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Fit At 50 And Beyond

By Michelle Cox

At 50, many people take stock in their lives and realize they need to exercise and stay fit to maintain a certain quality of life.

You can look back on careers, friends, and family that we are proud of, but what do we want to do with our middle years? How can we make the most of our lives?

Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of our later years, as well as the one that may have the greatest impact on our overall well-being, is our health and fitness.

How, then, can we best ensure our health and fitness into our mid and later years? Exercise can help slow down the onset of the symptoms of aging.

Let's look at all the health benefits of a good exercise program. One, exercise will help us maintain muscle strength and joint flexibility. Two, when we lift weights we but stress on our bones which helps decrease the effects of osteroposis. Three, blood pressure tends to drop, lowering the chance of heart disease. And even our immune system gets a boost from regular exercise.

Even our mood can be improved by staying healthy---researchers have discovered a link between exercise and a decrease in depression and anxiety. This may be due to the increase in energy and the improved sleeping patterns among fit fifty year olds.

Of course, nothing beats exercise for battling weight gain and getting our body into the kind of shape that can still turn heads as we walk down the street.

All theses advantages from exercise will lead you to living a longer, healthy and active life. How you decide to stay fit and healthy is up to you. Find something you enjoy, whether it is in the gym or a body weight workout.

According to many recent studies, engaging in moderate exercise three to five times a week can help reduce the risk of heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes and arthritis.

About the Author:

Michelle Cox earned her Masters of Science in Exercise Physiology for Northeastern University. She is the owner of Fitness Together in Cohasset & Duxbury, MA. Michelle has helped hundreds of clients achieve the health and fitness goals. You can learn more from her website http://www.ftsouthshore.com