There is no doubt the question "fitness over 40" is a matter of discourse in most doctor's offices, social groups and between friends. Older people may complain because they can no longer climb flights of stairs due to uncomfortable knees.
You may know someone who has been previously diagnosed with coronary disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, or raised blood pressure.
You can improve your health and "real age" in so many ways by making use of fitness programs to help create muscle strength to support joints, boost physical fitness and alleviate arthritis-related pain.
Sadly, 60% of the population in the US do not get the prescribed amount of workout and 25% are not physically active. These statistics are slowly increasing, as is the number of folks who suffer from stress related diseases such as stroke, elevated cholesterol, raised blood pressure, and diabetes.
However, fitness over 40 plans usually don't begin in the gym, and exercise is only worth it when your heart rate is raised for 30 minutes at least. That may mean walking quickly for 30 minutes in the neighborhood, jogging, bicycling with the children, rowing, treadmill in front of the television, bouncing on an exercise ball or using a trampoline.
If you're over 40, it's time to think about the impact it will put on your ability to make the needed changes, your current nutrition and habits.
To add more whole grains, vegetables and fruit to your diet is another must-do for those over 40 to keep fit. A nutritionist can help you to slowly change to a better eating routine.
A way to improve your health immensely is to eat 5 - 7 servings of vegetables and fruit, drink 8 to 10 glasses of water as well as to lessen the amount of white flour consumed per day.
Exercise is essential but depends on the structure of diet, nutrition, and everyday habits to boost your health. Your fitness program can consist of cardiovascular and weight training.
Exercise that improves the cardiovascular system includes jogging, bicycling, walking, swimming, jumping rope, trampoline or workout ball. Mix it up a bit and ask friends to join so that you"ll have fun and keep up.
Should you do the strength training program, you should skip a day before doing it again. For example, if you do it on Monday you should not do it again until Wednesday.
Train your strength 2 - 3 times per week, either at the gym or at home. Strength training will increase the support of your joints, reduce your risk of osteoporosis and shed off your body fat.
If you are like many people who are trying to lose weight, you have probably tried diet after diet only to find out that the diet you are currently on is not helping your fat loss plans. The reason for this might be that you are using fad diets and weight loss programs that do damage to the body instead of helping it achieve its ideal weight. If you want to lose fat and stay healthy, follow the following tips to help you achieve your goal.
1. Find out what is causing you to be overweight. If the problem is bad nutrition, then see a dietitian or read books that will teach you how to eat properly. If the problem is more emotional, learn how to take care of your emotions without eating. Some people gain weight because of hormonal issues, and this might be something you want to discuss with your doctor if you want to see results with your fat loss diet. Whatever the problem is - you will be able to handle it better once you know what it is.
2. Be willing to be in control of your food. That means not allowing friends and family to convince you that just one won't hurt, and it also means paying attention to restaurant food. However, most of all it means not letting food be in charge. Instead of trying severe diet and exercise plans, look for a sustainable option that will result in the best long term physical and mental health. After all, being thin is only one part of being healthy.
3. Instead of eating three big meals, eat small frequent meals. If you eat frequently throughout the day, your metabolism works continuously and burns calories. If you eat big meals your metabolism goes up and down and it is actually harder to lose weight that way. Pay attention to what you eat during these meals and stay away from processed snacks that are high in fat and sugar.
4. Take your time. Eating more slowly and allowing yourself to savor the food does two things. It allows your body to tell you more readily when you're full, and it helps you satisfy your appetite. After all, if you're eating quickly, the taste of the food may not register at all.
5. Take baby steps. Do not starve yourself and do not start a fast loss diet that will expect you to make drastic changes. If you want to succeed in your diet it needs to be easy to follow. Take small steps, and get used to them one at a time until you reach your goal.
6. Eat a balanced diet and don't eat processed food. Eating processed food is really bad for you because it is high in fat and sugar. It will cause you to gain weight and put you at risk for diabetes and other physical problems. Foods like lean protein, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables are much better for you and will help you stay healthy in the long run.
7. Make sure you drink throughout the day. Sometimes when you think you are hungry, you are actually thirsty. Hydrating yourself properly will make you feel full, and will help your body cleanse itself. Water is the best beverage, so make sure to drink as much water as you need.
About the Author:
Thong M. Dao is a natural bodybuilder who has been working out since 2005 and is experienced in weight control. Visit his website for free
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by Caitin Ryan
Do you want to look younger? Improve your overall health? Stop looking in the cosmetic department and start looking toward the Brazilian rainforest. No worries! You do not have to travel to this remote region to benefit from the latest scientific discovery: The Amazing Acai Berry!
Though the amazing benefits of the acai (Ah-SIGH-ee) berries are just now being recognized by the outside world, the natives of the Brazilian rainforest have known about this miraculous fruit for hundreds of years.
Folklore tells the tale of an Amazon Indian girl named Iaca whose father was the tribal chief. The tribe had become too large and soon, there was not enough food to feed everyone. The tribal chief ordered that any child born needed to be sacrificed. His daughter was the first to give birth after this decree, but the chief showed no mercy for the sake of the whole tribe.
Desperate and incredibly sad, Iaca mourned her child for days, weeping in her hut. Finally, she heard the cries of a newborn in the forest and raced to find what she hoped was her precious child. What she found was a palm tree that bore bright purple berries. She lay down at the base of the palm tree and died.
The tribe discovered Iaca and noticed that the new tree had purple berries plentiful enough and nutritious enough to sustain the entire tribe. The tribal chief said that the newborns would now be spared death and he named the berries Acai (Iaca spelled backwards) after his daughter.
Folklore aside, modern science has discovered some truly magical qualities about the acai berry. Acai berries contain super antioxidants, essential amino acids and omega 3 fatty acids.
Antioxidants are all capable of fighting cancer by fighting free radicals that damage cells and are the prelude to cancer and the aging process. The super antioxidant in acai berries that gives the berries their royal purple color is called anthocyanin. This super antioxidant has been found to slow and stop the growth of tumors. Antioxidants are also necessary for repairing damaged cells and replenishing tissue.
Because free radicals are also responsible for the aging process, acai berries are also great for preventing premature aging and slowing the biological clock.
Animal protein contains a complete balance of essential amino acids, but plants do not. Acai berries, however, contain a nearly complete blend of essential amino acids making them a potent protein source without the saturated fat contained in animal protein.
Instead of saturated fat, acai berries contain omega 3 fatty acids, which have the remarkable ability to lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and raise good cholesterol (HDL). Fish and fish oil supplements contain omega 3 fatty acids.
Acai berries are simply the most remarkable fruit that we know about at this time. Acai berries can slow the aging process, prevent disease and simply improve your overall health! They are delicious and fantastic for smoothies. They are also available in other forms such as supplements and powder.
Read labels carefully and make sure that you are not purchasing an acai berry that is not pure or a juice that is mostly corn syrup with very little acai berries.
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Fitness and weight loss expert, Barbara Vinciguerra shares some of the most common mistakes that people make when trying to lose weight. Stop wasting your time and start getting results now by eliminating these 5 weight loss mistakes.
Mistake #1 - "Using Diets To Lose Weight"
Again, if you are a member of a club and your club offers "abs classes" I guarantee that these classes are absolutely jam packed. Every single piece of research out there has shown that you can't get a six pack by doing endless crunches. Actually, doing endless amount of core exercises won't even get you that six pack. Interval training and Metabolic Conditioning Exercises have been PROVEN to burn belly fat faster then any other fat loss methods.
Mistake #2 - "Doing Crunches To Try To Get Six Pack Abs"
Are you a member of a club? Just look around on a Monday night and what area of your club is the busiest? We can guarantee it is the Cardio Section or the Cardio Classes. Let us tell you Cardio IS NOT THE WAY to go if you want to lose FAT! Well not all types of cardio but long, slow and very boring cardio is absolutely, positively not the way. Not only has research proved that interval training is the ultimate cardio for fat loss success, but the risk of over use injuries related to long cardio is extremely high.
Mistake #3 - "Using Diets To Lose Weight"
Are you one of those that has tried every diet out there? Maybe you initially got some results but have since either gained back the weight or even MORE? Why did you gain that weight back and why are you following that diet or some diet again? Because somewhere in the back of your mind your "remember" when you went on that diet and lost all that weight - and your mind tells you to "go back on it again". Well if it really worked - you wouldn't need to "go back on it again".
Mistake #4 - "Working out 7 Days A Week and Thinking That More Is Better"
Are you a member of a club? Just look around on a Monday night and what area of your club is the busiest? We can guarantee it is the Cardio Section or the Cardio Classes. Let us tell you Cardio IS NOT THE WAY to go if you want to lose FAT! Well not all types of cardio but long, slow and very boring cardio is absolutely, positively not the way. Not only has research proved that interval training is the ultimate cardio for fat loss success, but the risk of over use injuries related to long cardio is extremely high.
Mistake #5 - "Working out 7 Days A Week and Thinking That More Is Better"
This is not the right way to do. STOP WASTING YOUR TIME! If the light weight, high repetition philosophy worked then we'd all be fit because that's what we do all day. Why do you keep doing the same workout over and over again expect to get the different results? Doing the same - gets you the same.
To learn more about the right way to lose weight visit: 90 Day Shape Up
About the Author:
Barbara Vinciguerra is a fitness and weight loss industry expert and aCollege Professor. She is a Certified Performance Enhancement Specialist and a Certified Fitness and Nutrition Coach. Her
90 Day Shape Up has helped thousands of people around the world lose weight and get in shape. For more information visit
90 Day Shape Up