Well we have hit the end of our fitness series on the decades starting with your 20’s and ending here today with the 50’s.
Hopefully at this point in life, a fit lifestyle has already been in place. This can be a difficult period because your metabolism drastically slows down and with menopause; there is a greater chance of gaining some weight.
You will also notice a loss in muscle mass and a less toned body. But don’t let this discourage you. There are some things that change with age and can’t be completely stopped. However you can still do something to keep yourself from completely falling apart.
Weight training is the perfect type of exercise during the 50’s. This will help in slowing down the loss of muscle mass. But cardio should continue to be a part of your regimen. At this point you should be doing about 20 to 40 minutes of cardio, 4 to 6 times per week.
You also want to make sure that you are stretching before and after exercising, since the older you get the greater the chance of injury. Stretching can help prevent injuries.
At this point, you also want to make sure that you are keeping up an active lifestyle that goes beyond an exercise program. Walking and yoga are additional ways. Yoga is very helpful in posture and balance, both of which can become a problem as you age. Walking keeps you moving, something that is just as important.
This is not the time to live a sedentary lifestyle. In fact, you are more likely to have greater freedom during this decade and could possibly be in the stage where you are becoming grandparents. You want to be healthy for your grandchildren.
While I look at the 40’s as being the “fabulous 40’s,” I also look at the 50’s as being the “fantastic 50’s.” Keeping fit can be a reality no matter what your age.
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