Getting Fit and Strong If You Are Over 50

Getting Fit and Strong If You Are Over 50

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While exercise should be a part of everyone's life irrespective of age, we need to ensure that the exercises we engage in are appropriate to our age and general health. If designed appropriately, a weight training program for seniors can offer benefits that enhance a person's overall quality of life, including:

• Increased strength in the upper and lower body
• Improved joint health, balance, and stability

• Enhanced metabolic fitness (including glucose tolerance and cholesterol control)
• Increased bone density

Before starting, it is always a good idea to have a medical checkup or ask your doctor for a clearance. This is especially true if you haven't exercised before or have taken an extensive break from physical activity.

Preparations for a Dumbbells Workout

A dumbbell program is convenient enough (and inexpensive enough) to do at home for the days when you are not able to make it to the gym. In most cases, you wouldn't need more than three different weights for a full-body workout.

Weight training involves a series of exercises known as “repetitions” and "sets." A repetition is one completion an exercise, while a set is one group of repetitions. A typical training would involve three sets of 12 repetitions. In between sets, you would rest for one to two minutes.

For each exercise, choose a dumbbell that is heavy enough to do eight to 12 repetitions (reps) comfortably but not too comfortably.

As you approach the end of a set, your muscles should start to feel tired and you may even struggle a bit.

On the flip side, you should never choose a weight that is too heavy. You can tell it's too heavy if you have to arch your back or swing your body to lift the weight. Not only will the targeted muscles be doing less work, you can end up throwing out your back or causing damage to your joints.

Always do an exercise with complete control, never rushing or throwing your body out of its neutral alignment. If something hurts, then stop and lower your weights. Never exceed your physical capacity.

Recommended Dumbbell Exercises

There is an endless variety of dumbbell exercises you can choose from. A good foundational program might involve the following eight exercises:

• Shoulder squat for the thighs, hips, and buttocks
• Forward lunge for the thighs, hips, and buttocks

Helpful Tips

To ensure your dumbbell program is well-rounded and touches every muscle group, you should adhere to the following guidelines:

• Do all eight exercises at least twice weekly. Doing anything less may be less beneficial. You'll likely see fewer results and be less inclined to continue working out.
• Be prepared to get a little sore. When first starting, you will probably feel a little soreness in the muscles and maybe even the joints. This is normal. Most of the aches should subside within a day or two and will continue to get easier with each ensuing session.

• Rest for at least a day between sessions. Once you start building strength and stamina, you can increase from three to four sessions per week.
• Try cross-training. You can alternate a dumbbell program with a walking program to help build muscle and cardiovascular health. Even then, you should have at least one to two rest days per week when first starting. Do not overtrain.
• Reduce the number of sets rather than the number of exercises. If three sets of 12 are too much to start, try doing two sets of 12 instead. What you don't want to do is cut the number of exercises from eight to six. Keep doing all eight exercises unless there is a medical reason to stop. If there is, find another exercise to replace it.

• Wear appropriate footwear. This is especially true if you have a medical condition like diabetes, have flat feet, or over-pronate.
• Ensure proper hydration. Replace any water lost through sweat with either water or an electrolytes sports drink.

Remember to gradually ease into the workout. Once you've established a routine, make a concerted effort to extend the time and intensity of your workout as you begin to build strength and endurance.

Original article and pictures take www.verywellfit.com site