Several Reasons To Exercise in Your Middle Ages
Depending on who you ask, it seems almost everyone these days is “middle-age.” The US Census says it’s basically between 35-54 years old. Some say between 45-60, and others say it extends to 65 years old. Point is the idea of “middle-age” covers a whole lot of people, including a lot of members of The Sporting Club.
The visible signs of aging, including loss of skin elasticity, graying of hair, 10-20 lbs. accumulation of body fat, decrease in aerobic performance, maximal heart rate, strength, flexibility, and fertility, and of course, menopause, to name just a few of the common “ills” middle-age can bring, are seemingly universal. But the chronic health conditions associated with older age are more troubling.
Well, guess what? If you are somewhere in the middle-age range of life, you can not only foil these mid-life widespread conditions, but perhaps even more important, you can help reduce the risk of developing chronic illnesses up to twenty years later! Want to delay biological aging by more than a decade? Get aerobically fit in middle-age and create an independent lifestyle.
Research at the Cooper Institute, University of Kansas and the University of Houston, have all looked at middle-aged people who regularly exercise and are physically fit. They all report similar findings—these people have a much lower risk of developing major chronic health conditions in old age.
Alzheimer’s disease, colon/lung cancer, kidney disease, COPD, stroke, heart disease, diabetes and congestive heart failure are tempered by a moderate increase in physical fitness during mid-life. Simply stated, the more fit you are in middle-age, the less likely you may be to face these chronic illnesses two decades later.
With an aging population along with increased obesity and a corresponding growing sedentary – virtual life – lifestyle, the incidence of chronic diseases among seniors will rise significantly.
The answer? It’s right here at your La Jolla gym, The La Jolla Sports Club. Increase your regular exercise and increase your physical fitness now. The research, and common sense, tells us clearly that fitness is, in fact, one important key to healthy aging.
