Although they still have not found the Fountain of Youth they have found something close to it. To fight the physical and mental declines associated with aging strength training exercise is the weapon of choice and is being recommended for health reasons - both for men and women, and older adults as well as younger adults. It combats the major age-related declines in muscle tissue, bone density and metabolism (the body's engine) that we used to believe were just part of getting older and there was nothing we could do about it. But now we know different. Strength training is a simple concept - it involves briefly working your muscles on a regular basis, a little more than they are accustomed to working in everyday life. When you do this your muscles become stronger and more toned and your bones, tendons and ligaments will also be strengthened. This strengthening has many advantages and will make your joints (the bits that allow the bones to move) more stable and less prone to injury. Everyday tasks and activities will become easier, such as doing household chores, carrying grocery bags or children, going up stairs. Strengthening our muscle tissue around our spine and joints holds them in alignment protecting us from back, hip and knee problems. If we do nothing to keep our strength we get a wasting away of muscle tissue which causes the body many problems. Our muscle tissue is highly active and burns a lot of fuel just being there and any loss drops our metabolic rate (the rate we burn fuel). This allows us to become overweight which leads to all sorts of serious health issues. Can you see why our muscle tissue is a major deal especially as we get older? Is it any wonder researchers are constantly trying to find ways to stop its loss. Good old fashioned strength training exercise is critical for combating weakness that leads to loss of function and disability. When you have these things you remain active and self-sufficient for much longer than you do without them. This is really good news - we do not have to decline as we grow older. We can control the declines or even reverse many of them with strength training exercise which has a profound impact on our quality of life at any age or condition. It is never too late to turn back the clock and put the brakes on aging and your proper strength training will tackle the real culprit of the declines we fear so much - inactivity. Not giving our body enough muscle building and maintaining activity is the reason we get weak and grow feeble. But it will not happen to you as you now know how to avoid it. Our parents and grandparents were not so lucky and we watched them become incapacitated well before their time. They were sharp as a tack mentally but there bodies failed them before their life span ran out. If you are new to exercise seek the help of a fitness professional who will get you started properly so your time spent is effective. Just 2-3 sessions each week is all that is needed with a bit of effort put into it. You will be so pleased with the results you will wish you had started years ago. But right now is a good time to start and your strength training program is undoubtedly the very best gift you could ever give yourself.
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