Incorporating lifting weights will prevent muscle weakness, it is (absolutely) the most important thing to add as we age. Joints, ligaments and tendons need protecting. If we're doing cardio and ignoring lifting and stretching it can be a recipe for disaster. We need dynamic balance and agility, and strength to carry out daily activities... and more importantly carrying this further into participating in sports.
Weight lifting isn't my favorite pastime. But running, swimming, biking, and high elevation hiking are. In order to continue these into old age muscle building is critical! So I do it 2-3 times a week. It takes getting used to but I promise you'll feel different, to the good. Get a physical and hire a trainer if you don't know where to begin... and avoid injury at all costs! It takes forever after 60 to heal!! I think I've been on injury reserve for more body parts in the last 5 years than a lifetime!
Janice, it is NEVER too late. Take it slow, and be careful. Like Donna said, sometimes we can only do our own body weight to start. Recently I was reduced to doing wall pushups. Oh the horror. I'm a gym rat so it was quite humbling. But. Something is ALWAYS better than nothing. And this is the motto we must try to live by, because I can assure you it does not get easier!
Don't worry Janice, it's never too late to start strength training. You don't even need weights, at least not at first. There is so much we can do with just our body weight. I have started over about a hundred times (sadly, this is not an exaggeration🤣) so I am often using only my body weight for a few weeks.
I need to take exercise more seriously - again. Believe it or not, years ago we ran daily and in 5K races, but over time I slacked off - my age, the pandemic, no Dan to walk with, and lots of other excuses. But doing pickleball has shown me how out of shape I really am - I can no longer ignore the message.
Just found you Janice. As I sat here reading I thought, let me finish my “50’s” workout that I began this morning and was going to blow off. I finished my pushups and squats. If you are curious, the workout consists of 59 squats, 50 pushups, 50 lunges, 50 second plank and 50 second wall sit. I don’t do my lunges, squats or pushups consecutively. Thank you for the inspiration.
Hi Janice, many thanks for another great post and for including links to a couple of your favorite instructors on YouTube. I've been looking for a good instructor for chair yoga and you've saved me countless hours with your recommendation.
Glad you joined the pickle ballers! That's the most fun way to exercise although I have to agree with others that some cross training in the sense of doing a little weight lifting is also important.
Well, it's all thanks to you. Had you told me six weeks ago that I would even considered playing pickleball, I would have laughed. Did you plan it that way or did it just happen?
Good for you, Janice, for starting over - and for finding an exercise you like. That is half the battle -- finding a way to move that you actually like, that is fun, then it doesn't feel like such a chore. I do thirty minutes of tai chi movement while I am watching a movie every evening. Two for the price of one. Painless.
Good for you. My walking has reduced in recent months. It is the thing which has fallen through the cracks while I have coped with everything else. And I want to improve that.
I am suggesting that we consider the value of exercise. We need to find a way to make it fun, which may encourage us to do it more often.
Incorporating lifting weights will prevent muscle weakness, it is (absolutely) the most important thing to add as we age. Joints, ligaments and tendons need protecting. If we're doing cardio and ignoring lifting and stretching it can be a recipe for disaster. We need dynamic balance and agility, and strength to carry out daily activities... and more importantly carrying this further into participating in sports.
Weight lifting isn't my favorite pastime. But running, swimming, biking, and high elevation hiking are. In order to continue these into old age muscle building is critical! So I do it 2-3 times a week. It takes getting used to but I promise you'll feel different, to the good. Get a physical and hire a trainer if you don't know where to begin... and avoid injury at all costs! It takes forever after 60 to heal!! I think I've been on injury reserve for more body parts in the last 5 years than a lifetime!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/11/29/weight-lifting-aging/
Hi Patti, I do agree regarding old age muscle building - I realize now that I am behind.
Janice, it is NEVER too late. Take it slow, and be careful. Like Donna said, sometimes we can only do our own body weight to start. Recently I was reduced to doing wall pushups. Oh the horror. I'm a gym rat so it was quite humbling. But. Something is ALWAYS better than nothing. And this is the motto we must try to live by, because I can assure you it does not get easier!
Don't worry Janice, it's never too late to start strength training. You don't even need weights, at least not at first. There is so much we can do with just our body weight. I have started over about a hundred times (sadly, this is not an exaggeration🤣) so I am often using only my body weight for a few weeks.
I need to take exercise more seriously - again. Believe it or not, years ago we ran daily and in 5K races, but over time I slacked off - my age, the pandemic, no Dan to walk with, and lots of other excuses. But doing pickleball has shown me how out of shape I really am - I can no longer ignore the message.
Good point Patti. Strength training has been shown to improve how we age more than any other thing.
Just found you Janice. As I sat here reading I thought, let me finish my “50’s” workout that I began this morning and was going to blow off. I finished my pushups and squats. If you are curious, the workout consists of 59 squats, 50 pushups, 50 lunges, 50 second plank and 50 second wall sit. I don’t do my lunges, squats or pushups consecutively. Thank you for the inspiration.
Hi Janice, many thanks for another great post and for including links to a couple of your favorite instructors on YouTube. I've been looking for a good instructor for chair yoga and you've saved me countless hours with your recommendation.
Glad you joined the pickle ballers! That's the most fun way to exercise although I have to agree with others that some cross training in the sense of doing a little weight lifting is also important.
Well, it's all thanks to you. Had you told me six weeks ago that I would even considered playing pickleball, I would have laughed. Did you plan it that way or did it just happen?
Haha, only planned to invite you to play when you are were here since we are trying to keep up a regular practice and its fun!
It is that - fun!!
Such good advice, Janice.
I like to take my phone on my walks and take pictures of interesting things along the way.
Hi Heather, I love that idea.
Good for you, Janice, for starting over - and for finding an exercise you like. That is half the battle -- finding a way to move that you actually like, that is fun, then it doesn't feel like such a chore. I do thirty minutes of tai chi movement while I am watching a movie every evening. Two for the price of one. Painless.
Hi Sharron, That's a great way to get the exercise in.
I walk 3-5 miles a day. It’s been a wonderful gift that I truly love
Susan, That's great!!!!!
I have to go early or I blow it off but I’m learning. Good you’re finding move,ent you like
I have to do the exercise early as well - otherwise it just doesn't happen.
Good for you. My walking has reduced in recent months. It is the thing which has fallen through the cracks while I have coped with everything else. And I want to improve that.
Hi Cali, I suspect that when the time is right, you will begin walking again.
Thank you