Exercise Advice
for your Anti-aging Program

One key to looking and feeling younger is getting regular exercise. The exercise advice and tips on this page will hopefully encourage you to start an exercise program. Now, I'm not a really active person. Nor do I enjoy sports all that much. However, over the years, I've realized that exercising does help me to feel better. There are many benefits to exercise. Research has shown that exercise is not only good for the body, but also for the skin and for the brain.

This doesn't mean that you have to spend hours every day at the gym or even join the local health club. I'm going to give you some tips about exercise in general. Be sure to check out the links to cardio, strength training, flexibility and balance exercises for more detailed information. I'm fortunate to have a sister who is a health and physical education professional. When I decided to get serious about a fitness program, she helped design one for me.

Now, I know you don't all have a sister with those qualifications to give you exercise advice, so I'm going to list some of my favorite exercises. Some she showed me and some I've picked up over the years from videos, TV programs and other professionals. I will also give you some exercise advice on making your workout profitable. You can also put together your own program using exercise DVDs or videos.

The first thing you should do is check with your doctor. I know you've probably read or heard that many times, but it's true. If you are not currently in good physical shape ask your doctor what he recommends. You may need to start slower. You may need specific exercises. Don't discount your doctor's recommendations or exercise advice. She'll just be happy that you are exercising!

Here are a few tips to get you started with your anti-aging exercise program.

• First find something that you enjoy. It won't last long if you hate it. You may need to try different things before you find your favorite exercise. My husband tried joining me doing aerobics and strength training with a video. He stuck with it a few weeks, but wasn't all that thrilled. Now, he plays raquetball 3-5 days a week and loves it. It's something he can stick with.
• Start slowly. Don't run for an hour if you haven't exercised in 5 years. That's a good way to injure yourself, so don't overdo it. Instead work up to the level of fitness that you want. Do a small number of reps and add another 1 or 2 each week. Walk for 10 minutes and add a minute or 2 every day. Gradually increase until you get to your goal. And remember, the longer it's been since you exercised, the longer it will take you to get back into shape.
• Breathe properly. This is especially important during strength training. Many people think they are breathing when in fact, they are holding their breath. Be aware of what is happening with your body.
• And speaking of being aware - STOP if you feel pain. The old saying, "No pain, no gain" isn't entirely true. Your body could be telling you it's time to stop. A little soreness or some creaking sounds are usually no big deal, but it you feel pain, stop. Try again after you've allowed your muscles to rest a day. But if you continue to experience pain, check with your doctor. You may need a different exercise.

Anti-Aging Tip - Exercise 5 days a week

• Warm up before beginning your workout. This will help keep you from injuring yourself.
• Spend 20-30 minutes each day doing cardio or aerobic exercise. If you can do this 5-6 days a week, that's outstanding.
• Follow cardio exercise with strength training 3 days a week. It's important to let your muscles rest for 48 hours in between sessions. You can use free weights or resistance bands. Be sure to exercise each muscle group.
• Legs - including some knee exercises
• Hips
• Abs - these recover quickly so you can exercise them every day.
• Arms
• Back
• Cool down with flexibility exercises. Stretch each muscle group that you exercised.
• Try some other anti-aging exercise programs like Pilates, yoga or tai chi.
• Combine cardio, flexibility and muscle training into one program by learning a martial art like Tae kwon do (will open in a new window).
• Do you sit at a desk all day? Try these desk exercises to keep your muscles loose and your circulation flowing.

The best exercise advice is simply to choose something. What you choose isn't nearly as important as choosing to commit to some form of exercise. Check out any of the anti-aging books that I've reviewed. Each has a chapter on exercise. You can't have a complete anti-aging program without it.