Seniors and Strength Training in the New York Times
TERRIFIC article on how essential strength training is for seniors.
The only issue is that they don’t talk about progression. Without increasing the intensity of the weight training, results will slow and then stall. By lifting heavier, or slower, or with instability, etc., (It’s all in “The Cardio-Free Diet,” you increase your strength that much further.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/31/health/research/31muscle.html?_r=1&th&emc=th
Jim, As a 68 year old woman, I sing the praises of weight lifting every day. I read your book about 2 and a half years ago and have done no “intentional” cardio since. And to think of all the time I spent on the stairclimber, treadmill, etc. thinking if I did not do that, I would gain weight. As I have posted before, that did not happen and I have less problem of maintaining my weight I do wish more older people would start with the strength training. I try to preach the gospel of the benefits to my friends, but they do not seem to be interested. The do admire my discipline but seem unwilling to put forth the effort to obtain similar results. Actually they think I am too obsessed with it. And of course I follow a healthy eating program to go along with the exercise.
Comment by Bobbie Navone — September 1, 2010 at 1:08 pm
Bobbie:
If you don’t mind, i am going to post this on the main blog.
Jim
Comment by admin — September 1, 2010 at 6:14 pm
Hi Bobbie,
Thanks for your post. Can I just ask how often and what kind of strength training you do and what you eating program consists of?
thanks
Davinda
Comment by Davinda Kaur — September 2, 2010 at 3:53 am
Yes, you may, Davinda. Because I have been doing strength training for at least 25 years (but as stated in post only quit the cardio 2 1/2 years ago) I have plenty of equipment to do all my work out at home. Although at one time I did have a membership at a gym.
I have dumbbells of different weights, stretch bands, stability ball, Bosu ball and the tubing of different strengths. Therefore, I can do a great variety of exercises. I have various dvds from strength training shows on the Fit Channel also.
I generally work out 5 days a week, alternating upper and lower body routines. I weigh myself every single day so that if my weight is up a pound, I can cut back that day on carbs. My eating program is just common sense…..fruits and vegetables, chicken and fish (I do not eat red meat with the exception of an In ‘n Out hamburger perhaps 3 times a year which I count as a big treat)
I happen to be one of those people who just love vegetables partly because of growing up on a farm and growing all our own food.
As posted before, I just feel like I have programmed my brain to think about food I eat in terms of how healthy it is and nutritional value, etc. Not to say I never “fall off the wagon”. But that does not last too long, fortunately. I would rather use the term self-discipline as opposed to will power. But I actually think will power enters into it also. At least for me.
Hope this answers your question. If not feel free to ask more.
Comment by Bobbie Navone — September 2, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Jim, thanks for your kind comments.
Comment by Bobbie Navone — September 2, 2010 at 1:01 pm