Fitness is undoubtedly aimed at the young. Social media is awash with images of abs and ripped bodies. Now while this can inspire many, it can turn just as many off who feel they will never achieve that look.
And while there’s nothing wrong per se with those things, they aren’t what fitness is really about.
This leaves much of our middle aged and senior populations feeling that the gym isn’t for them. I’m 53 and our generation just weren’t brought up with gym culture. I don’t remember seeing a gym until I was in my twenties. The early gyms didn’t have a lot of weights and weightlifters were generally frowned upon.
So, even if you’re never going to have that young toned body, why is fitness still important?
Well, fitness is important at all stages in life, because of the many health benefits it brings. However, I believe it gets even more important as we age. Fitness equals a better quality of life.
Keeping a level of strength and maintaining your muscle mass by taking regular exercise is especially important for older people.
While almost any kind of movement is good, strength training is especially good.
Strength training can increase your bone mass and reduce your risk of osteoporosis. Joint pain can be eased by improving the strength of the muscles around the joints. It can also help increase your metabolism and slow it’s decline with age. So, it’s good for your heart, lungs, circulation, joints, bones, muscles and insulin management
Most important of all, exercise keeps you mobile and able to continue to live your life independently. One of the most important functions in life is being to be able to get up and down from a chair (and toilet) unaided.
It pains me to see people having to use mobility aids long before they need to.
So, it’s never too late to start, and in fitness terms late is never better than never. It’s not about competing with the young’uns, fitness is about maintaining your mobility and improving your quality of life.
If you are interested in getting fit, contact me now.
