I’ve talked quite a bit in here about the importance of strength training and how that is something that seniors tend to neglect.
The older crowd does a pretty good job with cardio training, using the treadmills and ellipticals and exercise bikes at the gym. Going for walks around the mall (I hear people still do that) or the neighborhood. Participating in group exercise classes.
But you still don’t see too many gray-hairs over in the free weights section of the gym.
Sure, it can be intimidating to get in there amongst all those young studs and studlettes grunting and sweating and throwing around dumbbells and kettlebells and all that good stuff.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
For one thing, nobody is going to think, “What is the old you-know-what doing over here?”
I can guarantee you that.
What they’re going to be thinking, if not saying out loud, is something like, “All right, old man, there ya go!”
One way to get started is by doing a full-body workout, once or twice a week. Some upper body and some lower body exercises.
Here’s an example:
- Bodyweight squats
- Bent-over dumbbell row
- Glute bridge
- Step-ups
- Seated dumbbell shoulder press
- Floor pushups
That little workout is going to work the chest, shoulder, arms, legs, and core (midsection). Try 2 sets of 10 repetitions for each exercise.
If you aren’t familiar with any of those, there are tons of YouTube videos that demonstrate how to do them.
You can also do that entire routine at home, if you want. Go to Walmart or Academy Sports or somewhere and get a couple pair of light dumbbells, and that’s really all the equipment you’re gonna need.
You can do it!
