It is never too late to start working on your fitness and toning up your body. In fact, many women over the age of 50 find that regular exercise and healthy eating habits help them to look and feel their best. There are a number of different ways to tone your body, depending on your specific goals.
Include strength training to rebuild lost muscle mass. Trying to get back in shape is frustrating at any age; but it can be even more discouraging when you're older and wondering whether it's even possible. Rest assured, getting fit after 50 is absolutely possible.
It's better when you spread it out over 3 days or more, for a minimum of 10 minutes at a time. Also spend time at least twice a week specifically working the muscles in your legs, hips, back, abs, chest, shoulders, and arms.
Lifting weights is a great way to build muscle strength, but when you're over 50 there is no reason to push yourself too hard. Try a slightly lighter weight that you can safely do 10 to 12 reps with.
It's never too late to build muscle and strength. You can build muscle no matter your age. A proven strength training program for building muscle after 50 is to lift two or three days per week, doing 10 sets per muscle and week, with about 8–15 reps per set. Eat a healthy high-protein diet.
Walking, jogging, swimming, and dance exercise are good ones to try. Aerobic exercise works the large muscles in your body, benefitting your cardiovascular system -- and your weight. Work up to getting 20 or more minutes per session, 3 or 4 days a week.
Vitamin D may be protective for muscle loss; a more alkalinogenic diet and diets higher in the anti-oxidant nutrients vitamin C and vitamin E may also prevent muscle loss.
How many sets and reps are best for over 50s? Traditional weight training for optimal strength goals involves three to five sets of eight to twelve reps, but that may be unwise as spine and knee problems can occur when working with heavy resistance.
When it comes to seeing the physical results of your strength training and diet regime, most fitness trainers agree that it will take a few weeks for results to show. If you train consistently, then you should notice an increase in your muscle size from six to nine weeks of strength training.
Experts agree that working out regularly is one of the keys to better abs, with a mix of cardio work, strength training and abdominal exercises. “Whether it's weights or swimming or something else, you have to put in the work,” Marrs says.
Instead of slowing down after you turn 50, you should keep cardio exercise a part of your lifestyle. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults of any age get at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week, which equals about 30 minutes a day, five days each week.
If you're over 50 years old, you should be lifting weights at least three times a week in order to maintain muscle mass and bone density. However, if you are looking to build muscle or lose weight, you will need to increase the frequency of your workouts.
Though the age period that defines middle age is somewhat arbitrary, differing greatly from person to person, it is generally defined as being between the ages of 40 and 60.
Historically, the United Nations has defined an "older" person as anyone 60 years or older, regardless of that person's individual history or where in the world they live.
Middle age is the period of age beyond young adulthood but before the onset of old age. The exact range is disputed, but the general consensus has placed middle age as the ages of 40s (more specifically from about 45) to 60s (to about 64, normally "third age" starts at 65).
Instead, the weight gain is usually related to aging, as well as lifestyle and genetic factors. For example, muscle mass typically diminishes with age, while fat increases. Losing muscle mass slows the rate at which your body uses calories (metabolism). This can make it more challenging to maintain a healthy weight.
Around 50 years of age, we need to increase the protein in our diets to one gram per kilogram of our body weight to maintain muscle mass. People that exercise regularly also need to eat more protein than the recommended daily intake.
Squats are a great exercise choice at any age, but especially for older individuals. This exercise activates both core and leg muscles, helps with posture and balance, and helps preserve bone density.
Protein intake can be increased by eating more lean red meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy. If clients struggle with getting more protein in their diet, a supplement can help. They can sip on a whey protein shake after their workout, giving their body the nutrients it needs to help muscles grow.