If You're Old, Why Workout?
by Ernie Bray
Active, strong, and fit! That's right.
Age need not be a factor in your decision to get healthy and fit.
It's never too late to reap the benefits of the "Fitness Lifestyle".
Many individuals lose their health and become ill, not from old age,
but from pure inactivity! Society, in general, believes that old age
is the time to slow down, take it easy, and glide into those golden
years. Society is wrong. Get up and live!
Scientific studies have shown that even elderly patients in nursing
homes, when given basic weight training exercises, dramatically increased
their strength over a hundred percent! In other instances, some even
had large enough strength gains to cast away their walkers and move
around without assistance.
After age 30, both men and women lose lean muscle tissue every year
at a small rate. Over time, this gradual loss equates into a significant
problem for those just trying to be mobile and move around. If you're
in your 50's and 60's and are not involved in a health and fitness
program, it's time to start.
By building your strength through the use of resistance training,
you increase your mobility and stave off muscle loss. Combining resistance
training with cardiovascular training, such as brisk walking or some
other form of aerobic exercise, helps you maintain strong lungs and
circulation.
Individuals in their 70's and 80's have completed Ironman triathlons,
marathons and other fitness endeavors. They live even more vigorous,
active, exciting lives than some half their age!
What's the key? They have made the choice to LIVE life instead of
letting life rule them. They have become masters of their health and
fitness by doing a few simple things well: eating well, proper rest,
and exercise.
Exercise can make a big difference in your life:
- Regular exercise
raises your heart rate and may greatly reduce stiffening of the
arteries. Stiff arteries are a major cause of high blood pressure.
- People who
exercise are far less likely to develop adult onset diabetes, or
at least can control it better if they have it.
- Strength training,
like lifting weights or resistance training, can make bones stronger,
improve balance, and increase lean muscle mass. This can help prevent
or at least slow osteoporosis.
- Strength training
can lessen arthritis pain by making the muscles stronger therefore
easing the strain on joints.
- Exercise is
good for your overall sense of well being. Healthy, older adults
have said their stress levels diminish greatly after exercising
consistently.
© Ernie Bray - All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with permission
About the author: Founder of ebodycentral.com
and author of 48 Hours To Fitness, Ernie Bray has over twelve years
of experience in the study and application of the Fitness Lifestyle.
He combines strength training and fitness techniques with a common
sense and realistic approach to total wellness. Ernie's goal is to
show people how to maximize their fitness potential in minimal time.
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