We used to accept with a shrug the inevitable decline in a persons physical and mental abilities as they grew older. Maybe we can remember our grandparents, thin, frail and weak. Maybe they could not take care of themselves and were forced to go into a nursing home.

The process of humans losing their muscle strength as they age is called sarcopenia – a Greek word for “vanishing flesh” What we once considered to be a normal part of the aging process is now predicted to be one of the biggest health problems the world will face in the future.

Because of our dwindling physical activity levels due to our modern technology driven lifestyles our bodies no longer have the work load our ancestors did to simply stay alive. As this has only been happening for the last 100 years or so our genes have not yet had time to adjust to this change. The end result is our bodies have responded with a melt down of our muscle mass and strength as it is no longer needed. We can now find food and a roof over our heads with hardly any physical exertion needed.

What might be the most important step you can take, not just to slow down the aging process, but to reverse it? The answer is a properly put together exercise program incorporating at least 60% strength training exercise along with cardiovascular interval training.

Proper instruction from a Fitness Professional will ensure results and safety in the quickest time frame.

As little as 3 – 4 months of proper training can reverse as much as 20 – 30 years of decline in strength and function. How’s that for reclaiming your youth?

Millions of people all over the world will become weak and frail as they age due to severe loss of muscle mass and strength. The really good news is you do not have to be one of them.

We are lucky to be living in an age where we now have knowledge and an increasing awareness that there are things that can be done in order to stay active, healthy and vibrant throughout our entire lifetime. Our health span can now equal our life span.

Let’s choose to not take for granted our ability to remain vibrant and active throughout our life without any effort on our part. We must take steps immediately to ensure this as we do have an influence on finishing the race of life strong.

Carolyn Hansen has worked in the Fitness Industry or over 30 years. Currently the co-owner of 2 Fitness Centres in Northland New Zealand. A National Champion Bodybuilder with over 25 years competition experience. Enjoys writing health and fitness articles for local newspapers and magazines. If you want a second chance to right the wrongs you have committed against your body, you can be rejuvenated. You can regain vitality, muscular strength, endurance and a higher quality of life. Go to http://www.over50looking30.com for a FREE Report “I’ve Discovered the Fountain of Youth” – Let Me Show You Too!

Just exercising doesn’t do much to strengthen muscles. If it did, marathon runners would have the largest muscles. To become strong, you have to exercise your muscles against progressively greater resistance.

Just exercising doesn’t strengthen bones either. Female marathon runners sometimes stop menstruating and lose tremendous amounts of bone, even though they may run more than 100 miles a week. To regain bone, they have to eat more food which will usually start them menstruating again, and include weight-lifting in their workouts. They may also need to take estrogen.

Many people with muscle or nerve diseases can also benefit from lifting weights. They may be unable to work out as long or as hard as a healthy person and they will take longer to recover from their workouts. However, if they stop exercising when their muscles feel heavy or hurt and they take off when their muscles feel sore, they can make dramatic increases in strength.

Anyone starting a weight training program should be guided by an experienced instructor. Exercise with several different machines two or three times a week, never on consecutive days. On each exercise, use the heaviest weight you can lift comfortably eight or ten times in a row without losing your form. Do three sets of ten repetitions on each machine. Then allow at least 48 hours for your muscles to recover. Do not lift again until the soreness is gone.

Also see How to become very strong

Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties. For more information and hundreds of fitness and health reports, visit http://www.DrMirkin.com

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