GYM TIPS FOR THE OVER-50s
Starting out at the gym with more than 50 years on the clock and after a year, two years or several years of physical inactivity, requires taking some precautions before letting your enthusiasm take over, to avoid being set back halfway due to injuries, not enough recovery time, extreme fatigue or a lack of motivation.
After 50, the body simply doesn’t have the same characteristics as it does at 40, 30 or even younger. As time goes by, it begins to weaken, even if it’s not noticeable, and especially if it comes from a chronic sedentary lifestyle. This is why it’s so important to bear at least these five tips in mind.
1) Start off by doing exercises calmly and slowly, respecting the advice given by the instructor. It’s important to regulate the exertion to get your body used to exercise, and to respect rest days, which are just as important as the number of days you go to the gym.
2) Doing functional exercises is an excellent option for sedentary people over 50, firstly, because this type of activity produces very good physical results and secondly, because the only weight used is your body weight itself.
3) Start doing muscle building exercises progressively. This is very important because when you start working out in the gym at age 50 or over, with a lot of work but little movement behind you, the tendency is to lose muscle mass and if it this happens, you won’t be able to do what you want to do. When the muscles are strengthened, aerobic exercises will help both heart and circulatory function, preventing strokes and/or heart attacks.
4) Plan your meals and, if possible, seek advice from a nutritionist, whose eating plans provide all the necessary calories, vitamins and proteins to encourage better performance and progress. This balanced diet will also have a very positive impact on your overall health.
5) Consult with a doctor before starting to go to the gym. This is absolutely vital because a good check-up will let you know how high you can set the bar, depending on the condition of your heart and lungs, your blood sugar levels and your blood pressure.