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Being fit at 50 needn’t be mission impossible. If you can get the basics right you will set yourself up for success. Remember – Rome wasn’t built in a day.

1. Get moving…

No surprise that exercise tops the list. You just can’t expect to be your best without investing time in yourself. Regular exercise should be a habit like brushing your teeth or taking a shower. But have you considered that simply being more active counts too? Find ways to fit more activity into your lifestyle.

Try walking more, use the stairs rather than taking the lift, park further away from your destination. Do this regularly and it will all add up. Every little counts. Exercise is a lifestyle choice. It’s never too late to start!

2. Rest up…

This is the one a lot of people are neglecting. Don’t be one of them. The importance of good quality sleep cannot be underestimated. There is no way you can perform at your peak without getting enough rest.

Sleep gives your mind and body time to recover and reset. There are a number of things you can do to improve your quality of sleep. Try to make sure you go to bed around the same time each night and wake up at the same time every morning. This will help the body regulate to ensure you get the most out of your shut eye.

Sleep monitors are widely available and not expensive. They are a great way of tracking your sleep and reminding you to get the right amount.

3. Fuel your body with good nutrition…

You are what you eat. Try to avoid fast food. Keep sweets, biscuits and pastries to a minimum. A simple rule to live by is ‘eat natural’. That is to eat food which is in its natural form or close to it. This will help you to avoid heavily processed foods which don’t contain much in the way of nutrition.

Keep hydrated. Aim to drink around 2 litre s of water every day. Trust me your body will thank you for it.

Consider growing your own fruit and vegetables. Not only will you be able to eat well for less but you will also be keeping more active at the same time!

4. Drink less alcohol…

The health benefits of cutting out or reducing your alcohol intake should not be underestimated. Be honest and ask yourself, do I drink too much? How much is too much? Well, according to drinkaware.com you should aim to drink no more than 14 units per week which is the equivalent of 6 medium (175ml) glasses of wine, or 6 pints of 4% beer.

Reducing your alcohol in take will help reduce blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart related health issues. Other benefits include better mood and increased energy levels.

5. Reduce your stress levels…

Last on our list, but by no means least is to take care of your mind. Start by following all of the advice given in the first 4 steps and you will be well on your way to reducing your stress levels. Beyond this you should practice self care. Try meditating for 5 minutes at the start and end of each day to see the benefits. Reduce the amount of screen time you have each day and spend more time talking with friends and family. Develop a reading habit and aim to read a chapter a day. Try to get out and enjoy nature to feel more grounded.

In Summary the top five things you need to focus on to be fit at 50 are:

• Exercise
• Sleep
• Nutrition
• Reduce alcohol consumption
• Reduce stress

Follow these 5 basics to get started in developing new healthy habits. Soon you’ll begin to feel the difference in your mind, body and soul. Before long there’ll be no turning back. You might begin to wonder why you didn’t start this sooner.

Let us know in the comments section below what things you do to get the basics right towards a fitter, healthier, happier you.