Keeping Strong: Taking Those New Year's Resolutions to the Finish Line

Remember those New Year's resolutions?

You know the ones. The ones we made back in January when we were full of optimism and convinced that this was finally going to be the year we exercised more, got stronger, ate better and took better care of ourselves.

Well, here we are in September.

If you are still going strong, congratulations! If your fitness routine took a little detour somewhere around February, don't worry — you are in good company.

The good news is that there is still plenty of year left.

Why strength matters as we age

One of the most important things we can do as we age is maintain our strength. Strength is not just about lifting weights or looking fit. It is about everyday independence.

Strength helps us get out of a chair, climb stairs, carry groceries, get in and out of a car, play with our grandchildren and, perhaps most importantly, maintain our balance and mobility.

And you don't have to become a marathon runner or spend hours in a gym to make a difference.

Start where you are

A regular walking routine is a great place to begin. Strength exercises using light weights or resistance bands can help maintain muscle. Balance exercises can help with stability. Stretching can help maintain flexibility and mobility.

The key is consistency.

Think about fitness as something you do for your future self. Every time you take a walk, attend a fitness class, do a few strength exercises or work on your balance, you are making an investment in the person you will be five, ten or even twenty years from now.

At Montgomery Place, we are continuing to invest in wellness and fitness as an important part of our community. We recently added new exercise equipment to our fitness room, giving residents more options to work on strength, endurance and overall fitness.

New equipment is great, but equipment by itself doesn't make us stronger. We have to use it!

That may be the hardest part of any fitness program — getting started and then sticking with it. So grab a friend, try a new piece of equipment, join a class or simply take a walk. You don't have to do everything at once. A little movement every day can make a big difference.

It's never too late to start

Maybe your goal in January was to exercise five days a week and you haven't quite made it there. That's okay. Don't throw the whole resolution away. Reset it.

Maybe your new goal is to walk three times a week. Maybe you will try one of our fitness classes or spend a few minutes using the new equipment in the fitness room. Maybe you will start with five minutes of strength exercises each morning.

Small steps add up.

September is actually a pretty good time for a fresh start. Summer is winding down, routines are returning and there are still several months before we start making those New Year's resolutions all over again.

So let's not wait until January. Let's finish this year stronger than we started it.

And if your New Year's resolution has been sitting on the shelf collecting dust since February, dust it off.

The fitness room is ready. The new equipment is waiting. And your future self will thank you.