Most people don’t lift weights, especially later in life when they need it most.
After 50, it’s crucial if you want to stay strong, healthy and independent throughout life. Here are just seven reasons why mature adults should practice resistance training on a regular basis.
- It slows age-related muscle loss and increases muscle mass and quality. We all lose muscle as we age, but we need it to stay strong enough to function in daily activities, not to mention to travel, enjoy sports, and play with kids.
- Resistance training burns fat.
- Weight training improves balance — both when standing still and when moving, thus lowering the risk of falls.
- It eases arthritis pain, lowers blood pressure, and fights obesity. (That’s three great reasons in one!)
- Strength training builds bones and fights osteoporosis. This is an extra motivation for women, who lose a small percentage of bone mass each year after menopause.
- It fights depression among older adults, as well as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and more.
- Weightlifting helps you sleep better, which in turn helps you move and think better.
Plus, let’s not forget this: It’s fun.
Holly Kouvo is a personal trainer, functional aging specialist, senior fitness specialist, brain health trainer, writer, and speaker.