FITNESS THROUGH THE AGES
My dad lived 81 very active years. Carpentry was his profession and he also spent his nights and weekends remodeling the homes we lived in when I was a boy. Later in life, the 14 acres he owned in East Tennessee required year-round maintenance and he took pride in doing it himself. His daily movement was the key to his good health. Despite the fact he ate too much of my mom’s cooking, an active lifestyle protected him from many of the ravages of time. Here’s a decade-by-decade look at how you can be in yard work shape at any age.
Follow the AGELESS FITNESS program.
With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.
(William Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice)
The 30’s aren’t old unless you’re a professional tennis player or a supermodel, but they are important because of the foundation you create for your health and fitness in later life. Your energy is still high, even with the kids, the career and the spouse all pulling at you. Your metabolism has dropped by as much as 10% from your 20’s, so the burger and fries you love might start to cling to your waist. Simply watch your portions and limit indulgences while maintaining a healthy weight. A four or five-day-a-week regimen of strength and cardiovascular training will protect you from injury and strengthen your heart.
Middle age is when your age starts to show around your middle.
(Bob Hope)
The 40’s are when your lifestyle starts to affect your life. You still feel like a kid, except when you play touch football with your kids and can’t move the next day (true story). If you’ve been working out in your 30’s you may have held off some of the 17 pounds the average person gains between age 30 and 40. However, the intense workouts you once pushed yourself through may require more recovery time. This doesn’t mean you can’t make fitness gains! Just be sure to include flexibility work and balance exercises in your workouts to lessen the chance of injury. Also, since you require about 120 fewer calories per day versus a decade ago the food you eat needs to be more nutrient dense. Learn to eat your veggies!
Old age is always 15 years older than I am.
The 50’s are when even the youngest at heart have to admit they’re not 17 anymore. No matter, because your kinesthetic awareness (bodily sense of space and movement) and biomechanical efficiency are still high, although your muscle mass and bone density losses may accelerate. The good news is a strength training regimen can prevent much of the loss. A three-day-a-week strength routine focusing on the major muscle groups is the best prescription. Vary your workouts by changing the exercises you perform and the repetitions every three to four weeks. Cardio may need to slow down and hydration is more important than ever because your kidneys aren’t as young as they used to be. According to the Institute of Medicine, nutrition recommendations for someone in their 50’s would include a daily calcium intake of 1200 milligrams and three to five servings of leafy green vegetables each day.
The aging process has you firmly in its grasp if you never get the urge to throw a snowball.
(Doug Larson)
The 60’s are when many people start to think about their health again. Whether it was a lack of time or a lack of interest before then, it’s never too late. Whenever you start a regular exercise program you can make strength, mobility and cardiovascular gains. These improvements can help you ward off disease and improve your balance to prevent the falls, which occur with a loss of strength and balance. Also, lifting weights can ease the discomfort of arthritis while you build muscle. Activities such as yoga or tai chi can help you maintain or regain your full range of motion. Foods rich in omega-3 essential fatty acidscan also aid in reducing joint inflammation.
I can’t sit down. I might not get up.
(Peter Holley, my dad)
The 70’s have been thought of as the decade when it all falls apart. Then again, maybe that is because we haven’t had a good sample of active, fit 70-year-olds to study until now. A study, which tracked a six-month weight-lifting program for people over 70, measured quadriceps (big muscles on front of the thigh) strength. Scientists measured a 60 percent gain in quadriceps strength over the six months. A separate 12-week study measured even greater increases.
Research has confirmed that consistent exercise can add years to your life. More importantly, an active lifestyle lowers your biological age regardless of your chronological age.
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