Whatever your age or difficulty,
it seems training with weights can help you. Eventually, a whole body regimin could be introduced into your
exercise routine, but where (and how limited) would you like to start? I chanced onto Jane Fonda's routine in "Complete Workout". As I look back, my activities could have pointed out weaknesses: my legs, through ballet, bicycling,and walking were my strength and my poor performance in softball and chin-ups indicated a weak upper body. When we're busy juggling child care, housework, all the car travel time, collapsing on the couch,I don't think we have time to assess our loss of good posture, muscle strength and flexibility. From adolescence we're
thinking "What shape am I?" That simply clouds our viewpoint more. It's when it hurts to turn your neck while
driving, exhausts you to lug groceries from the car, and your two-year-old outruns you that the hint starts
growing in your awareness.
So, where's your weak spot? Your back and shoulders? Lower back? Legs,abdominals? All of the above?
Get yourself some wristweights and/or dumb bell free weights or even some soup cans. Stretch a little first -
the "cat" where on all fours the back is arched, then slowly dropped to a concave position: then get up to
stretch your hands as high as possible circling outward and sweeping slowly up. Move your head around -better
yet get a book on stretching and another on weight exercises ( the libraries always have several )and go through
a series as recommended. After you've warmed your muscles take your hand weights and shrug your shoulders while
keeping a straight arm, roll down and shrug again. Repeat these moves in repetitions of 8-12. I like to start
here and add these in between more taxing moves. Ready for more?
Something people don't always realize is that
strengthening the abdominals improves your back strength and relieves lower back pain. As you improve the strength
of the back and abdominal muscles, your posture improves, as well. And that alone can make you look ten pounds
thinner! Benefits, benefits! So flatten your back to the floor and crunch a little; this is one of the exercises
that you can do daily.
Confession: no, I don't, but I think I'll try, how about you?
Cross training programs such as The Firm series of videos combine aerobic and
weight training. There are many books to guide your in the how-tos, and plenty of online information. A set of weights,
a video or book, a small amount of time, and you are ready to get fit.
Weight training has benefits in many areas of health. Indicated for prevention of
osteoporosis problems, increases metabolism once muscle mass is increased, besides helping to sculpt your body shape.
