A question that often comes up is, does your metabolism slow as you age. The answer is generally YES, but it does not have to be this way. In general, after our 20’s, we lose about 10 lbs of muscle each decade. While we may not gain or lose weight, it simply means we are losing 10 lbs of muscle and replacing it with fat. Our weight remains the same, but we start to get saggy and flabbier over time. So what can we do?
The key to preventing this is weight or resistance training. Muscle burns calories all the time, while fat simply hangs on us for an anticipated famine should one arise. For a comparison, a gram of fat has 9 calories, while carbs and proteins each contain 4 calories. Alcohol contains 7.
By building, or at least maintaining our muscle mass over the decades, we can stave off this slowing of our metabolism. To be honest, exercise is the closest thing to the fountain of youth we have yet to find.
So you may not be a serious all out fitness nut like I am, but you don’t have to be. If you one, great, but if not I suggest a simple 3 day a week weight/resistance routine, training the whole body. I suggest a simple shoulder exercise, chest, back, legs, biceps, triceps and ab movements. This should help you stay relatively fit, as long as you are also doing some basic cardio like fast walking several times a week.
If you want to avoid getting saggy over the coming years, add a simple weight/resistance training program into your life. Your body and self esteem will thank you.
If you want to know more, go to garanfitnessconsulting.com, or FB at Garan Fitness Consulting or Garan Fitness Tactical Training. Additionally, you can find video guides on Youtube at Garan Fitness Consulting. If you wish to contact me, go to www.garanfitnessconsulting.com or Garan Fitness Consulting at 330-554-1345. I also do one on one and online training, so reach out to me if you are interested in learning more.
Scott