| Four Seasons Hemet Herald | October 2014 | 28
Exercise in general is crucial for women over 60 years old,
and strength training is particularly helpful. The aging process
makes muscle and bone deteriorate, flexibility disappear and
metabolism slow. Regular exercise can slow these symptoms
of age and help keep the body healthy for as long as possible.
The Changing Body: According to Dr. Wayne L. Westcott,
inactive adults lose 1/2 lb. of muscle each year during their 30s
and 40s. For people over 50, this rate can double to 1 lb. every
year. During midlife years, people tend to lose 5 lbs. of muscle
and gain 15 lbs. of fat every decade. A woman in her 60s might
have 20 lbs. less muscle and 60 lbs. more fat than she did in
her 20s. Consuming fewer calories could help her lose weight
but will do nothing to slow the loss of muscle. That's where
strength training comes in.
Exercises: A good strength training regimen covers all the
major muscle groups, using weight machines, free weights or
other exercise equipment. One study of older women included
only the leg extension, leg press, back extension, pull down
and abdominal curls. Other programs include many more
exercises, such as more specialized exercises for different
muscles in the arms and back. The more exercises a strength
training program incorporates, the fewer sets of each exercise
a person does.
Join us in the Lodge Ballroom at 7:30 am every Tuesday and
Thursday. If you have questions regarding this class, please
call: Jeanne Lincoln at (951) 765-7112, Char Weakley at (951)
926-2599, or Joyce Kerns at (951) 325-8840.
Strong Adults Stay Young (SASY)
