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Judy:
I always tell people that weightlifting is the ageless sport because anyone can do it regardless of how old they are. There are just so many benefits to be had by training with weights that one can’t afford to pass it up. You are already doing a great job staying active with cardiovascular training so let me explain why adding a weightlifting routine will give you better results.

As you get older changes take place in your body that makes it more difficult to stay in shape. These changes can make staying fit like fighting an up hill battle. This is because as you age your hormones begin to decrease and you metabolism slows down causing you to loose 1-2 pounds of muscle a year. The lost muscle mass is usually replaced with unwanted fat. The more muscle you loose the less calories you will burn at rest. Thus explaining why it gets harder to stay in shape with each passing year.

Getting older can also cause the loss of bone mass. Did you ever wonder why people seem to shrink with age? This happens for a number of reasons. Loss of muscle mass causes bad posture forcing us to slouch under the pressure of gravity. To make matters worse growing older will cause us to loose valuable bone mass making bones brittle and weak. People with weak bones are obviously more likely to experience more serious injuries.

Weigh training can stall this process by helping to add or maintain quality muscle making your body feel and look younger. Stronger muscles will fight against gravity keeping your body straight and you posture in tact. It also helps to promote strong bones and can help prevent osteoporosis- the loss of bone tissue-by actually building more bone mass. Last but not least more muscle burns more calories keeping your body strong and lean. Let’s face it people who work out look and feel better than those who don’t.

I remember the days when the majority of the people lifting at the local gym were between the ages of 16-35. This is no longer the case. Our gym is full of middle aged people and senior citizens alike that have discovered that lifting weights later in life is helping look and feel better. In fact many of the parents that train with me are in better shape than their own children. So if you think you are too old to get started guess again! You are the perfect age.

In conclusion I believe weigh lifting should be the cornerstone of your workouts. It has so many positive benefits you would be foolish not to give it a shot. Try adding weigh training to your running, swimming, spinning and biking and you will have a winning combination.