Fitness priorities after 50

In the US, it has been reported that over 40% of the population is now obese.  

I have no idea what measure they are using, but all you have to do is look around and you can see we have an obesity epidemic in this country.

As we age, this becomes even more of a problem, since there are so many medical complications that can arise from obesity…

• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes

These are just a few, but they can be the most devastating.

In an effort to attack this problem, many people turn to diet and fitness.  

Unfortunately, most end up on the diet and fitness roller coaster and never make a permanent change.

This is due mainly to having their priorities in the wrong order.

Fitness priorities after 50

If you are over 50, your number one fitness priority, after a balanced diet, should be strength training.

Strength training has more far-ranging benefits than other forms of exercise.

A proper strength training program will allow you to build muscle, improve your bone density, and improve your mobility.

Therefore, strength training will allow you to hold off the processes of sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass) and osteoporosis (loss of bone density) that can occur as we age.

It is the best form of exercise for people over fifty because it will allow you to live a higher quality of life in case you live to an advanced age.

Strength training will also increase your metabolism through the increased muscle mass, and that will allow you to lose unwanted fat if needed.

Strength training also helps with your cardiovascular conditioning.  

Lastly, because legitimate strength training involves a significant range of motion with heavy weight, you will improve your mobility and balance.  

No other form of exercise can check off all these boxes.  

After strength training, you can round out your fitness program with cardio exercise such as jogging, swimming, cycling, or even just walking.  

Cardio exercise will allow you to burn a few more calories, keep your metabolism up, and improve your cardiovascular system.

To round out your fitness priorities, add some mobility and flexibility training such as yoga, pilates or even martial arts training such as kung fu.

If you can fit all of this into your schedule, you will be more equipped to stave off more of what life throws at you.

Ultimately though, the stronger you are, the harder you are to kill.

Therefore, strength training should be your number one fitness priority at any age, but particularly if you are over fifty.

If you haven’t checked it out yet, I encourage you to read about my Barbells and Kung Fu training program.  

It literally hits all the bases mentioned above.

Now get to work!