It’s no secret that the average American is growing older. In health-conscious places like Utah, residents keep working out long after they’ve passed 40. Age doesn’t have to ruin your workouts. In fact, health and fitness experts agree that weight and cardio training are as important after the big 4-0 as they are before.
As the body grows older, certain changes are inevitable. Skin loses its natural elasticity and begins to sag. Vitamins and minerals, abundant in younger people, begin to be less concentrated. Bones gradually become more brittle. While you can still train hard, you’ll want to make a few adjustments to your routine.
When you were younger, you probably didn’t worry much about warm-ups. Now’s the time to start taking them a little more seriously. If you carefully warm up for 15 minutes or so before training, you’ll perform better and limit the risk of sprains or muscle tears.
Additionally, be more careful about spinal loading. Exercises like squats are still important, but you should limit the weight and repetitions. In fact, after 40 it’s generally better to focus on low-weight, high-rep exercises. If you hurt yourself, it will take longer to recover.
When it comes to exercise, you don’t need to slow down after 40. Health and fitness centers in places like Utah can help you exercise smarter and safer.
* Image Credit: The Huffington Post
