Healthy Living Magazine

Though weight gain is something most people deal with at some point, obesity is an extreme example of uncontrolled weight gain can become. The Center for disease control estimates that over one third of the US adult population is considered obese. Defining obese as a person with over 30% body fat. This degree of obesity can cause life-threatening complications such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, certain types of cancers and even death. Fortunately, most cases of obesity are completely preventable. Living a healthy lifestyle with the right diet and exercise routine ensures weight loss and prevents future weight gain and even diseases.

A regular fitness routine, in addition to a healthy diet is a crucial part of weight loss. Exercising regularly and eating healthy is the most beneficial way to lose pounds and keep them off. Exercise also reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Exercising regularly increases the body’s muscle mass and stamina. Increasing muscle mass is a great way to fight off extra pounds lose weight. The average person should be including at least 150 minutes of physical activity into his or her week to maintain a stable weight and balance caloric intake.

Staying in shape doesn’t require elaborate workout routines; running, walking and swimming are simple, great exercise methods that quickly mold fat pounds into muscle. For those desiring a more individualized experience, Personal trainers help by providing motivation and assistance to key areas that need work. They assist with diet and personalized exercise routines that are specific for the individual’s needs.

Workout videos such as Zumba fitness and the Jullian Michaels videos provide fast and fun core workouts for those wishing to exercise in the comfort of his or her own home. Even certain entertainment systems, such as Nintendo Wii and Xbox have paired with Nike and EA sports to provide interactive workout games that are extremely effective and provide a great workout alternative for those who are unable to exercise outside or in a gym.

Even when there is not time for an entire workout, there are always ways to fit fitness into an everyday schedule. Parking further from destinations adds further walking distance and gets in added walking time. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator whenever possible is a great way to burn calories and include exercise into everyday life. Taking walks around during lunch breaks burns calories at a time when most people are simply sitting and taking in more calories.

They say that life starts at 40 and it is true, provided you take good care of yourself. The secret to healthy aging is to maintain your shape by working out regularly and growing your muscle mass. You do not have to become a bodybuilder, but the more muscle you have, the better your body will perform and the fewer age related illnesses you will encounter.

Why is muscle health important while aging? Your muscle mass determines how elastic your joints are. However, as you grow older, not only do your joints become less flexible, you also begin losing muscle mass, leading to the common problem of creaky joints. Resistance training helps you avoid this issue by letting you grow back the muscle mass that you lose with age, letting you stay energetic and flexible for much longer.

Of course, fitness is key to healthy aging but that does not mean you should aim to become a professional bodybuilder in your 50s. In fact, the key to healthy aging is to accept that there are certain things you were able to do when you were 30 that you can no longer do at 40. Luckily, you do not have to do them in order to continue growing your muscle mass and even more moderate forms of fitness exercise can go a long way toward aging gracefully and healthfully.

What kind of exercise can you do to grow your muscle mass? First of all, leave the 100lb. dumbbells on the floor. You can use moderate forms of fitness exercise such as walking, cycling or swimming. Low-impact exercise like elliptical trainers, swimming and yoga are also extremely popular.

In fact, if you are truly committed to healthy aging, then it is important to combine resistance training and aerobic fitness exercise for maximum effect on your body. Try to separate your strength training days with evenings of aerobics, either going for a walk or spending some time on an elliptical trainer. Whatever schedule you choose, it is important to allow at least one day a week for your body to rest and recuperate. Remember that the key to using fitness as a tool of healthy aging is moderation.

One of the most important elements of healthy aging is changing your lifestyle. As we grow older, our lifestyle becomes increasingly passive and if you do not change that, sore and creaky joints are sure to follow. It is important to fit as many physical activities into your daily life as you can for example, try to set aside some time to go for a walk in the evening or visit a swimming pool several times a week. If you are serious about healthy aging, some form of physical activity must become a daily part of your life. Also, remember to stretch. Limber tendons and muscles prevent any number of ailments.

Sometimes it can be very difficult to motivate oneself to leave the comfort of your house and go for a walk or a swim. A cure for this is finding a buddy who is as interested in healthy aging as you are. Your buddy will push and nag you when you do not feel like working out, giving you all the motivation you need to commit some time to your fitness activities.

Ultimately, fitness is indispensable for healthy aging. It can sometimes be difficult to get started and force yourself into a more physically active routine, but you will find that, after a while, the going will get easier and you will start looking forward to getting out of the office and going for a short walk or swim. When that happens, you know that you are well on your way to healthy aging success.