Repeated research has shown that, through weight training, men and women in their 60s and beyond can grow muscles as big and strong as an average 40-year-old.
It's Never Too Late to Build Muscle
Though you might not see improvement in days, you likely will in weeks. For example, one German review found measurable increases in muscle size occur in as little as six to nine weeks of consistent strength training in adults older than 60.
But research indicates that protein requirements increase with age. Recommendations for how much protein is enough for older people vary, but current studies suggest that most people over age 65 should take in about 1 g to 1.2 g of protein/kg of body weight per day to both gain and maintain muscle mass and function.
No matter your age, you can get in shape and build muscle through regular exercise. Strength training is particularly beneficial because it promotes hypertrophy and improves bone mineral density.
Most researchers advise training at least three times a week but not more than six. If you are using resistance-training equipment, then allow for a two-minute rest period between each machine. Training the low back muscles once a week seems to be just as effective as doing it more often.
Strength training is the secret to muscle growth for older adults. It's best to do this with light weights and to work slowly. Slow movements with lighter weights force your muscles to work harder. If you don't have a set of weights, you can use your body weight with resistance exercises like push-ups and squats.
Typically, muscle mass and strength increase steadily from birth and reach their peak at around 30 to 35 years of age. After that, muscle power and performance decline slowly and linearly at first, and then faster after age 65 for women and 70 for men.
Whey Protein Shakes May Help Build Muscle Mass in Seniors. Researchers say protein shakes combined with exercises showed significant health benefits in a group of men over the age of 70. Senior citizens may want to take a tip from body builders and make whey protein shakes a regular part of their diets.
Studies indicate that whey protein supplements promote protein synthesis in the elderly, improving muscle performance and aerobic capacity, protecting against sarcopenia and reducing the risk for falls.
The rate of decline varies, with inactive seniors losing more than others. Researchers estimate that, generally, those between ages 60 and 70 have lost 12 percent of their muscle mass, with those over 80 having lost 30 percent. This loss is not just about sagging skin and flabby arms.
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.
“Research shows that, even into your late 80s, your body still has the potential to build muscle mass,” Stacy Schroder, director of wellness at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, said.
10 to 15 reps per exercise to start; 8 to 12 reps per exercise later on. Start slowly with training and build up. Don't resistance train the same muscle groups more often than every other day. Gradually increase resistance or weights over time.
Switch back and forth between aerobic and strength exercises, working up to at least 30 minutes of exercise, five days each week. Find activities you enjoy. In general, find something new that you enjoy or activities you enjoyed in the past, and get moving. You might try walking, bicycling, sports, dancing or pilates.
In order to flatten your belly in your senior years, you'll need a multi-pronged health approach that includes a healthy diet, regular cardiovascular exercise to burn calories and strength training exercises to tone the underlying abdominal muscles.
Gaining Muscle Mass by Lifting Weights
Resistance exercise like weight training is one of the best ways of reversing the loss of muscle mass as you age. It benefits both men and women. Both groups typically lose muscle mass because levels of testosterone or estrogen go down as you age.
Seniors Can Still Bulk Up On Muscle By Pressing Iron Our muscle mass decreases at surprising rates as we get older. But researchers found that people older than 50 can not only maintain but actually increase their muscle mass by lifting weights.
Of the 596 genes, the researchers identified 179 associated with age and exercise that showed a remarkable reversal in their expression profile after six months of resistance training. This literally means that resistance training not only can slow down but also reverse the aging process at the genetic level.
Repeated research has shown that, through weight training, men and women in their 60s and beyond can grow muscles as big and strong as an average 40-year-old.
Taking a high dose of creatine for a short period of time is considered safe for older adults. For example, two common dosages are: 20 grams per day for 7 days followed by 10 grams per day for 7 days. 20 grams per day for 10 days followed by 4 grams per day for 20 days.