Metal detecting is very quirky and exclusive, it’s not every day you run into a metal detecting club. We usually run into people who would invite us to a book club or a music club and if you’re old then maybe a knitting group but hardly anyone is going to come up to you and ask if you were insane enough to buy a metal detector and discover the history by digging deep into the grounds. (Your loss)
What the people who aren’t yet involved in metal detecting don’t know is that this hobby is so much more than just finding historical relics and valuable items. The long walks these enthusiasts take and the adrenaline rush they feel on finding something which can only be experienced and not described by meager words. Nonetheless, the benefits of being involved in this peculiar hobby are excellent. We will look at some of the fitness benefits of metal detecting. This hobby is especially beneficial for the elderly and the retirees who are bored sitting at home.
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Why metal detecting is the perfect hobby for seniors and retirees?
It has become a routine after 20-30 years of work to wake up early in the morning and begin your day. But as you retire there is not much left to do and especially not so early on in the morning.
So you try walking but even that becomes boring after a while. Metal detecting will not only make your everyday walk interesting but it will excite you every time your sensor beeps to indicate the presence of a metal.
You will be looking forward to something and you might also make some unlikely friends while you’re at it. You can meet with people and tell them the stories you’ve been dying to tell about your youth, job, and retirement anything. One more benefit will be getting access to history.
When you are involved in a hobby you want to be the best at it so becoming the master of metal detecting will involve getting acquainted with the local history thus you will have a chance to discover more about your town and neighborhood.
Moreover, as we age our body starts to deteriorate mostly due to the lack of physical activity present in our lives. The lack of regular exercise and physical activity in the life of people above the age of 50 is the cause of many problems.
Some of these problems are a reduction in coordination and balance, lesser joint mobility and flexibility along with reduced bone strength, declining cardiovascular and respiratory function, increasing body fat levels and blood pressure which make you prone to cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Some people also experience anxiety and depression as a result of all these signs.
So it is essential at this age for the elderly to be involved in something much more than just physical exercise because they to remain stuck to it for their benefit. Metal detecting does not claim to completely solve all of the problems but it is still very beneficial for them and may be able to help them cater to a lot of problems.
Many people of this age believe that they are incapable of being involved in physical activity because of their failing health and increasing age but the reality is completely different. Doctors and researchers believe that they should be involved in physical activity to make sure that their health progresses rather than deteriorating.
Now let’s look at some of the fitness benefits of this hobby! Your daily excursions will bring something more than just pennies. Getting into metal detecting doesn’t have to be expensive there are plenty of beginner metal detectors out there, the most popular is the Garrett model.
Walking
The majority time of this hobby is spent walking for obvious reasons. You are involved in physical activity at all times and your whole body is inconsistent movement. Let’s see how this affects our body parts.
- Bones, usually our bones start to decline after the age of 40 but the speed of this loss is furthered after the age of 50. As a result, weak bones are prone to injuries and fractures but walking will make your bones strong and reduce the risk of osteoporosis and bone loss.
- Joints, the constant movement that walking entails keeps our joints in regular movement which is their prerequisite to remain healthy.
- Heart and lungs, the cardiovascular and respiratory health greatly improve as fat burns when you walk and you consistently improve your stamina too.
Outdoors and Mental Health
The great and all benefiting outdoors. You can drive up to the hot spots of history and enjoy the scenery and relax your mind while you enjoy hunting. A healthy mind has the greatest effect on your fitness.
If your mind is free of toxicity and filled with positive vibes you will be more healthy and fit. There is nothing more valuable than peace of mind in old age that people crave.
Nature is documented to have a de-stressing effect on people of all age groups. You can fight anxiety and depression with the help of the outdoors and promote the fitness of your mind. Some studies have even associated outdoor sessions with the prevention of cancer. All of these benefits finally lead to a lower overall risk of early death.
Adrenaline Rush
The rush you feel when your detector ticks is amazing. It’s the adrenaline. Adrenaline dilates your air passages and more oxygen reaches parts of your bodies where it is needed.
Thus an improved blood flow. Secondly, it’s also known to give high pain resistance! What the elderly will love adrenaline for is its ability to pump up the immune system which leads to an eventual slowing down of the aging process.
It does this by increasing the number of antioxidants in your body fighting off the free radicals that are responsible for aging and tissue damage.
All of these things will constantly engage your mind and body promoting better health and fitness in seniors. In my personal opinion, metal detecting is a great opportunity for all age groups to get involved in something difficult and quirky yet very beneficial for their health and even their historical knowledge or your pocket. You never know when you’re destined to make a fortune.
Happy Hunting!