As I’ve gotten older, I more than ever realize the importance of strength training in my weekly fitness routine. We all begin to lose muscle mass as we get older. This is why it is so important we continue to incorporate strength training in our workouts as we age. I workout with my trainer twice a week and will take two to three Barry’s Bootcamp (treadmill and strength training) classes a week. Sometimes I’ll do a double floor at Barry’s, which means I’m not running on the treadmill at all, but doing strength training for the entire class. Don’t worry; I’ll still get my cardio in for the week. I generally stick to the basic weighted exercises we all know; the dead lift, squat, lunge, bench press and curl.
However, I will also include body weight exercises in my strength training every week. These will usually consist of pull ups, push ups, and band work. I’m a true believer of incorporating body weight exercises in my fitness routine. I was very stubborn at first when my trainer wanted to incorporate these exercises. I would always say, “Oh come on…let’s put some more weight on.” I quickly learned I was wrong and these exercises are just as challenging if not more challenging.
If a trainer isn’t possible for you, I truly recommend trying out a group strength training class or definitely try some of the great digital apps out there. Peloton has a great app that I love. Their digital classes range from cycling to strength and everything in between. I highly recommend it.
Remember; never let age stand in the way. Keep moving my friends.