You can build muscle at any age, but it's probably the most important way to get fit over fifty. Simply put, some form of strength and resistance training is essential as we age because stronger muscles = stronger bones = fewer injuries.
It's never too late. Many people starting out with exercise in middle age are discouraged because they think it's probably too late to reap real benefits. In fact, the opposite is true. Studies show that it's never too late to start realising benefits from exercise.
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.
Aerobic cardio one or two times per week for 30 to 45 minutes. Cardio interval work one time per week for 20 to 35 minutes. Resistance training intervals (lower weights, high volume) one time per week for 25 to 40 minutes. Resistance training with heavier weights one time per week for 30 to 40 minutes.
Although it can be more difficult to lose weight after a person reaches 50 years of age, there are many lifestyle changes that they can make to help them reach and maintain a moderate weight. These include cooking more meals at home, cutting down on sugary drinks and snacks, and getting more exercise.
“It is 100% possible to regain or to build muscle mass at age 50 or older,” agrees Rufo. “To build muscle mass, there should be a major focus on nutrition and diet. Ensuring that you're consuming the proper amount of protein (this is our favorite) is critical to muscle development.
Help keep your weight steady. Lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, colon cancer and diabetes. Strengthen your bones, and prevent osteoporosis and osteoarthritis (regular walking could halve the number of people over 45 who fracture their hip). Help reduce blood pressure in some people with hypertension.
In addition to changes in muscle, ligaments and tendons (which attach muscle to bone), also change. As a result of these changes (which include increased dehydration and "brittleness"), adults over 50 experience increased healing time. Injuries such as tendonitis become more likely over time.
No matter what your age, you can improve your fitness.
If it's been a long time since you've exercised and you're feeling less than fit, you might think that it's too late to make a change. But you're wrong. You can improve your fitness at any age.
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.
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.
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.
If you're overweight, focus on activities that put minimal stress on your joints, like walking, swimming, or water exercises. If the idea of 150 minutes of exercise every week sounds daunting, break your workout routine into smaller chunks. Your goal should be to get 30 minutes of exercise a day, five days a week.
How can you start exercising safely if you are simply unfit? We want you to get to 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, or 75 minutes of high-intensity exercise, but start slower and build more gradually. A good way to start would possibly be a 10-minute walk three times a week. Then gradually increase.
“Reduce your intake of refined sugars and starches, eat more protein and whole foods, and exercise regularly,” Yancy suggests, echoing the results of a number of studies, including one published in 2018 in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism.
Walking might not be the most strenuous form of exercise, but it is an effective way to get in shape and burn fat. While you can't spot-reduce fat, walking can help reduce overall fat (including belly fat), which, despite being one of the most dangerous types of fat, is also one of the easiest to lose.