Friday, January 2, 2009

Training Your Body After Your 40th Birthday

By Ricardo d Argence

When it comes to work outs and staying in shape that age factor is a definite factor in how you will approach your fitness regimen,but they say that age is just a number. Some use being over the age of 40 as an excuse not regularly workout or live in a healthy style.

Do not use your age as an excuse to avoid physical fitness. If you approach weight training, diet and work outs the correct way you can maintain a remarkably healthy and fit body for many years, regardless of your age. Routine bodybuilding, along with weightlifting regimens can be used by you to lose weight, reshape your body, become more fit and healthier, and increase your bone density.

Feeling better about yourself starts with keeping physically fit, as it is not a well kept secret that those that take better care of them selves are happy in life. Physical activity also releases endorphins, which induce feelings of happiness in people who exercise.

Starting with the basics, once you reach the age of 40 you have to make some changes to your workout, however it doesn't mean that you have to act the victim of false truths regarding aging. When people get older, we have to stretch and warm up before we exercisng because are muscles and joints become less limber.

A time frame of 15 minutes is needed for stretching routines so you can increase flexibilty and lessen the chance for muscle pain, sprains or other damage. Your muscles will become better conditioned the more complete you stretch.

Now you should do fifteen minutes worth of cardio exercises on an elliptical training machine, a stair stepper or an exercise bike. You are not attempting to reach your limit with this one; however, you do want your heart rate to increase and to continue to develop your limberness and flexibilty. This exercise will let your body know that you are serious about doing some work.

You will want to follow this warm up by doing reps with the correct weights, you should consider light weights for this workout, if in addition to this you are doing circuit training or a free weight routine you will not have the stress of heavy weights.

The pyramid system is preferred among numerous bodybuilders, this system involves performing more reps with less weight, and then as you increase the amount of weight, you start reducing the number of reps that you do. This method of weightlifting has great success for those who want to add muscle and bulk to their bodies. Focusing on proper form throughout the lift must be uppermost in your mind, even though doing so may require that you reduce the weight or the number of repetitions. This does not only reduce your risk of an injury, but it also maximizes your results.

You should be training with weights at least four days per week and each session should be no more than 30 to 45 minutes. One could repeat a cardio workout to wind down after lifting weight. This also give your heart and lungs strength. - 15995

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