Is Exercise The Fountain of Youth?
http://www.flattenyourabs.net/blog
As we age we run into many of the same challenges. Our workouts are not
as vigorous as they used to be, or we do not have the stamina for as
prolonged a workout. If you have never been in the habit of working out
you will find yourself stiffening at the joints, having lower back pain, just a general slowing down and feeling old.
Does it have to be like that? Can you exercise your way to the fountain
of youth and vitality? Yes you can. Your age does not matter in the
least. An 80-year-old woman can workout just like any 20-yea- old man
and meet his or her own goals.
At 20 we all want six-pack abs and rock-hard gluts. We want to feel and
be seen as sexy and desirable. We want people of the same sex to look
at us and be jealous. All of this is to make ourselves feel better
about who and what we are. There is nothing wrong with that. When was
the last time an attractive woman told you she would rather be with a
guy that is flabby and weak over a strong man? Never!
When you are 50-60, or older, you start to worry about your daily
mobility, heart attacks and how to prevent them, and living
independently for as long as possible. Rock-hard abs gives way to
wanting less sag, getting awesome oblique’s gives way to wanting less
low back pain.
The truth is that the six-pack abs and decreased back pain and sag start
with the same type of exercise: A sound abdominal workout that
emphasizes full flexion, extension, and transverse movement during the
routine. Where the two goals differ is the intensity and resistance
used.
It is never too late to start a workout routine. At any age you should
consult your doctor or an Exercise Kinesiologist. You want to make sure
you are doing the right exercises and doing them correctly.
Someone who is in the 20-40 age range and has been working out should be
able to continue with their crunches, reverse crunches, etc. If you
have reached a plateau and have not gotten the six-pack abs that you
want, try my e-book “Firm and Flatten Your Abs” or email me at
david@firmandflattenyourabs.net for some personal tips and help to get
back on track.
If you are in your later years (50-100+), then you will want to start
off a little slower. You will want to try using isometric exercises.
Your main goal will be to re-energize yourself through movement. Actual
weight resistance will have to wait until you have regained some of the
muscle tone lost over the years. Regaining this muscle tone is very
important if you are worried about continued mobility late into life.
If you want to avoid a wheelchair, you will have to get off of the
couch!
Start out by walking as often as possible. Start slowly; make sure you
stretch your legs first. Do some toe touches (or knee touches if you
can’t get all the way down). Do the same stretches after you walk also.
Walk around the block the first week, double that the next week. The
third week, walk three blocks or go back to just one block, but walk
twice as fast.
Do not worry about walking only. Raise your arms above your head and
hold them there for 10 seconds and repeat. If you have lower back pain,
then you should try tightening your abdominal muscles slightly, hold for
10 seconds, release and breathe deeply, and then try again. You should
not ignore the benefits of yoga or Thai Chi for loosening and toning
unused muscles. I have a bonus report on Yoga on the site. There are
over 40 exercises at http://www.flattenyourabs.net for you to choose
from.
No matter what your age is, exercise is one of the truest paths to the
fountain of youth. Exercise as an anti-aging force is something that
can not be disputed. The increase in energy and blood flow that also
increases your chances of life long mobility and independence is more
than worth the effort.
To read the entire article and much more visit:
http://www.flattenyourabs.net/blog
Feel free to comment or add your thoughts …The blog is for all of
you to participate and get involved!
Filed under: Exercise by admin
Good post. I’ve really let me abdominal routine slide in the last few weeks. I think I will be purchasing your book some time next year and try to get this part of my workout sorted. I am still in my early twenties and as you say it is nice to have a good set of 6 pack abs. However, it’s also good to prevent lower back pain and other similar ailments in later life.
Sounds great thanks for the post - Tom
David
I was surprised that you mentioned Tai Chi, and my wife and I were in a group that did Tai Chi, starting out with Chi Kung, graduating into the Short Form and then, to the Long Form.
After some backsliding, I have returned to an exercise regimen. As well, getting into Complimentary Alternative Medicine. The “Chinese Doctor” aka Accupunturist suggested I use CO-Q-10, to encourage my circulation. I am past 60 and it seems that the body doesn’t produce it as much, so . . . you hit the pills. My budget can’t cover it, so I tried Chi Kung. If its good enough for the Chinese, it may work for me. And, in fact, it has helped some, to clear up some issues in my feet, gettin’ the heart to move. Whether it does “enough” I can’t say, but I feel better.
What is you take about mixiing anaerobic and Chi Kung, perhaps the Chinese exercise as a warm up to get the body “started” and, in my case a bodyweight routine I found that works for me.
The Bodyblade thing is intriguing. So far my income makes that a little prohibititve. For the time, its slow and steady with bodyweight, nutrition, and attitude.
All the best,
Zev Davis
Upper Nazareth, ISRAEL
Great post! I’ve been researching this topic for quite some time.