For many people who have never seen a gym in their life, when age fifty (or perhaps even age forty) roles around they really begin noticing they are getting slower, walking up steps is a little harder, playing hockey with the boys is getting tougher as they don’t have that pop to get to the puck any more.  Playing tennis with friends is getting tougher, as they don’t get to the ball like they used to, and their general mobility is declining.  All in all these people realize they are losing muscle and getting soft all around.

Regardless of your age, if this sounds like you, the question you need to ask yourself is, “What do I do to get in better shape?”  As an experienced Strength and Conditioning professional, my answer is that you should become familiar with the benefits of weight training and hit the gym.

Running is great for improving endurance, but it will not improve your muscle mass or increase your strength and power, elements you desperately need to maintain to limit the effects of aging.  After the age of forty, people lose 1-2% of muscle per year unless they are taking specific steps to avoid this decline.   Let me repeat – after the age of forty, someone who is not engaged in a reasonably intense weight training program loses 1-2% of muscle mass per year.   This accumulating loss of muscle mass and strength is the cause or precursor of many of the negative effects of aging.

In contrast, some of the health and lifestyle benefits resulting from a systematic weight training program include:

Increased muscle size and strength

Improved insulin sensitivity, which reduces unwanted weight gain

Increased functional independence

Reduced risk of diabetes

Reduced blood pressure

Improved sleep quality

Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease

Reduced risks of falls that result in broken hips

Reduced likelihood of depression

For more information on effective weight training methods go to www.laylor.com or contact any of our staff at 416 360 0460.

Effective methods, proven results – that’s the promise of Laylor Performance Systems.

By Clance Laylor