Here's the message from Dr. Marcas Bamman, a physiologist with decades of research into aging who preaches the benefits of weight-resistance training for those who are getting up there We're talking 60-plus — women and men. And we're talking about hitting the gym and weight training.
Don't be put off, Bamman says. “Resistance training is in many ways the true fountain of youth,” Bamman said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I like to say the fountain of youth is the water cooler in the gym.
” Of course, there are biological limits. But Bamman says the bulk of age-related decline in strength, flexibility and endurance is behavioral — putting too few demands on the body, not too many. “When I tell somebody that in four to six months your strength and muscle mass and overall muscle function is going to elevate to the levels of people 30 to 35 years younger, that hits home," he said.
Download the CTV News App for breaking news alerts and video on all the top stories So you know you're too sedentary and the birthdays keep piling up. You suspect resistance training would be beneficial. But perhaps you're intimidated.
Don't be. Getting started Check with medical professionals to make sure there are no health problems that stand in your way. Then find a gym.
Larger gyms offer a social component with things to do on a day off from weight training. And Bamman suggests getting a trainer. “It’s actually quite safe, but it does require proper progression,” Bam.
