Somewhere along the way, we left the gym for easier and less injury prone activities. I’m guilty too, so no finger pointing from me.

The reality is that after an injury or even a fear of one, we often abbreviate or alter our workouts toward more cardio and (hopefully) stretching while leaving weight training in the rear view mirror. More on stretching and cardio later, but this absence of weight training is a poor choice in the scheme of fitness.

For starters, let’s agree that being fit is a worthwhile proposition. I’m not talking about magazine cover stuff here, just reasonable weight, flexibility enough to tie our own shoes and enough cardio fitness to get us up a couple of flights of stairs carrying the groceries without being out of breath. Agreed?

OK, then let’s define fitness as having three components:

First, for the women who believe that weight training will result in bulky muscles…. That’s a myth. In order for women to put on substantial muscle requires a great deal of heavy lifting and/ or supplementation with testosterone, the male hormone. In short, it ain’t gonna happen unless you really want it to.

Second, everybody needs muscle… that’s how we move our bodies . Period. As we age or omit weight training from our weekly regimen, muscle loss occurs naturally. It has been determined that men lose 10% of their muscle mass each decade after 40. So, after age 60, a non-weight training male, who left his high school weight room (and testosterone) behind, has already lost 20-30% of his muscle mass. Guess what replaces that muscle guys? Fat, of course. It’s similar with women, but as they rarely had the muscle mass in the first place, the loss is more acute…… and evident.

The key is to challenge yourself without risking injury. Weight machines are generally safer than free weights. Getting some pointers from a certified trainer is likely the best investment you can make, and joining a gym is even tax deductible in some cases.

Additionally, classes or going to a gym give us that “social interaction” that psychologists tell us is the critical factor against age related decline. I have found that sweat is an adhesive…. It sticks friends together.

Being a bit sore in our muscles after a workout is a good thing… joints not a good thing…. Go easy. And like the shampoo bottle says.. Lather, Rinse, Repeat… twice a week. As always, check with your doctor.

Here’s to living your best life.

Yours in health,

NeuraVite support team