<![CDATA[OLD LADIES ON FIRE

I mean, we all know that, of course. We know that we need strong bones, strong muscles, and strong joints, especially as we age and become more susceptible to breaks, injuries and degeneration. But did you know that every ten years after you pass age 30 you'll lose 5 - 10% of your muscle mass? As women, we lose muscle faster than men our age, and it's harder to replace.
So, that means resistance training, done purposefully and regularly, with bodyweight, weights or other equipment like resistance bands or tubing shouldn't be a maybe.

The benefits of resistance training?

It puts strain and pressure on the bones and muscles which activates cellular growth, helping you to keep and sustain bone density and lessen bone thinning - which means (hopefully) no broken hips!
It builds strong muscles which helps keep our joints stable - so critical for keeping us balanced, avoiding injuries, and even addressing pain.
It helps to manage weight gain. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn, even at rest.
It improves your posture, sleep, metabolism and balance.
It can help to manage illnesses like diabetes, arthritis and depression.

Now what?

Make it easy. But do it several times a week.
You can start with just your body weight. Use the stairs for step ups and the wall for pushups. Google some bodyweight exercises for muscle building. Or come to a bootcamp :).

“It’s like retirement savings: The more you invest in your muscles, the larger the base you have to function longer.”

Jennifer Jakobi, Professor in the School of Health and Exercise Sciences at the University of British Columbia.

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