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Staying active during colder months

2021-10-18T11:58:55-04:00

As colder weather approaches, it becomes time to make changes to your fitness routine — especially for those who have gotten used to exercising outdoors or are weary due to snow and ice. Whether the colder climate keeps you indoors or it would be unsafe to exercise outdoors, have you considered what options you have for exercise and how to stay safe and warm? If not, this blog is here to give you options and recommendations of diverse ways to stay active. As winter approaches, new routines must be created to stay active and maintain good mental and physical health. Saying active during the colder months is essential to reducing the risk of falling, due to the increased balance gained from exercise. Continuing to stay active keeps the heart strong and can decrease the chances of being diagnosed with conditions such as cardiovascular disease.

It is recommended that individuals 60 years old and up get around 150 minutes (2 and a half hours) of moderate-intensity and muscle training exercise a week.

Gauge what intensity is right for you by how you feel — moderate activity can feel somewhat hard. Here are clues that your exercise intensity is at a moderate level: your breathing quickens (but you are not out of breath), you develop a light sweat after about 10 minutes of activity, you can carry on a conversation — but you cannot sing.

Vigorous exercise intensity can feel challenging. Here are clues that your exercise intensity is at a vigorous level: your breathing is deep and rapid, you develop a sweat after only a few minutes of activity and you cannot say more than a few words without pausing for breath.

Both moderate-intensity and muscle training are important, but an essential step before this is stretching. This improves mobility, balance and warms up the body -- Healthline.com offers a great exercise plan that includes stretching.

Stretching can be done everywhere and should be a daily routine for ages 60 and up. There are targeted stretches for each major part of the body: neck extension and flexion (the up and down movement of the neck) shoulder and arm overhead stretch, seated toe top, upper back stretch and seated hamstring stretch. The full list with instructions can be found on morelifehealth.com.

Good exercises include swimming and water aerobics, chair and restorative yoga, walking, resistance band workouts, stretching and wall push-ups. These are easier on the body and will not cause major strain on the body, joints and muscles.

If you prefer outside workouts, make sure you dress in warm layers and consider a compression sock with Merino wool. Merino wool provides natural thermoregulation and moisture management, making them great for all day, everyday wear. This fabric is naturally durable, antibacterial, and blister-proof. Sigvaris offers different varieties of Merino wool socks and all Sockwell products are made with this wool.

If you prefer group workouts, then community centers are the place for you. They often offer all the recommended classes for older age groups and can help modify moves when needed.

At home workouts are a great alternative, especially during days of inclement weather. Using household items like cans of soup or water jugs can be great options for muscle training. Household items like PVC pipes and wood can be used to create DIY weights. Moderate-intensity exercising can include walking around the house or on a treadmill, if accessible, and dancing. YouTube also offers good on-demand at-home workouts, including yoga.

Shape.com has great how-to's for making at-home weights and YouTube creator Rom DGs’ video shows how to make several types of weights from everyday household objects.

Older age groups should avoid exercises like abdomen crunches, squats (chair squats are ok), deadlifting, high intensity interval training (HIIT), long distance running, overhead and bench presses, toe touches, power cleaning and stair/rock climbing. These activities could result in bodily injury because of the strain on your body.

Household cleaning tasks can burn calories too and can count as exercise. Some gentle cleaning tasks are dusting, sorting clothing and silverware to polish. Power cleaning and other extreme methods are too aggressive on the body.

If you are just starting to exercise or do not know where to begin with weights, More Life Health offers helpful YouTube videos that go step by step through the exercises. Each workout can be modified to cater to your needs and mobility.

When the colder weather creeps in, it can be hard to find exercises to stay active without having to take necessary precautions. At home and indoor workouts are great options that provide several types and are easily modified. Which activity are you going to try this winter?

Stop Athlete's Foot with Compression Socks

2020-09-10T12:00:01-04:00

Itching, burning, scratching.

It sounds like you may have athlete’s foot, a fungal infection that loves sweaty environments. Imagine the mold and mildew that grows in your shower when you don’t dry it. You create a similar ecosystem inside your socks when your feet sweat. Athlete’s foot is annoying and painful. However, doing something as simple as choosing the right type of sock may be all you need to get rid of it AND prevent it from getting in-between your toes and on your nerves ever again!

So why do your feet get fungus? Your feet sweat more than any other part of your body, and when you wear traditional socks or (worse!) shoes without socks, that sweat gets trapped and allows the infection to invade your feet. Whether it's sweat from a humid summer, or an autumn filled with boots and warm socks, athlete's foot does not discriminate. It thrives in any moist environment.

Now that we understand it’s all about the moisture, it’s time to find moisture-wicking socks! You need socks that will keep your feet dry, while eliminating the bacteria on your feet. Lucky for you, BrightLife Direct has an entire line of moisture-wicking compression socks. These socks are dedicated to getting rid of and preventing athlete’s foot in the future.

Compression socks are perfect for absorbing moisture and getting rid of athlete’s foot. By fitting close against the skin they can immediately wick away moisture from your feet. Additionally, many of our athletic compression socks are made with fabric that is embedded with metal ions. Socks with copper and silver ions can destroy 99.9% of the bacteria trespassing on your feet, which is one reason why athletes choose to wear them. Compression socks also increase circulation (which includes oxygenated blood), decreasing recovery time post workout. Wearing compression socks means athletes, and anyone who wears compression socks, can focus on their performance, not their funky feet.

It's important to prevent athlete's foot because it's so contagious. It can be spread by particles left on towels, clothes, or the floor. These tips will help the treatment process, reduce spread, and prevent it from returning:

Scrub, scrub, scrub

Keep your feet (especially in-between your toes) clean and dry. When you return home for the day give your feet a good cleaning. Once they are scrubbed be sure to dry them. Let your toes enjoy a bit of freedom by walking around barefoot for as long as possible.

Protect your Feet in Public

Wear flip-flops in public areas like a locker-room, shower, or pool to prevent spreading or catching Athlete’s foot.

Treat your Toes

Treating your toes is the most important part of preventing athlete’s foot. Buy anti-fungal sprays and powders to pamper your feet daily. Next, buy socks that wick away moisture and prevent bacteria from growing.

Here’s a list of our best socks for treating and preventing athlete’s foot:

ALLEGRO

Our most popular athletic socks, Allegro Athletic Copper Support Socks have copper woven into the sole. Copper is naturally antifungal, so it helps kill the cause of athlete’s foot. Copper is also instrumental in destroying odor causing bacteria. These socks are knit using CoolMax Polyester, so they do a great job of keeping moisture away from the skin.

JUZO

Juzo offers silver sole socks as well as full silver stockings that are often prescribed for patients with lymphedema or cellulitis, where keeping their skin free from bacteria is very important. Juzo Silver Sole stockings are available in a mild compression in crew, mini-crew and knee-high styles. Juzo styles also have a longer foot, which is invaluable for individuals with large feet. Their brand stockings are all machine washable and dryer safe, with prices starting at $13.59

SOCKWELL

If you’re looking for knee high sock to pair with a dress and booties this fall check out Sockwell. They’re a perfect mood to pair with fall styles while offering arch support and a cushioned sole. All Sockwell socks are made with Superfine Merino Wool providing natural thermoregulation and moisture management, making them great for all day, every day wear. This fabric is naturally durable, antibacterial, and blister-proof.

MEDIVEN

Mediven’s line of Active socks feature a patented Clima Fresh technology that prevents athlete’s foot and bacteria from growing on the leg and foot. This same technology will keep your feet feeling cool year-round.

These are just a few of the brands we carry that help keep your feet dry. Check out BrightLife Direct’s wide array of compression socks for athletes to find the best socks for your lifestyle and get your feet on a moisture free path. Before you purchase a pair make sure you take your measurements to determine the correct compression fit for you, because if they’re too tight, you won’t be able to get them on, and if they’re too loose, they won’t absorb all the moisture on your foot or provide compression correctly. If you need help choosing the right size or brand, give us a call at (+31)262843975 or check out our virtual size machine.

Nobody should suffer from athlete’s foot, so put a stop to the spread of that pesky infection and treat yourself to a pair of compression socks today!