Every winter in Melbourne it always makes me wonder why people just suddenly stop exercising.
Does your health and wellness just pack up and take a vacation to somewhere nice and warm as soon as the cold weather gets here, I think not. Its so important to continue to exercise all year round especially for adults that are in the middle age years of 40 and beyond (notice I didn’t say old!)
As I always say, exercise should not be a maybe I will maybe I won’t it should be a non negotiable and as regular as brushing your teeth.
The scary statistic is that around 64% of women and 60% of men over 40 don’t get the recommended amount of physical activity and one in 4 don’t get any at all!!
This jumps up to over 75% for adults over 75 years old, which is so sad as exercise at any age can be so powerful.
Whilst we are in the midst of an obesity epidemic and excess weight can be a result of physical inactivity, I think it is important to always come from a health angle not a weight loss angle. Weight loss should be a bi product of getting healthier. We can maintain a healthy weight range quite easily by focusing on nutrition and healthy eating, I am talking about doing exercise, specifically strength training and high intensity exercise for the health benefits that are so important as we age.
Here are my top 6 reasons why you MUST be strength training and exercising during winter and beyond:
- Regular exercise and strength training reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease after 40, one of the biggest killers in this country.
- Strength training and high intensity exercise helps produce a little estrogen for women, which starts to decline after 40 and really declines during menopause.
- Can reduce the symptoms of depression, especially in winter by stimulating endorphin production. Believe it or not these endorphins are 200 times more potent than morphine and increase substantially during vigorous exercise!
- Decreases the risk of osteoporosis as bone loss starts to exceed the rate of new bone formation after 40! This actually starts from around 35 and proceeds slowly. Strength training and load bearing exercises are proven to strengthen bones and joints.
- High Intensity exercise sweeps excess cortisol (that nasty stress hormone) from the bloodstream giving you a soothing high after a stressful day. This can also increase our metabolism and energy levels to get us through so long winters days!
- Slows the aging process better than any anti aging treatment I know! Inactivity and poor diet can speed up aging and physical activity can do the exact opposite as it controls body composition, strengthens the skin and the nervous system.
Whilst we have a great program at JOLT Fitness in Essendon which covers all areas of physical activity required and our trainers are experts in strength training, mobility and what’s required as you age, you don’t need to limit yourself to thinking that lifting weights and strength training is expensive or requires machines, or gym memberships.
Pushups, jump squats, lunges, and mountain climbing are all examples of exercises that provide strength training and can be done anywhere!
If you have any health issues, ask your doctor what type of strength training is best to meet your needs and abilities and current health status.
If you really need to you can also work with a local fitness expert and we have a great program at JOLT Fitness. We all want to look better, feel better, and live a longer, healthier happier life. So don’t hibernate this winter, instead go out and get started now with a complete workout program that includes strength and high intensity training.
Yours Always In Health.
Brad Hodgetts, JOLT Fitness.
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