When it comes to exercising, many of us tend to overlook the age-old adage: 'You should act your age.' It seems we've become so enamored with the idea that exercise can turn back the clock on our physical health that we're willing to push ourselves to extremes. But what happens when our bodies start to protest?
According to geriatricians, as we hit middle age, our muscle mass and performance peak in our mid-30s before naturally declining after that. This means our joints, tendons, and ligaments stiffen, making us more prone to injuries during physical activity. Recovery also takes longer. Dr Emily Finkelstein notes, "Our bodies start to decline after 45."
For decades, we've been told to 'eat well, sleep well, exercise,' but this has led some of us into our late 40s and 50s, only to find ourselves needing to adapt to a changing body. Many Gen X patients are buying into the idea that age shouldn't be a factor when it comes to what we do or how we do it.
The problem lies in assuming that a 50-year-old body isn't different from a 30-year-old body. It is. Our bodies undergo significant changes as we age, which means our exercise routines need to adapt accordingly. Instead of trying to push ourselves like we did when we were younger, we should focus on being more flexible and adaptable.
So, how can we adapt to an ageing body? Physiatrist Dr Rosanne Leipzig advises that patients seek a qualified medical professional for advice on adjusting their fitness routine. This might involve incorporating more weights into our workouts, taking more recovery time between intense sessions, or switching to lower-impact activities when needed.
Dr Melissa Leber emphasizes the importance of balance in exercise regimens. "You should spend 50% of your total exercise time on strength training and 50% doing cardio." As we age, this ratio shifts, with strength training becoming more important as we get older.
Unfortunately, conversations about exercise regimens often take a backseat to advice from fitness influencers online or media outlets featuring 'superagers' – people who claim to be performing at an elite level well into old age. However, these examples can create unrealistic expectations about what's possible for the rest of us.
The truth is, our bodies will change with age, and it's up to us to adapt. It's time to shift our focus from trying to stay 'young' forever to accepting that ageing is a natural part of life. By acknowledging this reality, we can develop healthier attitudes towards exercise and physical health – attitudes that prioritize realism over idealism.
As Leipzig says, "Fifty is 50" and "80 is 80." There's absolutely nothing wrong with that.
According to geriatricians, as we hit middle age, our muscle mass and performance peak in our mid-30s before naturally declining after that. This means our joints, tendons, and ligaments stiffen, making us more prone to injuries during physical activity. Recovery also takes longer. Dr Emily Finkelstein notes, "Our bodies start to decline after 45."
For decades, we've been told to 'eat well, sleep well, exercise,' but this has led some of us into our late 40s and 50s, only to find ourselves needing to adapt to a changing body. Many Gen X patients are buying into the idea that age shouldn't be a factor when it comes to what we do or how we do it.
The problem lies in assuming that a 50-year-old body isn't different from a 30-year-old body. It is. Our bodies undergo significant changes as we age, which means our exercise routines need to adapt accordingly. Instead of trying to push ourselves like we did when we were younger, we should focus on being more flexible and adaptable.
So, how can we adapt to an ageing body? Physiatrist Dr Rosanne Leipzig advises that patients seek a qualified medical professional for advice on adjusting their fitness routine. This might involve incorporating more weights into our workouts, taking more recovery time between intense sessions, or switching to lower-impact activities when needed.
Dr Melissa Leber emphasizes the importance of balance in exercise regimens. "You should spend 50% of your total exercise time on strength training and 50% doing cardio." As we age, this ratio shifts, with strength training becoming more important as we get older.
Unfortunately, conversations about exercise regimens often take a backseat to advice from fitness influencers online or media outlets featuring 'superagers' – people who claim to be performing at an elite level well into old age. However, these examples can create unrealistic expectations about what's possible for the rest of us.
The truth is, our bodies will change with age, and it's up to us to adapt. It's time to shift our focus from trying to stay 'young' forever to accepting that ageing is a natural part of life. By acknowledging this reality, we can develop healthier attitudes towards exercise and physical health – attitudes that prioritize realism over idealism.
As Leipzig says, "Fifty is 50" and "80 is 80." There's absolutely nothing wrong with that.
exercising is not about defying the laws of physics, it's about being aware of what your body can handle at any given age 
my 40s are kicking in and I'm like "okay doc" 
i've been pushing myself to do more than my body can handle and it's time to listen to the geriatricians 
maybe we need to rethink our fitness goals and prioritize recovery time over trying to squeeze in an extra leg day 
50 is not 30 anymore 
I think it's awesome how the article highlights the importance of adapting our fitness routines as we age. I mean, let's be real, we're not getting any younger, right? 
But instead of trying to push ourselves like we did in our 20s and 30s, we should focus on being more flexible and adaptable. It's all about finding a balance between strength training and cardio that works for us as we get older.
I'm so tired of seeing people out there trying to do the same workout routines they did in their 20s just because they think 'fifty is fifty'... 
. Like, no one wants a surgery because of some bad injury 
. And those 'superagers' online? Just glorifying the fact that they're just as messed up as everyone else, but got lucky 
. We should be focusing on getting old and healthy, not trying to turn back time 
.
but our bodies are like old laptops - they can't run on battery for 10 hours straight anymore 
after 40, we gotta be more chill with our fitness routines 
instead of pushing ourselves, we should focus on being more flexible and adaptable like yoga or swimming - low-impact activities that are easy on the joints 
and balance is key, 50% strength training, 50% cardio is a good starting point 
think people get caught up in the whole 'you're not getting any younger' vibe, but like, our bodies are literally changing, not just aging 
. it's not about slowing down, it's about adjusting the pace and type of exercise that works for us 
. maybe instead of comparing ourselves to 'superagers', we should be learning from each other and finding ways to make fitness more accessible and realistic for our age groups 
.
. Its not about slowing down or giving up, but finding what works best for us as we age 
.
I mean, come on... we're already being sold a bill of goods about 'superagers' who are defying the odds? Meanwhile, our actual bodies are like, "Uh, no thanks, we've got creaky joints and declining muscle mass to deal with now." 
It's time to stop pretending that age is irrelevant and start accepting that our bodies will change. We need some real-world advice on how to adapt our workouts, not just some Instagram influencer's 'get fit at 50' tips 
. And honestly, who needs to be a 'superager'? Let's just accept that ageing is part of life and focus on being healthy at any age 
and I realized she's still super active and doesn't seem to be complaining about it 
? Like, who cares about the calories or the ingredients if it tastes good?
. it's all about balance and being realistic about what our bodies can handle 
. All those fitness influencers online are giving people the wrong idea about what's achievable at different ages 
. We need to focus on adapting our exercise routines to our changing bodies 
. Fifty is fifty, eighty is eighty... just own it 
. It's all about finding balance, you know? 50% strength training and 50% cardio is a good rule of thumb... I think I read that somewhere online, link here 
(
We need to focus on finding exercises that work with our bodies, not against them. And honestly, I'm so tired of seeing those "superager" articles and social media posts that make it seem like we're all supposed to be performing at a high level well into old age. Like, come on, let's just accept that ageing is a natural part of life and focus on being healthy, not trying to defy it. 