The greatest Health Ally for over 55’s
If you, like many other over 55s intend to stay fit and strong during your retirement, you might be interested to learn more about the varying benefits of weight training and why it’s such a great way to enhance your level of health in the senior years.
Weight training improves posture, brings muscle tone into focus, regulates metabolism and improves circulation. The breathing techniques applied in weight training also bring strength to the core, all while the brain thrives on the fitness rush delivered through the surge of happy hormones it releases when you exercise and challenge yourself. Ask at your local fitness centre or gym for classes you can attend and learn basic moves from, and even practise at home as you like.
As with all new exercise programs it’s important to consult your general practitioner or your specialist health advisor about starting a new fitness journey. While existing conditions may be impacted through weight training for some people, for the majority it brings significant improvement and a higher quality of life into focus.
If you’re a relatively fit person, you may not feel the effects of weight training as readily as someone with less experience. In essence, the fitter you are, the easier weight training will be. However, if you’ve always focused on cardio training, for example, walking, swimming or another low impact exercise, you’ll definitely notice your body responds to resistance weight training and the use of muscle groups not usually impacted by those exercise.
Whether you’re an indoor person, an outdoor person, an early bird or a night owl, you can adapt a schedule to suit your individual preference.
The trick is to start small, and then progress to more challenging exercises as you gain strength. If you’ve never used them before, invest in some 0.25 kilogram hand weights that sit neatly inside your palm. Use them when taking a brisk walk to introduce some upper body resistance.
When the weight becomes less noticeable after a few weeks, it’s safe to increase the weight by 0.25 of a kilogram.
At Victoria Towers, we’re committed to bringing a high level of quality to the lives of over 55s on the Gold Coast, providing 5 Star living to residents in our beautiful Southport Lifestyle Village. Especially designed to suit the many interests and all levels of need our residents have, Victoria Towers is recognised for making the retirement of your dreams a reality. Please contact us for more information today.