Pump iron to fight flab – and aging
By Kathy Kaehler
If you’re past your 20s, you’ve probably noticed that your body isn’t as easy to maintain as it used to be. That extra slice of pizza may be more likely to hit your middle, and your muscles may not recover as quickly as they once did.
No doubt: As we age, our bodies slow down. We start to lose bone and muscle and we gain weight that becomes incredibly stubborn to lose.
But take heart, you can fight flab – and aging – in as little as a couple of hours a week.
How? By strength training.
Not only does it help keep you bones strong and fight osteoporosis, but it also helps keep your muscles fit and your waistline trim. Strength training works your heart and lungs (though not as much as intense cardio activities such as running or cycling) but it also helps burn calories both during exercise and after. Adding an additional pound of muscle can help you burn as much as 50 more calories a day – when you’re at rest!
You don’t need to belong to a gym to strength train. You could just buy some dumbbells of varying weights and work out right in your basement or living room.
So why not get started today? Aim to strength train two to three times per week, working all your muscles, including your shoulders, arms, chest, back, buttocks, legs and abs. Perform two to three sets of eight to 12 repetitions with a weight that gives you some challenge toward the end of the set.
That’s all it takes to keep your muscles fit and healthy. So get started and you’ll be enjoying some real results in about eight to 12 weeks!
