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Up until recently health in older people was measured by present medical conditions and whether this-or-that disease or problem may occur in the future. These were really the only 'anti-aging' tools available, trying to avoid disease. But now it is becoming more accepted that even early detection and finding disease markers may actually be too late. The idea now it to practice prevention in the form of self care so we are healthy right through our adult years and disease is simply not part of the picture at all. The belief that as we get older we must accept medical problems is simply not valid any longer. The high incidence of disease and disability amongst older people is not the result of the passing years but the result of 30, 40 or more years of inactivity, of disuse and poor quality nutrition. Much of this is caused by our old fashioned beliefs that it is okay as we get older to not be as active, to slow down and 'take it easy'. It is a shame that society not only condones doing less but actually encourages older people to become inactive and sedentary. This 'growing old gracefully' model of aging is one that pervades the world. The majority of obstacles to living a full and healthy life as you grow older come from not having enough strength. Having a good level of strength in your 50's, 50's 70's and beyond is of vital importance. People fall and get injured because they lack strength, they get put into wheel chairs because they lack strength, they get disabled because they lack strength and they end up in a nursing home unable to take care of themselves because they lack strength. When we become less active we lose around one half pound of muscle tissue each year from the mid 20's. After age 50 this rate doubles triggering health problems and conditions of all sorts. When we let our muscle tissue and bone and ultimately our strength erode away with disuse chemicals whisper to all of the body's cells to decay, degenerate and die. Combine this with the aging process and it becomes a ticking time bomb with a short fuse. But it does not have to be this way. If you continue to use your muscles frequently with strength training exercise you can maintain their strength without too much effort and if you really get stuck in you can increase their strength a lot - no matter your age. Loss of muscle and bone strength is the number one biomarker of the aging process and when you work to keep it with proper exercise you can extend your years of good health and reduce your years of decline. You do this with a strength training program and eating quality food (not refined and processed). This will go a long way to prolonging vitality and postponing disability. Making these lifestyle changes as early on in adulthood as possible can delay - sometimes for decades the weakness and frailty that we associate with old age. But it is no use waiting until you get old - start now so you will never be robbed of your strength and thus your independence and dignity.
Do you want to discover the secret to rejuvenating your body and improving the quality of your life? Download my free ebook "Ive Found the Fountain of Youth- Let Me Show You Too!" here: Secrets To Longevity For Free Fitness Report here Fitness Weight Loss Carolyn Hansen is a certified fitness expert and fitness center owner who coaches clients to look and feel younger.
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