health and wellness

Toning your body with weights is one of the best ways in defying age. The truth is, as we age, we slowly atrophy, or “shrink”. Somewhere after the age of thirty we start to lose a small amount of muscle each year. In addition, we often start seeing the scale go up a pound or two after this same time-frame, making it sometimes even more difficult after child bearing. But this is not something we have to accept as our outcome. In fact, we can reverse the aging process by adding muscle tone through moderate weight lifting, which in turn will aid in preventing osteoporosis. There are many other benefits in that it not only increases your energy levels, but also raises your endorphins; the happy feelings you get after a brisk walk.

How Is This Done?

By building and toning muscles through exercise that time would otherwise wear down. The way I see it, the best years of life are our middle years, and we can gracefully enter into our golden years with zest through daily exercise. Celebrity figures such as Jane Fonda, Suzanne Somers, Linda Evans, Raquel Welch and many, many others are great examples of defying age through daily exercise. It is a key factor to staying vigorous, and youthful-looking. Today, women of all ages and shape fill the gyms more than ever before. It is no longer a place of the past where most women found themselves completely lost, riddled in fear and stricken with intimidation. Today, it has become the place to be. But, must one go to the gym in order to achieve their goals? Absolutely not. Your goals can easily be achieved right from your own living room with a few dumbbells, bands, a step such as a sturdy platform, a medicine ball, and a good pair of sneakers.

What Results Will I See?

First and foremost, it is important to understand the different effects between toning with weights vs the engagement through aerobic exercise. Weight training is the process of lifting, sculpting, and shifting the body; to promote the replacement of soft, sagging tissue by reshaping  your body through the training of weights. No other method can achieve this. Aerobic programs, on the other hand, helps to condition the heart and lungs, and helps to burn excess fat from the body. Aerobic exercises can not transform your body. Even though certain sports such as tennis, racquetball, cycling etc. do play a roll in the development of the leg muscles, it still cannot shift and sculpt the body, and therefore, must be achieved through the working out of weights. Through a combination, however, miracles are achieved!!

I will be writing much more on this subject in how to achieve these goals as we continue to move along, so stay tuned! If at any time you have questions that come to mind, or comments to add, be sure to write in and be a part of the growing community toward our pursuit to happiness, health, and wellness.

As a final note, it is always important to check with your doctor before starting any fitness regime. Safety is key here.