Health Considerations for Ex-Athletes
Being athletic as a kid, teenager, and even into adulthood is a great way to stay physically fit and healthy. If you played sports as a child, or even into college and beyond, you probably think those health benefits will last a lifetime. And, there’s no denying that some of them will. If nothing else, years of athletic training have likely taught you how to stay active and in good shape.
But, those same years of physical activity may have taken a toll on your body, too.
Sports are hard on the body. They put a lot of strain on your muscles and joints. Later on in life, you might start to notice the effects of that strain and realize you’re not a teenager anymore.
It might start with something as simple as struggling to stand up off the couch or feeling achy when you get out of bed in the morning. Unfortunately, those aches and pains will usually get worse over time unless you take proper care of yourself.
So, how can you combat the strain and stress you put on your body for years?
Don’t Give Up Completely
It’s never a good idea to go from a very active lifestyle to a mostly sedentary one. Leading a sedentary lifestyle, especially when your body isn’t used to it, can lead to a variety of issues including:
- Weight gain
- High blood pressure
- Osteoporosis
- Heart conditions
- Increased risk of colon cancer
Being sedentary can also cause varicose veins, especially for those with a genetic history of vein conditions. Varicose veins can end up being very painful and unsightly, and make it harder to motivate yourself to start exercising again.
If you’ve considered yourself to be an athlete for years, it’s okay to remain physically active in lower-impact settings. Staying active can keep your body strong and healthy without causing so much pressure and pain. Now is a perfect time to try something new with your workout regimen. Some of the best options for low-impact exercising include:
- Swimming
- Cycling
- Yoga
- Pilates
Even walking around your neighborhood every morning is a great way to boost your cardiovascular health and keep your muscles active. Staying proactive about low-impact fitness will keep you healthy and can reduce your risk of getting injured or developing certain illnesses. It’s a preventative measure that can keep you out of the hospital and help you avoid costly medical bills. But, it’s also a great way to keep feeling confident about your health and fitness, even after you’ve retired from sports.
Find the Motivation to Stay Healthy
When you play a sport, your drive to stay fit usually coincides with some type of training. Many athletes train so hard because they want to be the best at what they do. Maybe you spent hours lifting weights so you could throw a football further. Maybe you ran sprints day after day to shave a second off your 100-yard dash.
However, when you’re done with sports, you have to find new ways of motivating yourself to stay healthy. You won’t have the same goals anymore and you don’t have to train the same way. But, it’s still important to take care of yourself. So, consider what’s important to you. What will motivate you to keep up with low-impact exercising and maintain a healthy diet? It could be things like:
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Lowering your risk of disease
- Boosting your energy levels
- Getting better sleep
- Managing your stress levels
It’s not just about exercise. While it’s important to stay active, keeping your body healthy requires fueling it properly and getting enough sleep. Eating more protein, for example, will keep your muscles strong and can help to increase your body’s natural production of testosterone. Testosterone tends to decline as you age, leading to low energy levels, reduced endurance, and fatigue. Maintaining the right diet will combat that decline.
Additionally, getting enough sleep will ensure that you have the energy to exercise, help to repair your muscles, and even make it easier to manage pain. Your motivation may not be about training, anymore. But, it should be about keeping yourself as healthy as possible, so you can feel energetic and strong for years to come.
Manage Your Mental Health
If you’ve been an athlete most of your life, you’ve probably focused a lot of your attention on your physical health. Now that you’re not playing sports anymore, however, it’s important to start focusing on your overall well-being – including your mental health.
It’s not uncommon for athletes to experience bouts of depression after giving up a sport they love. You might feel like you’ve lost your sense of identity or purpose.
Thankfully, taking care of your physical health can help with mental wellness issues. Exercising, eating right, and getting enough sleep are all great ways of managing your mental health. But, if you find that you’re struggling with anything from overwhelming sadness to anxiety, it’s important to take extra steps to take care of yourself. Some of the best ways to maintain your mental wellness after you’ve walked away from your sport include:
- Finding ways to manage your stress
- Practicing self-care
- Journaling
- Connecting with others who have similar interests
- Volunteering
You can also channel your passion for sports and athleticism into other avenues. Just because you aren’t playing anymore doesn’t mean you can be involved. Consider coaching a team or becoming a mentor to other athletes. You can share your years of experience with the next generation. Seeing someone else succeed with the help of your coaching is a fantastic way to find your purpose again and feel better about who you are.
It’s not easy to walk away from something you love after doing it for so long. But, every athlete “retires” at some point. Whether you played a sport casually or you were a crucial component of a successful team, you don’t have to consider your time as an athlete as your “glory days”. The best could still be yet to come. Keeping a positive mindset will make that easier to realize, and can motivate you to use your talent and experience for something new and fulfilling – all while keeping yourself healthy and happy.
