Any age is the right age to get fit. Just ask expert Edna Levitt — she’s living proof.
At age 50, Levitt first joined a gym at the urging of her university-aged son (who had just joined up himself). A single aerobics class soon evolved into a five-day-a-week fitness routine, and her passion grew into a career. At 65, Levitt earned her personal trainer certification and launched her own business, 50+ Fitness. For the past four years, she has been using her experience and expertise to help boomers and “boomers plus” achieve better health through exercise.
While cardiovascular activity is a large part of staying fit, Levitt focuses on another crucial activity: strength training. After all, doctors and fitness experts can’t say enough good things about this type of exercise.
It’s not just about appearance, though a toned body and healthy weight are certainly perks. Strength training improves energy levels, endurance and balance as well as strength — which protects against falls and injuries and makes everyday tasks easier.
It’s also an essential part of disease prevention. Building muscle mass helps prevent osteoporosis and type-2 diabetes. It helps improve mobility and keeps muscles and joints strong and limber. It can even alleviate the pain of arthritis — so aching joints are no excuse!
But the best part: “Every body at any age can do it,” Levitt says. “It’s never too late to start.” (And she would know — her area of expertise is working with people aged 50 to 90.) You don’t have to be an experienced athlete or in perfect health, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money to do it.
Need a little help getting started? Levitt shared some of her secrets for success with 50Plus.com:
Warm up your brain and body. Getting your mind and body ready for exercise is essential. Studies have shown that “getting in the mood” for exercise actually helps your workout. Something as simple as ditching your work clothes and donning your workout gear can help improve the length and intensity of your session.
And what about the body? Warm-ups don’t have to be complicated — think a brisk walk, climbing a few sets of stairs or simply jogging on the spot for a few minutes.
Perfect your posture. Proper form is a must for two reasons: Not only will you see the most benefit from performing exercises correctly, you’ll also avoid injuries. “Slacking off” can be ineffective as well as harmful.
If you’re just starting out — or have had lacklustre results in the past — it’s a good idea to enlist the help of an instructor or personal trainer. An expert can show you how to properly do exercises and use equipment — including proper posture, breathing and pacing. Even if you don’t opt for a regular session or a class, have a trainer work with you to set up a program — especially if you have any health concerns.
