How to get slow muscle loss and get fitter as you age

Powerful resistance training strengthens both muscle and soft tissue, which helps counter the effects of ageing

- Jen Thomas

Years ago, when my father turned 40, he was given a rather large card stating he was "over the hill". I take it that the basic assumption is that once you hit that age, it is "all downhill" from there. Having almost reached that age, I can attest to the rapid decline of my popping hip joints. Suddenly, things ache that never used to hurt and rolling out of bed has become a recipe for disaster.

Although men and women both age, society sadly treats women like we are delicate flowers whose bones can turn to dust at the slightest bump. We then take extra caution with women in exercise classes as if they may crumble before our eyes. If we see an incredibly fit woman in her 50s and beyond, we treat her as the exception and certainly not the rule. Thanks to science, it's time to set this notion aside. New findings are being published that women can exercise to a higher degree than we assumed all these years, and should. Purposeful, powerful movement in our later years can improve our mobility and stability, minimize our aches and pains, increase our energy, and blast our dreaded midsection weight gain. However, to achieve this ultimate goal, we must first overcome our ingrained belief that we are weak. We can all be the exception to the rule.