Exercise and Stay Healthy

"I used to be able to do that when I was your age."

It's a phrase you've probably heard a lot of times, and may have said more times than you'd like to admit.  Aging can be hard to accept. As we age, our bodies make it easier to store fat while we start to lose muscle. Aches and pains that didn't exist 10 years ago occur more frequently.

But it doesn't have to be that way. We're all going to go downhill someday, it’s a fact of life, but why go without a fight? With the proper exercise your prime fitness years could be ahead of you. No matter what age you are you can get stronger.  

Strength is Related to Longevity

Stronger people tend to live the longest so being even a little stronger is always better regardless of your age.

Strength training can help address most of the major problems that sneak up on us as we get older. The average person will lose about one percent of their total muscle mass per year, starting in middle age. With muscle loss you can expect thickening of your tendons and ligaments, a lessening of the strength of your bones, and a decrease in the number of muscle fibers you can call upon when you need to use them.

The Key is to Focus on Total Body Strength

You have to train intelligently while focusing on increasing your stability and mobility along with increasing your total body strength. It’s important to concentrate on building strength which comes from lifting weights. That means weight lifting is important for women as well as men.  

When exercising you need to push yourself so you exercise all muscles of your body and not just the muscles you enjoy exercising. First, work on your "core" muscles of your abdomen and low back.  These are the muscles you use every day, all day long.  Follow this by exercising your shoulders, hips, and legs.

Lift Weights in a Functional Position

Once you become more comfortable with the weights try lifting them in a functional position such as standing.  Most people sit too much which can lead to lower back problems. Standing helps reduce this risk plus you are engaging core muscles to maintain your balance and posture making these types of exercises more beneficial.