If you’re like many people who are closer to retirement than most or actually retired, your life revolved around your kids and once they left home, you have few outlets or activities. Most of your friends are also more involved with family, so socializing tends to be family get-togethers that mostly revolve around food and talk. The more sedentary lifestyle takes its toll, which is why workouts for people over 50 are so important.

Age is really all in your head.

Sure the body doesn’t react as quickly as it did or mend as fast, but if you think you’re old, it’s even worse. You have to be reasonable, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get fit or tackle some of the fitness goals you hoped to achieve when you were younger, but didn’t have the time. It’s never to late! One man could barely walk a few steps because of his age (basically, lack of exercise and body—not calendar—age) and obesity. He started slowly, going walking as far as he could. Eventually, he made it a block, then two and today he shed almost two hundred pounds and can RUN marathons. When you persevere, anything is possible.

The benefits of working out as you get older.

When you workout regularly it helps the body to regain much of that youthful vigor. It helps prevent and even control or reverse, serious conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and osteoporosis. It lifts the spirits and aids in reducing depression that can occur for empty-nesters. It improves bone density, lowers blood pressure and dramatically improves the quality of life. Too often people feel they’re too old to start exercising, take to the couch or chair and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. To stay younger longer and even turn back the hands of time, exercise and a healthy diet are mandatory.

You need all types of exercise no matter what your age; strength, flexibility, balance and endurance.

Lifting weights isn’t just for men or for the young, both men and women past the age of 50 can benefit from strength training. It helps reduce injury and prevents osteoporosis and slows or reverses muscle wasting. You can do it with weights, body weight or resistance bands. Flexibility exercises help prevent injury and keeps joints and muscles loose and pain free. Endurance exercises are heart healthy and balance workouts help reduce the risk of falls.

• Exercising can keep you more mentally alert too. Not only does it help fight dementia, studies show it can slow Alzheimer’s.
• Staying fit improves the quality of life and can help you remain independent longer.
• If you find that as your age increases, so does your weight, exercise can reverse that trend. You’ll shed pounds easier and look years younger.
• A personal trainer can create a program designed especially for your level of fitness, special needs and goals.