The health benefits of movement can extend to all ages. If you thought it’s too late in life to start exercising, you are wrong. Taking up exercise in your 70s or 80s can still have major benefits, a study has found. According to a study, even those who have avoided exercise their entire lives greatly benefit from starting a resistance exercise and weight training routine at an older age.

Here’s an amazing story that drives home how it’s NEVER TOO LATE! Have you heard of Man Kaur? She is a 104-year old woman from India. And when she was 101 years old, she won a 100m gold medal at the World Masters Games! That gold was just one of the dozen-plus others she earned over her short track & field career. That’s pretty amazing for a couple of reasons – and just one of them is that she didn’t start running until she was 93. Her son, who was in his 70s, actually got her to start working out at the track. By the time she was 101, she was running 20km every day. That’s more than 12 miles. She holds several world records and also competes in other events such as shot put, javelin, 60m and 200m sprint. "I am running well, why should I stop?" she told an Indian newspaper. What a great lesson for all of us!

Have you ever been more inspired to make time in your schedule to exercise?

Slow and steady

Boosting physical activity and strength helps aging adults do the things they want to do in daily life, and that can be motivating. Older adults are disproportionately affected by conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease, with more than half the people over 65 having at least one of those chronic conditions. But whatever age you are, the aim will always be to start slowly and build consistency, so exercise becomes a real habit for you.

Age is just a number

Don’t let age discourage you, but rather become an impetus to get stronger, faster, and better. We’re there to support you on your fitness journey whether you’re looking to lose weight or safeguard your health and wellbeing as you age. It’s never too late to pamper yourself or to give yourself permission to do something that is amazingly beneficial for your health. Believe it or not, those adults who are over the age of 60 are reported as being the least physically active age group. Arguably, this is the time when adults really need to become more physically active in order to maintain a higher quality of life and health. Research shows regular physical activity has a positive impact on a large number of commonly occurring chronic diseases such as hypertension, high cholesterol, arthritis, diabetes, and insomnia, not to mention helping prevent a number of forms of cancer.

Move!

Any amount of exercise you do, no matter how small, is better than nothing. So don’t overthink it. Just start. And this time, keep going. It’s always going to be difficult to know precisely how much you can improve your health by starting to exercise, but it’s clear at this point that no matter your age or BMI, getting more active will help you. Cardiovascular exercises such as walking, elliptical machines, and exercise bikes are great for your heart and lungs. But strength training and resistance training can help increase or maintain muscle mass, starting at any age. There is no harm in trying something new in life, especially when it can help you live longer. It really doesn’t matter what you do, just as long as you get up off the couch and do it consistently.

Pay attention to what your body is telling you

Many of us pay more attention to the maintenance of our cars than our bodies. Do you ignore your own “check engine” warnings? When we were younger, we could get away with taking our good health for granted. But as you get older, pain, discomfort, and disease resulting from years of neglect can start catching up to you. It’s okay to start small. Find something that’s doable for you.

Be sure to warm-up

It’s important to warm up to prepare your body for exercise, help you have a better workout, and help prevent injuries. Add more movement throughout your day. Realize that fitness improvements and weight loss won’t happen overnight — especially now that you’re older. It will take time, patience, and persistence.

It is never too late to start a fitness routine

Where to start? Moderate-intensity activity is safe for most people but if you have a chronic health condition, talk to your doctor before beginning an exercise routine to learn about the type and amount of activity that will work for you. Starting a fitness program will be beneficial for your physical and mental health. Just because you’re older doesn’t mean your body won’t love working out. Older gym members can quickly thrive on their fitness journey towards a healthier life. Living in and around Point Cook and looking for an amazing personal trainer who can understand your health goals and help you achieve them? Our fitness trainers at Stronglife can help you stay active. Apply Now