Monday, December 29, 2008

Muscle Building After Your 40th Birthday

By Ricardo d Argence

They say that age is just a number, but when it comes to work outs and staying in shape that age factor is a definite factor in how you will approach your fitness regimen. Some people want to say that they are over 40 and they use their age as an excuse for not maintaining a healthy lifestyle and a regular workout routine.

Do not use your age as an excuse to avoid physical fitness. If you approach weight training, diet and work outs the correct way you can maintain a remarkably healthy and fit body for many years, regardless of your age. Routine bodybuilding, along with weightlifting regimens can be used by you to lose weight, reshape your body, become more fit and healthier, and increase your bone density.

It is no secret that people who keep physically fit also feel better about themselves and about life in general. People who exercise also experience the release of endorphins from the brain, which helps, maintain a sense of happiness and well-being.

When you are 40 years old and older you might want to make a couple of changes in your workout, but you do not have to be victim of the publicity about aging. With age, the muscles and joints become less supple, further necessitating appropriate amount of stretching and warm up before exercising.

A fifteen minute stretching and warm up period will help increase your suppleness, and lower the chance of sports injuries. Your muscles will be more conditioned the more you stretch properly and completely.

Now you should do fifteen minutes worth of cardio exercises on an elliptical training machine, a stair stepper or an exercise bike. You are not attempting to reach your limit with this one; however, you do want your heart rate to increase and to continue to develop your limberness and flexibilty. This exercise will let your body know that you are serious about doing some work.

The next step should be to work out with light weights, if you are doing circuit training or a free weight routine, have a quick run through without the stress of heavy weights, and then follow this brief warm up by doing reps with the appropriate weights.

The pyramid system is preferred among numerous bodybuilders, this system involves performing more reps with less weight, and then as you increase the amount of weight, you start reducing the number of reps that you do. This method of weightlifting has great success for those who want to add muscle and bulk to their bodies. Focusing on proper form throughout the lift must be uppermost in your mind, even though doing so may require that you reduce the weight or the number of repetitions. This does not only reduce your risk of an injury, but it also maximizes your results.

Your routine with weights should not last longer than 30-45 minutes each session and you should be training at least 4 days a week. At the end of your weight session, you can again repeat a cardio session as a way to wind down, but to also strengthen your heart and lungs. - 15485

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