Aging Is A Scary Word

Aging can be a scary word to some women. Like everything else, there are good and bad experiences as you age. You do have some control over how many bad verses good experiences you have aging.

Some of the changes of aging start as early as the third decade of life! By the age of twenty-five or thirty your heart's ability to pump oxygen through your system declines.

When you are middle-aged your blood thickens and becomes stickier which can lead to heart conditions. Most Americans begin to gain three or four pounds of weight per year at mid-life. The weight is fat not muscle.

Your muscle mass declines dramatically as you age and your bones start to soften. Blood sugar levels can begin to get higher if steps are not taken to keep things under control. Your reflexes slow down, co-ordination declines and your memory begins to suffer.
There are so many things we have no control over. You do have some control over your body.

Exercise helps you get control over these changes. It slows down the process. You do need to exercise differently at the different stages of your life. Those who have done moderate exercise throughout their lives generally benefit the most from the wonderful things exercise does for your body. Extreme exercise can damage your body and lack of exercise allows the body to age faster.

When you are young your body can handle more stress. Your joints and spine have more cushion and you heal quickly. When you are older your body does not synthesize protein as well so does not heal as quickly as it did when you were young. Using lighter weights and lower impact aerobic exercise is important. Less stress allows your body to get strong.

It is ideal to do both strength training and aerobics. Some people with heart conditions are not able to lift weights. Knowing your limits and working within them is crucial.

You are never too old to get started with exercise. Great improvements can happen at even the very late stages of life. Working with a qualified fitness professional to create a program for you is money well spent.

Getting older does have its pluses. Retirement can be lots of fun if you are healthy and able to spend time doing things you enjoy like traveling, gardening, and or playing with your grandchildren. Making exercise part of your daily routine will allow you to have more freedom and more fun! If you are not exercising I highly suggest you get started today!

Your fitness expert


Lynn    www.getrealfit.org