Effects of Strength Training - 11

It’s such a stereotype, that thing about the older person becoming forgetful or wooly or generally absent-minded.  Like a lot of stereotypes, there is a little bit of reality in there.  However, there is evidence that suggests lifting weights can help reduce or prevent aging-related cognitive decline.

How might that work?  Well, strength training is an activity of the central nervous system.  When we have to lift something heavy, we need our big brains to coordinate all the moving parts to use the right amount of force in the right direction at the right time.  That’s good practice for our cognition.

 

Of course, as we do strength training, our general health tends to improve.  That means we have better circulation, improved lung function, and efficient oxygen use.  All those things are good for our brains.  Plus with the mood-enhancing effects of exercise, we don’t have to deal with the brain fog of depression so much.

 

Lift heavy: get smart.

Effects of Strength Training - 10

One of the less pleasant aspects of getting older is that our bones lose density.  Lifting weights helps slow this process and also reduces the risk of osteoporosis.

None of us want to have fractures.  When we put controlled stress on our bones by lifting heavy objects, we cause them to get stronger and to maintain their density longer because they adapt to the challenges we give them.

 

Personally, I am NOT going to be one of those frail little old ladies.  I am going to be as powerful as possible as long as possible.  Who’s with me?

Monday Workout: New Combinations!

New exercises, even if they’re combinations of old exercises, keep our brains fresh.  Three rounds.

 

(lateral lunge to) curtsy	30
flies	20
db hip thrust	10
skier jump	30
rows	20
curls	10
step ups	30
bench press	20
side banana	10

 

The Amazing Stickie and Couch Stretch With Activation

Today the Amazing Stickie is working on her amazing booty by doing couch stretch with activation.

 

She begins in front of a couch (thus the name) or bench or sturdy chair.  One foot rests on the seat with the knee (on a cushion!  No need for extra ouchiness!) on the ground.  The other leg is in a lunge position and her body is upright.  (If this stretch is too intense, choose something else!)

Once she is in position, Stickie squeezes the glute of the back leg and then releases it.  After a minute or so of this, she switches her legs and does the other side. 

Effects of Strength Training - 9

Want to hurt less?  Lift more.  That’s oversimplified, but generally true.

Strength training helps manage pain.  It works in several ways.  Various mechanisms in the body produce analgesic effects when muscles work.  In plain English:  the body feels better moving.  The mood-enhancing effects of strength training help us cope better with any pain we are experiencing.  Further, our sense of self-efficacy built by lifting weights makes us more resilient to whatever we experience, even pain.

 

A few caveats.  It’s crucial to warm up.  Avoid exercises that are dangerous for any conditions (e.g., no spinal flexion for folks with osteoporosis).  Discomfort is all right, but if there is actual pain during an exercise, stop that and try something else.  Always use good judgment, appropriate equipment, and safety precautions.

 

Go play and feel better.

Effects of Strength Training - 8

In general, all of us need more sleep than we tend to get.  We could also use a better quality of sleep.  Strength training can help!

The People Who Do Studies have found that strength training reduces the prevalence of insomnia.  (OK, it’s not a surprise that when we make ourselves really tired, it’s easier to sleep, but it’s good to have our common sense validated by science.)

 

But strength training also increases the proportion of good sleep we get.  I know I’m not alone in having the occasional night where technically I got plenty of sleep, but I’m still tired and I wake up feeling like I was wrestling alligators all night.  There’s less of that when we strength train regularly.

 

Work hard, sleep better!

Monday Workout: Switch!

End of the month means a little switch in format to keep our minds and bodies awake and growing!  Three to four rounds, depending on time and energy.

 

1 min cardio
(lunge) punches	30
rows	20
bench dip	10
leg kicks	30
skullcrushers	20
Russian twist	10