We’re not getting any younger, and it’s important to understand the way age and fitness work (or don’t) together as we make our circles around the sun. Growing older can be frustrating and difficult, but there are ways to make it slightly more graceful, especially when it comes to how we manage our workouts and wellness.
Age And Fitness Fact: Age Can Lead To Weight Gain…
As we get older, our metabolism slows, and our bodies stop processing calories and nutrition the same way. It’s a terribly insulting situation, as far as I am concerned. Gaining weight can lead to frustration and feelings of being discouraged, which can easily get in the way of any fitness journey. It’s devastating when you don’t feel comfortable in your own skin, and that can really disrupt your progress and forward motion.
Age And Fitness Fact: Age Can Lead To Reduced Flexibility
Another negative effect of age and fitness is reduced flexibility. As we age, things start to tighten up. Without regular stretching, we lose our elasticity, which can make working out far more challenging. It also open us up to injury in our joints and muscles, as well as more aches and pains. My advice: sign up for those yoga classes and keep your muscles limber. If you’re not super bendy, even chair yoga and gentle stretching will do the trick!
Age and Fitness: Age Can Lead To Exhaustion & Fatigue
I feel like everything leads to exhaustion and fatigue these days, but as we age, we do tire and run out of energy more easily. So annoying. The solution? Go to bed. Make sure you are getting enough quality sleep. Set a solid bedtime routine and stick to it. Adjust your workouts, too, and don’t push yourself to the brink of exhaustion. Lack of sleep can make us irritable and anxious, as well as weaken our immune systems, and who has time for that?
Age And Fitness Fact: Age Can Lead To Loss of Bone Density…
I am speaking from experience when I say it’s important to keep your bones strong as you head into older age. As we age, we are at risk for a loss of bone density, which makes it so much easier to break something. Of course, that same defecit makes healing just a little harder, too. Make sure you are getting your calcium, Vitamin D, and protein and stay active with weight-bearing exercises. Your doctor can test you for osteoporosis, if you are worried, although the test isn’t recommended until after the age of 65.
Age And Fitness Fact: Age Can Lead To Weakening of Muscles…
Like everything else, our muscles grow weaker as we get older. Is there no end to the injustice? Again, rather than giving in to the betrayal, keep moving on your fitness path. Lock in the nutrition with plenty of protein, and keep up your strength training. It will help keep you fit and robust in the face of growing older.
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We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts, and we are ready to link up every Friday to share YOUR weekly fitness favorites! Join My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Who’s ready for some fun?
I’m definitely feeling all this as I age.
Have a great weekend.
This sounds depressing but you’ve made some great suggestions.
You are required to get a bone density test at 50. Mine was normal but obviously if you fall, you can still break things.
Yes to stretching and strength training!
Strength training is so important as we age! And rest and recovery!
The truth hurts! Age does change things! But I love how you’ve put these five key realities on the table, but you’ve also shown us there are things well in our control – stretching, strength training, these are things that we can easily focus on, and nutrition of course plus taking our vitamins, etc.
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