One of the truly pleasant aspects of exercising is that you have plenty of options. You can choose to do something as simple as walking, you can take up one or more recreational sports, or you can perform a specific routine in an exercise class or at home. In fact, variety is one of the keys to staying fit.
You can derive these benefits at any age, and indeed, exercise - or at least staying physically active - appears to be increasingly important the older we get.
Many of the problems commonly associated with aging - increased body fat, decreased muscular strength and flexibility, loss of bone mass, lower metabolism, and slower reaction times - are often signs of inactivity that can be minimized or even prevented by exercise.
Exercise can have a surprising number of benefits: it can improve your cardiovascular fitness and muscular endurance, which translates into an increase in energy; it can dramatically reduce the risk of coronary artery disease; it may also help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and aid in weight control; and it appears to give self-esteem a measurable boost, and in general to improve your sense of well-being.
You can derive these benefits at any age, and indeed, exercise - or at least staying physically active - appears to be increasingly important the older we get. Many of the problems commonly associated with aging - increased body fat, decreased muscular strength and flexibility, loss of bone mass, lower metabolism, and slower reaction times - are often signs of inactivity that can be minimized or even prevented by exercise.
