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Exercise
Is Important At Any Age
When is it
too early or too late to reap the
benefits of an exercise program? Simply
put, exercise at any age provides
multiple benefits from reducing the risk
of heart disease to preventing
osteoporosis to relieving stress and
promoting weight loss. As a general
rule, people of all ages need to engage
in a combination of cardio, strength
training and flexibility exercises to
maintain health and overall fitness.
This is not to imply, however, that
workout regimes should be the same for
every age group. The following is a
discussion of some general strategies
for middle age fitness, women’s fitness
at age 40 and workouts for kids age
10-16.
Middle Age
Fitness
As
mentioned above, exercise is one of the
lifestyle modifications health experts
recommend, not only to reduce excess
belly flab but to help prevent or
minimize a number of life threatening
conditions including heart disease,
osteoporosis, and diabetes.
Interestingly, a recent study published
in the online journal, The Lancet
Neurology, indicates that middle aged
people who are more physically active
have a reduced risk of developing
dementia and Alzheimer's disease as they
age.
For many,
the fight against fat can be a
never-ending struggle, but the best time
to prevent middle-age weight gain and
the onset of other adverse health
conditions is now. All you have to do is
increase your activity by adding a few
minutes to your regular workout until
you reach an extra half hour of physical
activity per week. For men and women,
boosting activity during your middle
years with activities such as walking,
dancing, swimming, playing tennis,
working out with exercise videos, and
playing with your children will
effectively increase overall health and
wellness regardless of what kind of
shape you were in to begin with.
Women’s
Fitness at Age 40
At the age
of 40 and beyond, it is important for
women to realize that their joints are
also 40 years old. That said, you might
need to modify your exercise intensity
and routine in keeping with the
physical, physiological and hormonal
changes that naturally occur at this
time.
An aerobic
routine coupled with strength training,
a healthy diet and stretching has been
proven to replace lost muscle, get the
body's metabolism revved up, keep weight
off, reduce pre- and post-menopausal
symptoms, lower blood pressure and
reduce bad cholesterol. In addition,
exercise reduces the risk of breast
cancer, colon cancer and kidney stones,
helps fight depression and promotes
improved sleep patterns. Most
importantly for this age group, the
focus needs to be on physical activity
as opposed to dieting.
Low-impact
workouts are generally recommended for
women at 40 to allow them to burn a high
number of calories. If you are bored
with your current exercise routine or
have reached a plateau, here are some
exercise options to get your metabolism
rolling:
-
Walking
-
Biking
-
Swimming
-
Low-impact Aerobics
When
beginning a new routine, remember that
fitness means the ability to get on with
your life without becoming exhausted by
normal daily activities. Listen to your
body and avoid trying to do too much,
too soon.
Workouts
For Kids Age 10-16
According
to Dr. Kenneth Cooper, author of Kid
Fitness and the founder of aerobics,
this is the age when you might expect to
see a decline in your child’s physical
activity. With childhood obesity at an
all-time high, it is becoming
increasingly important to encourage your
child to incorporate exercise into their
life at an early age to keep them
healthy and fit and to prevent sedentary
habits that could potentially extend
into adulthood. For this age group, team
sports and group classes are good
choices in addition to strength
training, dancing, step classes,
basketball, soccer, baseball, wrestling,
gymnastics and yoga, according to your
child’s individual preferences.
Remember
that, as a parent, you can be your
child’s best role model by exercising
regularly yourself and by making time
for family activities such as swimming,
biking and walking the dog throughout
the week.
Note:
Always consult with a professional
health care advisor before beginning any
physical fitness program.
If you
have questions or need further
information, please contact Slimtree at
contact@slimtree.com. |
