FITNESS STRENGTH TRAINING FOR WOMEN OVER 60
Reverse The Aging Process With Simple Exercises to do at Home or Outdoors, Regain the Strength, Endurance, And Energy You Had 10 Years Ago in 4 Weeks
Elizabeth Foster
Copyright 2021 by Elizabeth Foster
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
The information contained in this book is not intended and should not in any way replace the direct relationship doctor-patient or specialist examination.
It is recommended to always seek the advice of your doctor and/or specialists regarding any indication reported.
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Once you are over the age of 40, the aging process is inevitable. With it comes a set of changes in your body, your mind, and your lifestyle. That means its time to take action if you want to stay healthy and vital.
Although there is no denying that its easier for an 18-year-old woman to maintain her strength and muscle tone than it is for a 70-year-old, strength and muscle can be maintained and even improved throughout life. Thats the good news. The bad news is that your body changes as you age.
The post-menopausal years are particularly challenging because hormone levels change significantly during this time of life. Many of these changes are beneficial, including slower metabolism, less muscle mass, less body fat, and fewer injuries due to decreased flexibility resulting from the loss of connective tissue.
According to the statistics, over 60% of elderly women do not engage in regular physical activity. In addition, many of these women remain sedentary both during leisure time and at work. However, because this age group has been at a relatively high risk for cardiovascular issues and other health-related problems due to low levels of physical activity, it is important for them to engage in some form of exercise or strength training regularly.
In order to ensure your well-being as you grow older, be sure that you include a minimum balance of moderate aerobic exercise and strength training in your regimen each week. Just make sure you incorporate these types of moves into your daily workoutswhich will provide the added benefits mentioned above.
When you are physically active, youll improve your overall health tremendously. Not only that, but it will also help you feel more energized throughout the day. Look into the following benefits of regular physical activity to keep in mind as you target healthy aging.
Regular aerobic exercise is good for your mental health and lowers stress levels, which will allow you to enjoy your life more. This is especially important as you age so that you can combat feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Heart health is another benefit of regular physical activityespecially strength training exercises if they are done correctly. Strength training exercises engage your heart, arms, and legs while simultaneously working out several muscle groups at once. This results in faster rates of oxygen uptake to the muscles, which improves cardiovascular health.
Strength training will also help tone the abdominal muscles and other muscle groups. This will decrease your risk of falls and give you more flexibility with your joints. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn during your workouts. This will also help reduce your body fat percentage at the same time. Not only does physical activity result in weight loss, but it can also improve bone health and overall health. Regular strength training exercises work on raising calcium levels in the bones so that they are not as susceptible to osteoporosis later on.
Physical activity can help you prevent cognitive diseases that affect the brain, such as Alzheimers and dementia, in older adults. Regular physical activity helps improve your mood and combat feelings of anxiety and depression in older adults.
There are also benefits of physical activity that are directly related to your mental health, including being able to handle stress better later in life.
Physical activity is an important part of slowing down the aging process due to the amount of improvement it provides. However, even though it can improve your well-being and overall health, not everyone should start strength training exercises at this age.
Cardiovascular health is very important for older adults as it can be vital in preventing strokesone of the leading causes of death for senior citizens. Physical activity and strength training exercises help improve cardiovascular function and reduce the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure, which can be very common issues. Most importantly, regular physical activity will help your heart work more efficiently, resulting in a longer lifespan.
This book will focus on the benefits of strength training exercises for older adults, as well as how to incorporate them into your weekly workout routine without sacrificing your health.
Chapter 1: Exercises to Increase Strength
Doctors recommend having at least 150 minutes of physical activity a week. Spread out over the week. Thats 30 minutes of activity for five days. Workouts are great, but youll have to give your body time to adjust and recover. Two days of rest and recovery can be inserted midweek or during weekends. From 150 minutes, youll build up to 225 minutes, and eventually 300 or more minutes a week. These routines arent set in stone. As you progress and learn and get used to the exertion, youll have the confidence and the personal knowledge to mix and match exercise moves you feel would best suit your bodys strength and endurance levels.
Beginner Fitness Level
Heres a sample stretching, strengthening, and cardio routine.
3 minutes of warm-up stretches.
- Perform 2 times, Upper Back Stretch
- Perform 2 times, Chest Stretch
- Perform once on either side of the neck, Neck Stretch
- Perform 2 times, Sit and Reach Stretch
- Perform once for each leg, Inner Thigh Stretch
- Do 1 set of 16 reps, Shoulder Circles
- Do 1 set of Hand Stretches
8 minutes of muscle-strengthening and balance exercise.
DAY 1
- 2 sets of 16 reps, Seated Shin Strengtheners
- 2 sets of 8 reps, Plis
- 2 sets of 10 to 15 reps, Front Arm Raise
- 2 sets of 5 reps for each side, Side Bends
- 2 sets of 8 reps, Tummy Twists
- 2 sets of 10 repetitions for each hand, Wrist Curls
- 4 sets of 1520 steps, Toe the Line
- 2 sets of 10-second Flamingo Stands for each leg
- Perform 3 Clock Reaches for each side
DAY 2
- 2 sets of 10-second Flamingo Stands for each leg
- 2 sets of 10 repetitions, Side Leg Raise
- 2 sets of 10 to 15 reps, Front Arm Raises
- 2 sets of 5 reps for each side, Side Bends
- 2 sets of 8 reps, Tummy Twists
- 2 sets of 10 repetitions for each hand, Wrist Curls
- 2 sets of 10 to 12 reps, Bicep Curls
- 2 sets of 16 reps, Seated Shin Strengtheners
- 2 sets of 8 reps, Plis
- 2 sets of 10 to 15 reps, Wall Push-Ups
DAY 3
- 2 sets of 5 reps for each leg, Leg Lifts