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Home: Weightlifting for Men Over 50Men lose muscle mass as they age - it's a fact. For each decade of adult life if we do not exercise we lose 5 to 7 pounds of muscle, most guys as they age put on at least that much or more in fat as metabolism slows. Weightlifting and strength training has been shown to not only slow this process, but can replace much of lost muscle tissue. As you build muscle tissue, metabolism increases, and many benefits result. Many of the conditions that come with aging: osteoporosis, arthritis, high blood pressure, heart diseases can actually be prevented and in many cases even reversed, with an appropriate weightlifting regimen. Total joint replacement surgery such as the knee and hip, is probably the most common surgery in men over 50. A proper regimen of strength training and weight lifting has been proven in study after study to reduce the need for such surgery, as increased muscle strength also helps preserve and in many cases stop the deterioration of weight bearing joints. Also one of the most common injuries among older people is sprained or broken wrists and ankles due to falls. Weightlifting has been shown to prevent these injuries in more then one way. Weightlifting strengthens bones, making them less fragile, and less susceptible to fracture in the event of fall. And also weightlifting improves balance and leg strength, making a fall far less likely in the first place. Members of the medical and the fitness community now generally agree that probably the best preventative and anti-aging medicine there is is weightlifting and strength training. Of course especially for older men who may be workingout with weights for the first time it is highly recommended that you consult with your physician before starting any kind of exercise routine. Then once you are good to go you can join a gym or you can get a good set of barbells and begin resistance training and weightlifting in your own home. If you have never lifted before and since being over 50 you may be at greater risk of certain injuries - joining a gym and working with a personal trainer to learn proper technique and weightlifting safety is probably a good idea. A personal trainer can also help to tailor a weight lifting routine to your specific goals and personal needs. Also while many professional weightlifters disdain weight machines, for older beginners they are great because they are easier to use, insure proper form and technique, and can be used by just about anyone with little or no instruction or prior weightlifting experince.
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