By now, as a senior in life, we may know that to INCREASE our overall fitness level, we will need to focus on several areas of fitness. Areas of our body that needs attention when it comes to our fitness. As we age, our body does take a little longer to repair itself, but moderate physical activity is good for people of all ages and of all ability levels.
Cardiovascular training has an impact on our endurance levels. The more oxygen we breathe the more efficiently we burn our fuel. Oxygen has many benefits in providing essential energy and fitness. If you are trying to lose fat, you need to do more cardio than if you are trying to gain weight. For fat loss, three to five times per week at 20 to 40 minutes per session is plenty. Start conservatively if you are just starting training, for example three times per week, 20 minutes per session. Walking, cycling and swimming are all examples of cardio or endurance exercises.
Strength training protects our skeletons. Greater muscle strength helps improve your ability to balance and increases you ability to perform everyday tasks without straining your muscles. As a senior, you may know, we are supposed to lose muscle mass as we age; but that does not mean we lose our strength. Just because we are a senior, we need not become weak and vulnerable. Good habits provide fitness at any age.
Flexibility training prevents injury and allows for pleasurable activity. Dance, sports, martial art have strong benefits re: fitness. Stretching is vital to exercise and this is also part of your flexibility training. You should always warm up and cool down when you exercise and both should include some stretching. Greater flexibility could reduce the pain of arthritis.
Many studies have provided evidence that obesity and physical inactivity can increase risk of death for any age adult. Most important is the quality of life that our best weight provides. Too much weight or too little can damage our self esteem as well as make life uncomfortable. After all, we spend most of our time in our bodies. Hard to get away from them. We might as well enjoy looking and feeling great.
It is believed that adults over age 60 who are active live longer than unfit adults. We do not need studies to convince us. We wish to live longer, but we also intend to have fitness and enjoy our bodies as much as ever. Fitness has us look and feel great.