To stay active as you age, certain types of exercise are better than others. Find out which ones are most effective for warding off feebleness.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
THE CLAIM: Aerobic exercise is more important than strength training.
Say the word “exercise,” and most of us think aerobic or cardio activities, like walking and running, which, as we’ve all heard, are crucial for good health.
But strength training such as weight lifting often gets short shrift, even among those who work out regularly, especially women. In fact strength training has benefits that you don’t get from cardio and the case for doing it is just as strong.
Strength training can be done with weights, resistance bands, household objects like cans or bottles or without any equipment, just your own body weight.
Like aerobic exercise, it’s been shown to improve cardiovascular health, help control blood sugar and keep bones strong.
But strength training also does something that cardio can’t: slow the loss of muscle mass that happens gradually starting at age 30.
Eventually, this can make it hard to do everyday activities like climbing stairs or getting up from a chair. So by heading off this decline, strength training can help you maintain your quality of life as you age.
What’s more, it can improve your appearance by decreasing body fat and increasing muscle definition..
But women shouldn’t fear that strength training will bulk them up. That requires higher levels of testosterone than females typically have.
To learn what exercises to do and how to do them properly, you can watch videos online from reputable sources, take fitness classes, or work with a personal trainer.
It’s also a good idea to check with a health care provider to make sure your workout routine is safe for you, especially if you have a condition such as heart disease, diabetes or arthritis.
Strength training may seem intimidating at first, but remember that it’s not just for athletes and bodybuilders — it’s something everyone can and should do, regardless of age, gender, or fitness level. Your body will thank you.
For the truth about more fitness-related claims, check out my book, Fitter Faster. You’ll also learn how to slash your workout time and get even better results.
Helping you be a healthy skeptic, I’m Robert Davis.