One of the most useful ways to see what’s out there and have a try at finding a new partner. You do really need to have a computer in your home and have basic computer skills to make this area work. There are a huge number of dating agencies on the Internet and they all have slightly different procedures that you will need to master. They mostly require a joining fee and you will have to decide how long and at what level you want to take part.

It does work for more people than you think

There is often a long joining procedure where you have to put in colour of eyes, interests etc so time spent searching through the websites to find one or two that appeal to you is well spent. To set you up with an agency could take over an hour from start to finish so give yourself a relaxed afternoon or evening to get yourself sorted.

Many of the sites ask for your profile, which is only information about you and what you feel important so before you start think about yourself, what you like, what you think you are good at what you have to offer. Many websites offer advice on how to build your profile. You will probably be required to post a photograph of yourself, to think of a user name, have an email address and decide the sort of distance you are prepared to travel. Having been and registered yourself you then become free to search through suitable profiles and hopefully find someone of interest. The website will have ways you can communicate with someone you fancy, either by an in house emailing service, or ‘winks’ or ‘likes me’ tick box. As you get to know your website you will find the best way to make contact another person. These dating agencies have been around for a few years now and been used by millions of people and if you go by their guidelines you wont go far wrong.

The only word of warning is when you meet someone for the first time go to a place where there are likely to be others, say a pub or coffee house. It is better to have others around if you want to make a quick exit. For added protection you could have someone ring you on your mobile and an appropriate time in case you need an excuse to leave early.

The idea of someone doing weight training brings a vision of a muscle packed young man, shiny and sporty being glistened a by nubile females on the beach. Hardly useful for those of us not too happy about rolling up the trouser leg because of the varicose veins.

Weight training can hold back the years

Funnily enough it appears that weight training for more mature people like ourselves, is a really important area of exercise. We all quiver at the sound of osteoporosis and loss of bone mass. Nasty areas. Weight training apparently can help or delay the onset of this as well as other diseases.

Weight training is a common type of strength training for developing the strength and size of skeletal muscles. Hippocrates explained the idea behind weight training when he wrote ‘that which is used develops, and that which is not used wastes away’.

It is claimed that regular weight training exercise, about twice a week using equipment and machines, can stop bone loss, stops (or offsets) muscle loss and generally tones all the physical bits you have got left so your life can become less painful and much more fun. Again as with the aerobic exercise the more you do the stronger you will become and the better you will feel. A little more of the clock turning back.

Weight training uses equipment such as dumbbells, barbells and kettlebells and well as a large selection of weight machines. Thoroughly frightening to the uninitiated. What on earth do I do with them and where do I find them? As many of us, particularly the ladies, might never have seriously tried this particular area of exercise there is a strong case for going to the local gym and get to know the trainers there. Using the equipment properly and carefully can make the difference between good exercise and just hurting yourself.

I want to do more exercise but what do I choose? I haven’t done much for a few years and don’t know where to start looking. I know it’s good for me I just don’t know where to start.

First have a look at yourself.

If you play squash several times a week or you go climbing mountains, you probably won’t need to think about this. If you know you are a slight couch potato, a little overweight and don’t know what aerobic exercise is, read on.

Physical exercise is any sort of training or activity you are going to do with your body. So you have to look at what you have got and fit the exercise that will make you and your body happy. You are going to be doing all this for a long time, forever, so if you are unfit choose something you like the sound of, like walking or dancing and do a small amount of it. As you get fitter you can do more and push further. Any exercise is good cycling, going to the gym, rowing anything that you can think of that interests you is worth trying. If you have always fancied golf, get a club, go down to the range and hit as many balls as you can or get the local pro at the golf club to give you a lesson. If you think swimming is for you as it is gentle on the joints, go to the local swimming pool and join in the activities there.

The important thing to remember is that if you enjoy what you are doing you are likely to keep on doing it. And you must keep on doing it. The more the merrier.

Aerobic exercise refers to exercise which is moderate in intensity undertaken for a long duration. Aerobic means ‘with oxygen’. What they want you to do is exercise so that you heart beats faster and you get out of breath. All you have to do is 15 minutes every day. This helps with weight loss, it can lower your blood pressure and it is protective against certain illnesses. You can do this with any form of exercise.

Walking is wonderful exercise. It is one of the most easily accessible forms of exercise that there is and can be one of the most sociable. It is a great way to keep healthy and improve fitness. It helps you to get into shape by burning calories. A nine and a half stone person walking at 3 mph burns about 99 calories every half hour. At a brisk walking pace of 4 mph that person will burn about 150 calories.

Walking makes you feel happier

It also reduces depression and anxiety, promotes psychological well-being and reduces stress. It will make you feel more energetic and may help you sleep better.

It can be a gentle form of exercise that helps with recovery from illness or injury. It can relieve back pain and improve symptoms of osteoarthritis. It strengthens legs, lowers blood pressure, improves blood circulation and strengthens the immune system. Walking is a low impact and low intensity form of exercise that is easily available wherever you live. You can make it part of your everyday exercise package. Walking to the shops, walking round town, walking to friends instead of taking the car are all ways of incorporating the activity into your daily life.

Walking can become much more than an exercise filler or remedy for aches and pains. There are walking groups that choose to go 20 mile hikes every weekend over mountainous terrain. Some people choose to go on walking holidays aboard. Power walking is a challenging cardiovascular workout that will quickly improve muscle tone in your entire lower body as well as upper back and shoulders. It blasts fat and calories at almost the same as jogging but with only half the impact on your joints.

There are many social groups who encourage people to walk and talk at the same time. It is a great way to get to know knew people. Some groups have walks of various lengths and difficulties. Some walk to a local pub has a meal and walk back to the starting point. The aim is to get to know people, to get some exercise and get out in the fresh air. The Ramblers association is a useful first contact if you are thinking or joining such a group.

It is interesting to report that over 22% of the population swims for exercise at least once a month (the highest participation of ant sport), a number that is increasing rapidly. Understandably when you look at what this form of exercise has to offer, particularly for those of more mature years. It improves all round fitness and general health because it boosts strength, stamina and suppleness at the same time. It gives you a cardiovascular workout as well as some of the strength building effects of weight training.

This is something anyone can do.

An added plus is the fact that because of the body’s natural buoyancy in water, swimming is a kinder form of exercise than those that are land based. The water is supportive and there is much less pressure on the joints. Even those with arthritis or back problems find swimming a suitable option.

For those who have never learnt to swim there are always lessons at the local pool and the instructors will teach people of all ages. There are several different strokes and you will have to find the one you find most satisfying using. If you get very confident you can be taught all strokes. Different strokes use different sets of muscles so using a variety means you are toning many areas. A person’s body shape will determine how fast they can swim for a given level of effort. What is important is improving your own speed and swimming for a reasonable length of time. It is suggested that it is beast to swim at least once a week to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

As well as ordinary stroke swimming a variety of other forms of exercise can be undertaken in water. For example, aqua aerobics, water yoga, pool pilates not to mention water polo or synchronised swimming. If they feel more fun go for them. Most towns have their own swimming pool and many leisure centres and gyms have their own pools. Just look in yellow pages.

Massage involves different types of touch applied to the skin or underlying tissues. It is manipulation of the soft tissue to release muscular tension and pain, to relax the body and enhance well-being. Considered a holistic healing therapy it can have specific benefits both to the mind and the body. Whilst massaging the therapist uses touch in a sensitive and respectful way to promote relaxation, a sense of calm and feel good. It is sometimes called a complementary or alternative form of treatment. These treatments adhere to the view that the body can heal itself if give the right conditions.

A real pleasure that’s actually good for you.

Treatments are non-invasive and the practioner commits more time to client than perhaps a GP can. The relationship between the practioner and the client is important, as building up trust and confidence are a crucial element in the treatment. It is often used to alleviate stress and relieve pain and to facilitate healing from an injury. The techniques are used in cancer care programmes, helping premature babies and for alleviating stress in the very young and the very old.

There are many different kinds of massage and reading up on what they do and how they can help can be helpful. Aromatherapy is a gentle massage using essential oils from plants. As these essential oils are complex and concentrated they are used in a diluted form. Reflexology is a form of massage using the thumbs and fingers on the soles of the feet and sometimes on the hands. The theory is that every system and organ in the body has a counterpart in reflex points in the feet and hands. Sports massage aimed at aiding recovery from and injury and promoting increased performance. Shiatsu, coming from Japan works using pressure from fingertips, thumbs, palms, elbows, knees or feet applied to the body, said to improve the flow of vital energy, increase circulation and release tension. These are a few of the different types of massage available. There are many more.

Massage is an unregulated profession so anyone can set himself up as a massage therapist. When looking for a practitioner check they have had training through a reputable institution. The General Council for Massage Therapy maintains a list of approved practitioners.

We all have I, or at least most of us. Those friendly love handles, the cuddly look, the acceptable middle age spread, squeezing into the size 14 when we should be a happy 16. Perhaps we just go big and happy. They do say, however, that so many people have become overweight the problem has reached epidemic proportions. Growing evidence shows that being overweight makes it more likely you will be prey to cancer, gout, gallbladder disease and osteoarthritis.

A bit everyday is the answer

There is a mountain of diet sheets around all promising to trim off the unwanted in a reasonable amount of time. From eating all meat to eating no meat, any fat to the right fat, delving into dieting is a bewildering game. On wonder some say diets are not worth following or they plain just don’t work.

We all need food. It is the fuel to keep us going. Unfortunately we are eating too much and taking in too many calories. Takeaways and going out for meals are big social events and there are many television programmes encouraging us to do exciting things with food. All good fun but it does not alter the fact that many of us are carrying too many excess pounds.

So what can we do? If you can find a diet that works for you, do it. Reasonably clever people have thought out the majority of the diets and most of their advice is sound.
If no diets work try going to the doctors and work with their dietician. Join organisations that monitor you. If you don’t like any of those ideas try looking at what you eat each day and half this amount at each meal. Try using a smaller plate to put food on .If you have difficulty limiting the number of crisps or biscuits you eat do not have them in the house.

The number of ways you can lose weight is endless. You have to find what makes sense for you and follow the advice given. As a general rule if you eat small amounts of good, healthy, nutritious food you will not be doing yourself much harm.

Acupuncture is a popular and well-established form of complementary medicine. It is an ancient Chinese medical procedure involving insertion and manipulation of needles at more than 360 points of the human body. Acupuncture needles dating from 4,000 years ago have been found in China. The procedure was developed in response to the theory that there are special meridian points on the body connected to the internal organs and that \’vital energy\’ flows along these lines.

Its not as scary as you think

According to theory diseases are caused by interrupted energy flow and inserting and twirling needles restores normal flow. It apparently stimulates the nerves in the skin and muscle and increases the body’s release of natural painkillers, endorphin and seratonin in the pain pathways of both the spinal chord and the brain. This modifies the way pain signals are received. In China the primary use of acupuncture is for pain relief.

There is a growing body of research evidence on the effectiveness of acupuncture. It has been successfully used to treat nausea, headaches, migraines, trapped nerves, chronic muscle strain and various kinds of rheumatic and arthritic pain. Other situations where acupuncture might be used include allergies such as hay fever, allergic rhinitis, sinus problems and chronic catahaar. Rashes and some forms of dermatitis, stopping smoking and dry mouth and eyes. This list is not exhaustive and the British Medical Acupuncture Society does not claim that acupuncture can treat all conditions.

Every patient will be given an initial assessment by a doctor followed by a course of treatment suitable for the condition. The tradition is as much about the maintenance of health as the management of disease. Treatment is usually provided by 6 consecutive appointments but may be less if the condition responds quickly. When selecting a practitioner take care that the one you choose has suitable qualifications. The British Medical Acupuncture Society and the British Acupuncture Council have lists of members. Some are also fully qualified medical practitioners registered with the GMC. Only sterilised disposable needles will be used and the treatment usually takes about twenty or thirty minutes to complete.

Ok. Things are beginning to hurt. My knees hurt when I get up, my back gets easily jolted and I feel a bit stiff. I’m getting old so I have to put up with it and that’s the way it has to be. I’ll sit down and have another cup of tea.

But, perhaps not.

Our bodies are used to activity. In the old days of the hunter-gatherers we would be out there picking fruit leaves and all manner of useful things to keep ourselves alive. It would take hours of every day just to find enough food to keep body and soul together. Now, we pop down to the supermarket and get a ready meal, which we put into the microwave. All done.

Although we are fed and no longer hungry our bodies still need that exercise. We are programmed for it. Our body will start to crumble and decay if we do not do it. That crumbling and decay will bring with it the stiff joints, the bad back, the stiff feeling. Exercise will keep the muscles toned, the joints lubricated, and the tendons flexible. If you do exercise you will feel fitter, stronger and more supple. Life will become much more enjoyable.

At whatever stage you are, whether you have just been thinking about more exercise ‘as a good thing’ or you have just had an operation and have to go carefully, getting a regular pattern of exercise is important. It does not matter where you are, what state you are in or whom you are with. You can do it on your own or with someone else. This is going to go on forever. Regular chunks of exercise will make you feel younger, make your outlook on life fresher, make you feel more alert. It may even perhaps give you a shiny coat and wet nose. It is one of the answers to turning back the clock.

Reaching retirement brings its own particular worries concerning money. How are you going to manage when you give up work and you are going to have to live on a lot less money? For some who have planned throughout their working life there may be less fears as they have contributed to pension funds, put added savings aside and made sure that they have paid off their mortgage. It can be a great advantage if thought has been given to sorting out financial matters ready for retirement.

To leave or not to leave

People’s experiences on reaching retirement can be varied. Some go willingly but others may have little choice. Some are allowed to leave gradually, some abruptly. The more control you have the better. On the whole planning for your retirement both financially and socially is a good thing.

If you are thinking about retirement one of the first things is to find out if your job gives you a pension and what the amount is going to be. Most firms will have a pensions department and you would need to apply to them. There may be a lump sum and a monthly income. There may be an advantageous time to take the pension and again you would have to ask.

You may have been putting savings away in some sort of investments and this need to be checked. You may be eligible for a state retirement pension if you are over 60 but there are rules and times governing how much and when. The Pension Service, part of the Department for Work and Pensions are the people to apply to for this information. The Pension service also deals with pension credits and winter fuel payments.

Having checked all the areas you might get income from you then have to work out if when you retire you have enough money to live on. Looking at your outgoings and seeing if there is going to be enough to cover all your needs can be a sobering exercise but a necessary one.