over 40 transformation workout - my 10 steps

The 8 Best Fat Loss Exercises for Men Over 40 (Try These Today)

Obesity And Overweight: Five Diseases And Health Conditions

A health care professional can readily tell if you are obese, overweight, or healthy by simply measuring your Body Mass Index, or BMI, in short. It effectively determines your weight in proportion to your height and the further it goes outside the scope of the standard range, the greater your odds are of developing a host of critical health issues from obesity and overweight.

Accomplishing and sustaining a healthy weight is something that cannot be achieved overnight and might turn out to be a challenging task for obese and overweight individuals in the long-term. Ensuring a healthy weight through appropriate means or at least preventing yourself from gaining more weight can help overweight people reduce the likelihood of developing specific medical conditions.

Obesity is on the verge of becoming a national epidemic in the USA and is associated with several chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. The grave medical condition is responsible for an astounding 18% mortality rate in the age group of 40 to 85 among American population, as observed by a health research study carried out in 2013, questioning the deeply-rooted, prevailing notion of the medical and scientific community that a mere 5 in every 100 deaths in the country are related to obesity. The new finding essentially suggests that it is as fatal as cigarette smoking, when it comes to the discussion of public health hazards, as the particular way of nicotine consumption can be linked to 20 in every 100 deaths in the USA and is acknowledged as the major preventable cause of mortality in the country.

Almost 2 in every 5 American adults were diagnosed with obesity in 2015-16, which is a significant increase from 34% in 2007-08, and its impact became more profound with a steep increase from 5.7% to 7.7% during that time. While not a single state reported an obesity rate of over 15% in 1985, as many as 5 of them registered rates higher than 35% for the year 2016.

Obesity and overweight are often associated with emotional health issues like depression. People who are either obese or overweight may also experience weight bias as well as face the stigma of the medical care services providers and others, which, in turn, can result in guilt, feeling of rejection, or shame, further worsening the prevailing problems concerning one's mental well-being.

The major diseases and health complications caused by obesity and overweight are illustrated below in brief.

I. TYPE 2 DIABETES
When the blood glucose concentration becomes abnormally high on a permanent basis, the particular medical condition is termed as type 2 diabetes. About 4 in every 5 individuals with the said form of diabetes are known to be either obese or overweight. High blood sugar levels can manifest a large number of medical conditions, such as stroke, heart conditions, eye issues, neuropathic damage, eye problems, and other health issues.
Allowing yourself to engage in periodic physical activities and reducing 5% to 7% of your weight may prevent or postpone type 2 diabetes onset in the event you belong to the risk group for the particular disease.

II. HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
When the blood passes through the blood vessels in your body with significantly more force, the particular medical condition is known as hypertension, or more commonly, high blood pressure. It can cause an alarmingly great level of damage to your blood vessels, strain your heart, and help increase the odds of stroke, kidney disease, heart attack, and even death.

III. HEART DISEASE
The umbrella term heart disease is routinely used to indicate a wide and diverse gamut of medical conditions that can affect the overall well-being of the organ. If you are diagnosed with heart disease, you are at a greater risk of having heart failure, sudden cardiac death, angina, heart attack, or a heart rhythm that is not considered normal. Elevated fat levels in your bloodstream, high blood sugar concentrations, and high blood pressure may increase the odds of heart disease. Blood lipids or blood fats necessarily refer to triglycerides, High-Density Lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol, and Low-Density lipoprotein or LDL cholesterol. Reducing 5% to 10% of your body mass is likely to help you mitigate the risks of developing heart disease and can help improve your blood flow, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure.

IV. STROKE
If there is a blockage or an incidence of blood vessel rupture in your neck or brain, it causes the blood supply in your brain to restrain all on a sudden, and the particular medical condition is known as stroke. A stroke can cause reversible or irreversible damage to your brain, resulting in partial or complete paralysis and thus, making you incapable of speaking or initiating body movements. To suffice, hypertension is recognized as being the vital cause of strokes.

V. SLEEP APNEA
Sleep apnea is a medical condition when an individual does not breathe frequently and is pretty much common in a large number of people around the globe. One may also cease breathing altogether for small intervals. If the said sleeping disorder continues to remain undiagnosed and untreated, it may increase the odds of other critical health issues, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Sudarsana Chakrabarti is a primary and urgent care doctor in Homer Glen, Illinois. She is actively engaged in health blogging over a decade and has penned umpteen blogs, articles, and guest posts concerning numerous medical complications and disease prevention/treatment, such as diabetes and blood glucose (sugar) monitoring, migraine and headaches, allergy testing, hypertension (high blood pressure), cough, rash, and sore throat, to name a few.

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The Benefits of Swimming Over Running

Whether you choose to run or swim, they both help you lose weight and improve cardio fitness. It's just the advantages of swimming outweigh those of running for many reasons.

What's so good about Swimming?

• Resistance effect in water - strengthens the body
• Burns Calories
• Keeps blood pressure down - good cardiovascular workout without straining the heart.
• Weightlessness of water - no stress on the joints, lengthens the spine

Resistance Effect

A great natural advantage to swimming is the resistance effect. Water is 1000 times more dense than air, so when you swim, it's like weight training without the dumbbells. The water itself is your weight training.

You get a full body workout when you swim that puts little stress on your joints. You engage the muscles of the upper and lower body. This includes the legs, core, the upper and lower back, the arms, shoulders and chest.

Just like weight training, swimming engages and tones muscle due to the resistance. Although running is a great cardio workout, it does little to enhance a dynamic muscular body.

Burns the Calories

A moderate-intensity workout classifies keeping your heart-rate at 50-70 % of maximum heart rate.

A rigorous workout runs at 70-85 % max heart-rate. After an intensive 30 minute breaststroke swim, you can burn up to 300 calories. This can vary according to your weight. The heavier you are, the more calories you burn. By burning 500 calories more than you eat every day, you can lose a pound of fat a week. Okay, this does not sound much. But think long-term. After a month you can lose about 4-5 pounds - almost half a stone. Multiply that by 6 months and you have lost 2 stone of body fat.

Why Swimming helps the Heart Work More Efficiently?

When the body is in an upright position (e.g. when run or jump),the heart has to work hard to pump blood and oxygen to and from the lower extremities. This increase demand on the heart can lead to spikes in blood pressure - not good for the heart.

The American College of Sports Medicine states: 'Swimming works the cardiovascular system without causing major increases in blood pressure.' Because the body is in a horizontal position whilst swimming, the heart does have to work as hard. There is almost no gravity involved, so the blood pressure stays down.

The Weightlessness of Water

Yet another benefit swimming has over running, is the weightlessness effect in water. At the end of every stroke - breast stroke, freestyle etc, your body stretches out. Because the water holds your body up, it enables you to stretch out whilst in motion. The spine can then lengthen, elongating the gaps between the vertebrae.

Physiotherapists encourage patients with disc problems to swim because of this spine lengthening effect. It takes pressure off the discs.

Benefits and Risks of Running

Running generally has great benefits.

It reduces the chances of contracting:-

• Type 2 Diabetes
• Depression
• Cardiovascular disease

It improves:-

• Bone density
• Weight control

The risks of long distance running without a supervised trainer needs consideration though. They can advice you on nutrition, rest and good running technique. For safety reasons:- A medical check to look out for heart conditions, bio mechanical issues or other risk factors are a must.

Marathon running over extends the immune system. It makes the body produce excessive amounts of cortisol to reduce swelling. The advice to runners is to increase vitamin C, get plenty of sleep and avoid outside stresses. This helps recuperation and boosts immunity.

To Sum Up

I do not want to put runners off what they obviously love doing. It's health benefits are undeniable. However, long distance running does put enormous strains on the ankle, hip and knee joints.

Swimming has pluses for strength, weight loss, low joint stress and cardiovascular endurance.

There's no negative points about swimming apart from the necessity to learn how to swim. It can be a problem for many who were not introduced to the water at an early age. I say, it's never too late to learn. Swimming lessons are not expensive and there are plenty of instructors pool side whatever venue you choose.

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My Diet + Exercise Routine | Over 50

Over 70yro Super Buff Grandpas | Grandpa Bodybuilders | Age Is Just A Number

3 Reasons Why Women Over 50 Should Lift Weight

Most of my clients are women over the age of 50. As a group, I can say that they are the hardest working and most dedicated clients that a personal trainer could ask for. Hard working, dedicated, and totally focused on getting better and stronger. Girls definitely rule when it comes to training.

The biggest request I get when starting with a new client is "I need to get rid of this fat around my (fill in the blank)". The impression is that if they do tons of crunches, they will lose the fat that has accumulated around their bellies. It doesn't quite work that way. Exercises targeting a specific part of the anatomy doesn't burn-up all the fat in that one area. Sorry.

In addition to accumulating a little extra padding in those "problem areas", there are other changes happening in your body after 50. Here are just a few of the most common adaptations to age:

• Menopause ends the childbearing years
• Gray hair replaces natural hair color
• Vision fades requiring reading glasses
• Gravity starts to take over as everything starts to sag a bit
• Skin loses it's normal elasticity and feels loose
• Thickness around the waist and hips start to form

I could go on, but let's stop there. There is no way to stop the natural aging process. At 59, I am amazed at how my body has changed over the past 20 years. With every 12-month turn of the calendar, I have to work harder to just keep-up. Since I know I cannot stop the aging process, my goal is to simply slow it down a bit, and that should be yours as well.

Perhaps one of the best ways to slow down the effects of aging after 50 is to lift weight. Now, I'm not talking about the little 2-pound dumbbells. I'm talking REAL weight. Here are 3 reasons why you need to lift weight after 50:

1. Bone Density

You think drinking milk and taking calcium supplements is going to keep your bones strong and hold off the dreaded "hump back" caused by osteoporosis? Think again.

The best way to build strong bones is by lifting heavy weight. Think about it for a second - When you pick up something heavy, your brain (being the super smart computer it is) determines that you need a little more thickness in that arm-bone or else it will snap like a twig. So, when you consistently hoist heavy weight, growth hormone is produced and new bone cells created to increase the density and strength of the skeletal structure(your arm).

This is called "anatomical adaptation", and it is the fastest and best way to get your bones strong.

2. Burn Fat

Would you like to turn you body into a little "fat burning machine"? No problem. Just start lifting heavy weight. When you lift weight, your body produces lean muscle mass, which takes calories to support. This increases your basal metabolic rate and helps you to burn more calories during the day.

The more muscle you build, the more calories you burn. If the body does not have a ready source of sugar available, it will start utilizing body fat for energy. This is where good nutrition comes in. But needless to say, if you are lifting weight and building lean muscle, you will reduce the fat around your waist, hips, thighs, and arms.

3. Feel Awesome

I know this one doesn't sound very scientific, but lifting weight will elevate your mood and make you feel like you can do anything.

Seriously.

When you lift heavy weight, your body produces endorphins, which interact with the receptors in your brain and reduce your perception of pain. Endorphins also trigger a "positive feeling" in your body similar to that of morphine. In essence, you get "high" when you workout with weights.

Lifting weight is less dangerous and certainly less expensive than taking drugs, both legal and illegal. It is very cool for me to be greeted at the door with a scowl (I'm not in the mood to train) only to have my client give me a huge energized smile when I leave. Yup, those endorphin thing really do work.

So, if you are a woman over 50, then give lifting weight a try. My advice is to work with certified personal trainer who can show you the right exercises and how to do them safely. A good trainer will also help you progress the movements and weight so that you keep getting stronger. If you need any help, just let me know.

About The Author
Mike Christie, personal trainer and nutritional counselor, invites you to visit https://goo.gl/7k7sbX for more weight loss, fitness, and nutrition articles like this one. You may also feel free to contact Mike by email at mike@mikechristiepersonaltrainer.com for fitness and nutrition advice and questions

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Only 4 Exercises to Hit Every Muscle!

Exercises for Older People Just Starting Out

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We always encourage older people to begin an exercise program, but when they are just starting out it is important to know how to exercise safely. Whoever you are exercising has to meet that person's needs, and obviously by starting a program when at 60 those requirements aren't going to be the same as somebody who is exercising at 30 years old. First, a consultation with a doctor is always recommended just to be informed of what the exercise plan will be.

Then you can get started. This following routine will get your body going if you do them three or four times a week. These are some of the simple exercises that will get you started:

1. Knee lifts. As we age our hips and core can lose some suppleness if we fail to keep them full flexed. Do these by starting with your feet about shoulders apart. With hands on hips put all of your weight on your right foot, bend your left knee toward your chest. After one minute do this with the other leg. This will also be an excellent exercise for balance. To begin you might want to use a hand on the wall for support.

2. Calf raises. This is a great workout for strengthening the calve muscles. While standing with your feet shoulder distance apart, lift up on your toes slowly. Hold that position for a couple of seconds and then drop back down to your heels. Repeat this for one minute. To add intensity as you progress you can carry small weights in your hands. If you want to work on balance do the same motion but only one foot at a time.

3. Step and tap. This is another great exercise for balance, but it is also good for a light aerobics workout. While standing imagine that there is a line on the ground next to you. Step sideways over that line one foot at a time, then when both feet are across that imaginary line step back with each foot. Do this for about one minute at whatever speed feels comfortable for you. As you advance you can bounce back and forth with both feet together.

4. Arm circles. One of the areas that can lock up when not used is the shoulder joints. Like the knees they are big joints and should be exercise regularly to keep that full range of motion you will need as you age. This is a great exercise for keeping the joints supple, and it is to stand with your arms on your side outward in a T-shape with your body. Begin moving your hands in a circular motion, graduate making wider and wider circles with your hands. After one minute makes circles in the opposite direction for a minute. This can be enhanced by holding small weights.

5. Standing crunches. We all know that crunches are great exercises for the abs, but they are quite difficult to do. Standing crunches are easier and will still give the abdominal muscles a workout. With your feet slightly wider than your shoulders lift your left arm above and over your right side until you feel the left side stretch. Bring your left elbow down and crunch to the left and compress your torso as you bring your left knee up. Have the feeling of pinching something between your elbow and knee. After returning to the original position, continue with this again for one minute and then switch sides.

Where you carry your weight has a lot to do with your overall health, as it is a  marker for issues [http://liverissues.com/hypertension-issues/liver-and-kidney/]  having to do with the kidneys and liver. Read more about how to put on good weight through diet and exercise on our website  http://muscle4weightloss.com/. Rich Carroll is a writer and avid health advocate now living in Chicago.

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Why Exercise? Here's Why

In my mid 30's I was diagnosed with some pretty severe health problems. I can recall the days that I was so run down and so sick, that my work days were shortened to about 3-4 hours a day. This made it tough for my clients because my best hours were from 10:00- 2:00. For that reason, most of my work had to be done from my home office.

During that time I would make it a point to go for a walk at 10:00 in the evening. This was extremely tough for me. As I struggled to make a mile, I wondered if I'd ever get my health back? Exercise and physical activity were always a huge part of my life. Now I spent the majority of my days in bed.

Around age 40 my wife really started to push me. Not in a way that was bad. But, in a way from inspiration. Slowly our walks became longer. I started to workout again in the mornings. While some days I could only manage 10 minutes. My thought process was 10 minutes beats 5. And given my health at that time, I was willing to take any little victory I could get.

Over the course of 3 decades working in mental health, I would often make lateral moves into the fitness industry as a consultant in health and wellness. Working with both local and national chains, I managed several weight loss programs. I knew how weight affected the individual both from a health and mental health standpoint. So, while I would focus on diet from a disease perspective, I would use exercise for overall wellness.

There is no doubt that we all can benefit from daily exercise. And you really do not need to invest in a lot of time to get results. Personally I strive for an hour a day 7 days a week. That's just feels right to me. When I finally was able to regain my health, I promised myself that I would do everything to preserve it. That said, you can see real results in as little as 20 minutes a day 3-4 times a week. What kind of results? Lets take a look at some of the benefits in regular exercise.

1. Reduce stress, depression and anxiety. Exercise has a direct effect on our brain chemistry. A good 30 minute walk or run should release those endorphins. When this happens, you'll feel less stress and increased energy.

2. Confidence does not come easily for most of us. How do we build it? Get moving. Exercise gets you feeling good. When you feel good, you tend to have a better self- image. Better self- image? Oh yeah. There's your confidence.

3. Slows down the aging process. More importantly the cognitive decline. Exercise will not stop this process completely. But, it will help slow it down. And the earlier you start to exercise, the better off you should be.

*Exercise is important at all stages of life. But for cognitive function, starting to exercise between the ages of 25-45 seem most important.

4. Can help control addiction. This can happen two- fold. First, as you exercise you brain releases dopamine {the feel good chemical.} For many in recovery this can be a good substitute. Secondly, exercise can give your life some sense of order, meaning that leads to self- worth. And as an added bonus, exercise that is built into your daily schedule can offer as a distraction for those cravings.

From time to time I hear someone argue that exercise is just another form of addiction. Well it can be. Just as food, porn, shopping and most anything else. But, ask yourself if you would rather be addicted to exercise or drugs? Be stronger than your excuses.

5. When the blood gets flowing we seem to become more creative. This especially happens when we exercise outdoors.

There are so many good reason to start exercising. Some of my biggest success with clients didn't come in the form of a mental health session. They came for a weight loss session. When a person has been diagnosed with several life threatening conditions and then they commit to a wellness process, that is a big success.

In my early 30's I received a call from a women who wanted to see me as a Hypnotherapist. However, when she arrived at my office and I was doing my intake on her, she went onto talk about how she was diagnosed with a brain tumour, breast cancer and several digestive disorders. I quickly thought to myself that my office manager gave me the wrong client file, and that she was there for end of life issues. Or to see the doctor that I worked alongside of. When I questioned her about what she was being seen for, she said without hesitation, I am here to lose 20 pounds so I look good in a bathing suit on vacation. Wow! I love it.

Over the next couple of weeks not only did we use hypnosis, but she was open to change. With some corrections to diet and adding some exercise, not only did she drop the weight, but her digestive problems faded away. I never did see her again after she left for vacation. I can't help but believe we added to the quality of life that she had before.

And just as I found out years later about the power of movement, there are no wonder drug to be found. But if there were, exercise would be one of them.

Now stop reading and get off the computer. Get yourself moving!

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Phil Jones 6 month body transformation

Great Benefits of Kettlebell Training

A Kettlebell is a piece of exercise equipment that strongly resembles a cannonball with a handle attached to it. These items are generally made from cast iron or cast steel. They were developed back in the 1700s in Russia. They have been used by athletes to increase their strength and they were even used by the Soviet army in their physical training for their troops.

Some Kettlebells are actually bags filled with sand instead of the cast iron cannonballs, but even the bags are uniquely shaped so they provide an unstable force. These items are often used in swinging motions and they provide excellent cardiovascular responses and they provide good strength training without the person having to repeat one exercise for several repetitions over a long period of time.

• Provides as much, if not more, cardio exercise as a treadmill does
• Can help you create functional strength in muscles without your having to do monotonous isolated repetitions
• Creates flexibility without requiring long, tedious poses
• It is a combination of strength training and cardio training
• You do not need a lot of expensive equipment to do the exercises
• Anyone, of any shape, size, or age can do some type of Kettlebell exercises
• The exercises are not boring because there is such a variety of things you can do
• This is the perfect exercise for people who have a limited amount of time to devote to their daily exercise regimen
• Kettlebell exercises helps to create a denser muscle mass and muscle burns more calories so it eliminates fat stores in the body at a higher rate than if you were simply engaging in cardio exercises. Cardio exercises get the blood flowing and improves circulation but when you really want to burn the fat away you have to include strength training
• Is effective at working every muscle in your body
• Kettlebells help to strengthen ligaments and tendons. The increased strength of ligaments and tendons means your joints will be stronger and less likely to be injured
• Kettlebell exercises do not cause women to bulk up in muscle mass like lifting traditional barbells will.
• It is very easy to learn how to use the Kettlebell exercises
• Kettlebell exercises increase your coordination

So exercising Kettlebells can not only be very much helpful for the athletes and they can increase their strength with the help of Kettlebells but also it can help other people too if they exercise it.

Using a Kettlebell will help you to get into shape faster with less stress on your joints. For help with Kettlebell workouts contact the experts at Zero Gravity Fitness.

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Benefits of Dance for Older People

Dancing is a past time enjoyed by many both young and old across the world on a daily basis. Whether it is dancing whilst listening to music whilst doing the housework or attending a weekly salsa class the beauty of dance is that it is really for everyone and can be enjoyed at any time.

However we would like to highlight the benefits of dance particularly for older adults.

Promotes physical activity

Older people are less likely to exercise however those who partake in regular physical activity are more likely to live longer as they maintain their balance, strength gait and cardiovascular health. Dance is great for older adults as it is a low level exercise that works all of the body from head to toe and encourages moving through a space, gets the heart pumping and provides the opportunity to gently move and stretch.

Promotes cognitive function

Older people typically experience a progressive decline in cognitive ability, memory and reaction time as they age. Learning dance steps and sequences can be mentally demanding and is a skill that needs to be developed but dancers are known to maximize cognitive function and muscle memory through practice. Dance also challenges reaction time and perception because of the quick thinking that is required to remember what step comes next.

Promotes Social Inclusion

Older people are especially vulnerable to loneliness and social isolation. Dance is a social activity where people meet weekly and form friendships. The best dance classes are the ones where the dancers go and have a coffee and a chat afterwards reducing the feeling of loneliness and isolation.

Improves mental wellbeing

Older people are more vulnerable to experiencing mental health problems, with depression affecting around 22% of men and 28% of women aged 65 years and over. Dance can help to reduce stress, increases levels of the feel-good hormone serotonin, and helps to develop new neural connections, especially in regions involved in executive function, long-term memory, and spatial recognition. Dance which is a meaningful activity can also encourage individuals to focus on activity for a sustained period and help individuals feel a sense of achievement when they have learnt the steps to a challenging routine.

Promotes self-expression

Older people may not get the opportunity to express their creativity and perhaps are no longer self-aware. Dancing can be powerful energy release that can release tension and provide you with the opportunity to explore your own range of movement and feelings. If you choose to dance to music then there are the added benefits of having songs as a stimulus which can also enhance your mood and also perhaps encourage reminisce.

So dust off your dancing shoes and Keep Dancing.

To find out more about opportunities for older adults take a look at http://www.fayeoconnordance.com/keep-dancing

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Best Ways to Lose Fat for Women Over 40 - The truth

10 Minute Kettlebell Workout for an efficient Total Body Workout

Ultimate Full-Body Dumbbell Workout | Andy Speer

No Excuses for Healthy Ageing Exercises

As we age there are a number of so-called reasons why we put off exercise. These are in fact only excuses and they can be easily debunked. In this piece we will cite why many people as they get older stop exercising and why in effect those excuses are nonsense. Exercise as we grow older becomes even more important than when we were young. In our younger days we would get a lot of our exercise from daily work activities which no longer hold in our retirement years.

So let's debunk those arguments now and get going on an exercise program that is going to make you feel better almost immediately:

1. There's just not enough time. You really don't have to put in massive amounts of time in order to make exercise a huge benefit. I must admit I used to feel a bit guilty only spending a half hour a day working out, when other people would be there when I entered the room and still there when I left. But I vowed to make certain that every minute of my workout time was put to good use. That means planning it out and not standing around watching television instead of going about your business. Also, I know that if I'm only going to be there for a half hour I'll always have that much time to go back on a consistent basis.

2. I might as well just accept the fact that I'm getting old. If you choose to accept that fact you will indeed get old much faster than if you exercise. It is really a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you exercise on a regular basis a body will better stave off those old age disease like high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease much better.

3. I should save my strength as I get older. This is the old argument that there's only so much tread on the tire, so don't waste it in the exercise room. This argument is completely off-base. Nothing will cause the body to age faster than doing nothing and leading a sedentary life.

4. Exercise can cause injuries. It's true that if you exercise the wrong way doing even the simplest exercises can be hazardous to your health. But that is certainly not an excuse to abstain from working out. That is only a reason to exercise in a smart manner. It should be noted that by not exercise at all you are putting yourself at a greater risk for injury due to loss of balance and muscular breakdown from unused muscle. Balance and stretching should be a part of any exercise routine as we age.

5. It's too late in life to begin exercising. Studies have shown time and again that it is never too late. The body is extremely resilient, even with elderly people. Usually in these cases the hardest part is just getting started. If it's been a while start with light walking and gentle activities to begin building yourself up. As you progress you will increase your strength and energy levels, making it easier, not harder to maintain a fitness program.

We are learning that when you eat is as an important factor for losing weight and gaining muscle as what you eat.  Read more about creating delicious meal using garlic and other spices [http://losethatbellyfat.info/recipes-for-garlic/] on our website. Rich Carroll is a writer and avid health advocate now living in Chicago.

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5 Reasons Why You Should Stretch

Stretching is very important in beginning and ending an exercise. But its functions go beyond preventing strains and sprains. So why stretch?

1. Stretching before beginning an exercise prevents injuries. It helps the muscles "warm-up" and prepare before divulging into more intense exercises. It helps prevent "pulled muscles". It allows a longer range of motion. For instance, if you are going to do a strong punch without stretching, you will 'shock' your relaxed muscles into motion, thus it will cause pain and soreness. To prevent these from happening, begin with by gently pumping your arms, or by extending your arms overhead or below. You may also do leg extensions, either on the ground or elevated. For elevated leg stretches, it must not be immediate, but gradual and slow. The higher the leg stretch is, the more the muscles are pulled, so one has to do it slowly. When stretching, don't bounce. Bouncing can cause small tears (micro tears) in the muscles which can cause scar tissues. These scar tissues can make movement painful and future stretching more painful and difficult. If you feel that the stretch is becoming more painful, then it means that you have gone too far. Focus on a more comfortable, pain-free stretch. Make sure to stretch both sides, too. It extends your range of motion more that way. Plus, movement doesn't just go one direction, does it?

2. Stretching improves flexibility. When you constantly stretch, you are also making yourself more flexible, thus activities that require flexibility, such dancing and kicks, short sprints and dashes, even basic tasks such as lifting and tying your shoe, can become easier. Flexibility also wanes s people ages, so it's best to regularly stretch so that you can maintain your flexibility.

3. Stretching promotes better breathing and respiratory (or oxygen) flow. Stretching allows oxygen to flow better through your body and it also helps better blood circulation. Body pains and sores usually root from increased tightness and tension from the lack of oxygen that flows to the different parts of your body. Stretching allows the oxygen to move freely and move better.

4. Stretching reduces stress and improves posture. Stress causes the muscles to tighten and knot, thus it can cause strain and back pains. Tension causes negative effects on your body. Muscles harden and slow down the flow of the oxygen (carried by the blood) to the brain which muddles thinking. Stretching brings back the oxygen flow and regulates it, re-oxygenating the brain and also the heart. Aside from contributing greatly to the circulation or blood flow, stretching also releases endorphins or the feel-good hormones in the body which can improve your mood and make you feel good. Stretching also greatly improves posture as it prevents the muscles from getting too tight, which causes slouching and rigidness of the body. When you have good posture, circulation flows better and you can look good and feel good throughout the day.

5. Stretch after exercising. Lactic acid builds up in your muscles while you exercise which leads to fatigue and soreness. This can be remedied by "cooling down" exercises or post-exercise stretching. Post-exercise stretching can help in workout recovery, decreases muscle soreness that comes after the workout and ensures that your muscles and tendons are in good working order. If you stretch after exercising, you are conditioning your muscles, and, in a way, you are relaxing your muscles after a vigorous regimen. Its goal is to return your muscles to the pre-exercise stage. It's like telling your muscles that the hard part of the workout is done. This part of the exercise is called the "cool down" and usually consists of light exercises such as brisk walking, calf stretching and static stretching. Aside from relaxing your muscles, cool down exercise are also meant to re-oxygenate your heart, since you have used too much oxygen working out. This means allowing steady breathing and the muscles push the oxygen back to the heart.

Stretching, although takes minimal time in the whole workout or exercises, is still a very important part of the activity and should not be taken lightly. How sore you can get or how good you feel after a workout depends on how properly and how effectively you have stretched.

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