It is a well known fact that exercise offers positive health benefits for women of all ages but especially once we are over 40. Not only will exercise for women over 40 help battle unwanted pounds, but it will also help you fight diseases such as cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, respiratory ailments and more.
The truth is, moderate exercise done on a consistent basis will have positive effects on your health and you don’t have to become a trained Olympian, or compete in a marathon to see overall improvement in well-being.
Research has proven that moderate exercise helps boost the immune system. It is interesting to note that the lack of exercise poses a greater health risk to women than smoking does. There are also some
Alarming statistics related to the lack of exercise. For example, a University of Hong Kong and Department of Health Study showed that lack of exercise increased the risk of dying from cancer in 28% of women. The study also showed that 75% of women who did not exercise ran a greater risk of dying from respiratory ailments. The risk of dying from heart disease was 28% higher for women who did no physical activity.
Numbers like these can motivate any woman to sign up for a membership at the local gym, but bear in mind, even consistent sessions of brisk walking, or jogging can be helpful. You don’t always need to spend money on expensive equipment.
There are many exercise programs that do not require any outlay of money, and jogging is one of them. Just make sure you have a good pair of comfortable sneakers that can manage wear and tear. Don’t expect to jog ten miles the first day. Start slowly and gradually increase distance. The same holds true for brisk walking. Find a buddy for support.
It is suggested that 30 minutes a day of exercise is needed to be able to observe weight loss, and of course 60 minutes a day of exercise, if you are ready to manage it, will give you the best results.
Many studies have shown that exercise for women over 40, but especially weight and strength training can help improve bone strength and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Start with a just a few repetitions with light weights of about 2- 5 lbs and gradually increase the reps.
Dr. Barry A. Franklin of William Beaumont Hospital in Michigan, noted that weight training helps improve cardiovascular health by lowering levels of LDL cholesterol, known also as “bad” cholesterol.