you struggle with, learn how PGX can help.

Stay healthy and take care of yourselves, PGX'ers!

Image source: http://www.muscleprodigy.com/

PGX Investigates: The Health Benefits of Pet Ownership

Can owning dog really make a difference to your health? Yes!

You may be surprised to learn that owning a pet is actually connected to better health! There are plenty of reasons why people have pets and now improved health can be one of them!

Studies have shown that people who own pets are less likely to have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and feelings of loneliness. Depending on what kind of animal you keep, having pets can also increase your opportunity to get outdoors, exercise and socialize!

A study conducted in 2007 by Queen's University Belfast found that dog owners especially are more likely to live a longer life and experience healthy weight maintenance, improved cardiovascular fitness and superior self esteem, as well as reduced blood pressure adn cholesterol!

According to the British Journal of Health Psychology, daily walks with your dog (a great way to get out and exercise) are only part of the equation. Dogs can be great stress "buffers" and have been a great source of companionship to people with injuries or disabilities. Incredibly, dogs have also been able to detect an oncoming seizure!

So even though walking is only a part of the healthy equation of pet ownership, the next time your dog comes to you with the leash in his mouth, lace up those sneakers and go for a walk!

Want to read more about the health benefits of pets? Check out these great articles...

Health Benefits of Pets, CDC

Dog-owners 'lead healthier lives' BBC News

Live Like Royalty: The Many Health Benefits of Dogs, Man's Best Friends, The Atlantic

PGX wants you to find your healthy balance!

We've found 5 simple steps to achieve work-life balance...

Does your schedule sound something like this: work, work, drive to work, emails, chores, groceries...?

It can be a lot to juggle and we can easily lose sight of our priorities. Without a good work-life balance, you may find yourself experiencing a lot of stress and headed towards burnout. Whatever you do, take a moment to find that balance and learn to make that a priority.

Need some tips? Wellness Matters and BC Living share Five Simple Tps for Better Work-life Balance.

Happy Thursday!

Image source: typefocus.com