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This meant gradually giving in to the limitations of aging; moving slower; losing strength; getting shorter as bones became more brittle.
Human biology has not changed.
We all grow older and lose ability, but today we know we can keep our bodies healthier, stronger, and more agile, often into our 70's and 80's.
The mysterious secret of this newfound fountain of youth?No secret at all.
Healthy lifestyles, good diet, and perhaps most importantly, exercise can keep you in the game longer, and in many cases can prevent or delay the onset of debilitating conditions often associated with aging, such as arthritis, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Of course, exercising after a certain age requires more care to avoid injury and to insure the best effects.
Many of us may have damaged joints in our youth such as knees, hips, elbows or shoulders.
Exercising the muscles is still important, but it must be done in ways to avoid damage to any fragile or inflamed joints.
Stretching:It is only natural for your body to lose flexibility as you grow older.
Daily stretching is a critical component of your fitness and exercise regimen.
It is particularly important to concentrate your stretching on those muscles that may have become shortened due to years of sitting at a desk or from repetitive movements.
Warming Up:Anyone of any age should warm up before exercising.
Young athletes often overlook warming up and sometimes suffer painful muscle injuries as a result.
Muscles take a long time to heal, and longer as we grow older, so never skip the warm up.
Your warm up can also be a good part of your cardiovascular workout.
Keeping your heart and lungs healthy is the first key to fitness and more energy.
Vitamins and Antioxidants:Aging is accelerated by oxidative stress, but you can protect yourself and even repair some of that damage by getting enough antioxidants such as vitamin C or E in your daily diet and through supplements.
Such vitamins are also proven to reduce soreness after your workout.
Get Enough Rest:One of the concessions we must all make to aging is that we must give ourselves more rest and recovery time.
You may be able to lift weights at nearly the same intensity as when you were younger, but you will not be able to work out at that level as often.
Get Enough Sleep:There is an epidemic of sleep deprivation today.
People of all ages are trying to get by without enough sleep, and the result is a variety of health problems.
Your body's natural recovery and regeneration during sleep is critical to your general health and to insure that you get the best results from your exercise routine.
Strength Training:Contrary to what our grandparents may have believed, weight bearing and resistance training exercise for strength training gets more and more important as we grow older.
The inevitable loss of muscle mass and strength we all experience as we age can be delayed and reduced indefinitely through proper strength training.
By adapting your exercise routine and combining it with good diet and healthy lifestyle, anyone in good general health and without other limitations can remain active longer and enjoy life more through middle age and beyond.
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