They say that life starts at 40 and it is true, provided you take good care of yourself. The secret to healthy aging is to maintain your shape by working out regularly and growing your muscle mass. You do not have to become a bodybuilder, but the more muscle you have, the better your body will perform and the fewer age related illnesses you will encounter.
Why is muscle health important while aging? Your muscle mass determines how elastic your joints are. However, as you grow older, not only do your joints become less flexible, you also begin losing muscle mass, leading to the common problem of creaky joints. Resistance training helps you avoid this issue by letting you grow back the muscle mass that you lose with age, letting you stay energetic and flexible for much longer.
Of course, fitness is key to healthy aging but that does not mean you should aim to become a professional bodybuilder in your 50s. In fact, the key to healthy aging is to accept that there are certain things you were able to do when you were 30 that you can no longer do at 40. mass and even more moderate forms of fitness exercise can go a long way toward aging gracefully and healthfully.
What kind of exercise can you do to grow your muscle mass? First of all, leave the 100lb. dumbbells on the floor. You can use moderate forms of fitness exercise such as walking, cycling or swimming. Low-impact exercise like elliptical trainers, swimming and yoga are also extremely popular.
In fact, if you are truly committed to healthy aging, then it is important to combine resistance training and aerobic fitness exercise for maximum effect on your body. Try to separate your strength training days with evenings of aerobics, either going for a walk or spending some time on an elliptical trainer. Whatever schedule you choose, it is important to allow at least one day a week for your body to rest and recuperate. Remember that the key to using fitness as a tool of healthy aging is moderation.
One of the most important elements of healthy aging is changing your lifestyle. As we grow older, our lifestyle becomes unexpectedly passive and if you do not change that, sore and creaky joints are sure to follow. It is important to fit as many physical activities into your daily life as you can for example, try to set some time to go for a walk in the evening or visit a swimming pool several times a week. If you are serious about healthy aging, some form of physical activity must become a daily part of your life. Also, remember to stretch. Limber tendons and muscles prevent any number of ailments.
Sometimes it can be very difficult to motivate oneself to leave the comfort of your house and go for a walk or a swim. A cure for this is finding a buddy who is as interested in healthy aging as you are. Your buddy will push and nag you when you do not feel like working out, giving you all the motivation you need to commit some time to your fitness activities.
Ultimately, fitness is indispensable for healthy aging. It can sometimes be difficult to get started and force yourself into a more physically active routine, but you will find that, after a while, the going will get easier and you will start looking forward to getting out of the office and going for a short walk or swim. When that happens, you know that you are well on your way to healthy aging success.