Muscles Need Work to Maintain Size

We often refer to muscles as the engines of the body.

Unfortunately, muscles lose size and strength with age, resulting in physical weakness and a variety of degenerative problems.

This is all part of the natural ageing process, but things can be done to help you increase and maintain size and strength of muscles just by following a regular short and effective strength training program.

When asked about strength training many people respond that they don’t desire big muscles. If only they knew how hard it was to get them. Rather than talking about too much muscle, we should be more concerned about having too little muscle.

Unless we exercise the muscles we have properly, we stand to lose 2kg to 3kg of lean muscle every decade of our adult life.

This progressive muscle loss is responsible for two of life’s major problems and can be related to a number of health-related consequences. The first problem is a loss of muscle means we won’t work as efficiently, which leads to less physical activity and further muscle loss.

Secondly, the problem is reduced calorie use, which leads to a slower metabolism. Slower metabolism means if we consume the same amount of food it will result in the accumulation of body fat.

Because our muscles are our engines, imagine if your car lost 5 per cent to 10 per cent of its power each decade but weighed 5 per cent to 10 per cent heavier.

After a while you would probably want to sell or trade that car in. Unfortunately we can’t do that with our bodies. That’s why the maintenance of our muscles is so important.

It is advisable for anyone over 50 to seek your doctor’s advice before starting an exercise program.

Dolphins Health Precinct has programs that cater to over 50's. Speak to DHP now for more advice. Call 3880 3729.