When you hear the term “anti-aging”, there are probably a lot of images that go through your mind. If you are beginning this program, it will be useful to you to have an idea what you can expect, and what you have to do to achieve the best results.

First of all, your actual age is not going to change. However, many other things can change that will give you a lot “younger” body. The things you should expect from an anti-aging program are the following:
-an increase in functional body strength
-if overweight, reduce your body fat
-strengthen your heart and circulatory system
-correct or diminish some “nagging” problems such as “bad back”, or poor flexibility
-enhance your physical flexibility and overall resilience
-discover the power of your mind to positively impact your overall health and vitality

One of the signs of aging is a gradual loss of muscle and functional strength. A good anti-aging program should reverse this with well designed physical exercise and sound nutrition. Amazing as it may seem, most people over 50 can regain a huge portion of their physical strength with proper training.

Most people over 50 have more body fat than is desirable. Body “weight” may be within the desirable limits, but the percentage of fat may be higher than desirable. To build a younger body, it is essential that the excess fat be eliminated. This is accomplished through proper eating and well designed exercise.

Strengthening the heart and circulatory system is critical for everyone over 50. Lack of conditioning is at the root of many degenerative conditions that lead to heart attack and strokes. To build a younger body, it is essential that a well crafted training program be included to enhance cardiovascular health. Such a program has the added benefit of enhancing the health of the brain, and combating some loss of mental function as people age.

Most people who have reached the age of 50 will have some minor “nagging” condition that begins to limit what they can do. Complaints about “bad back”, sore knees, sore feet, etc. are very common. Many times these conditions are the result of poor habits and unbalanced physical development. In many cases, these situations can be corrected with a careful program designed to build overall body strength, and physical therapy to help restore lost function.

One of the key outcomes of any anti-aging program should be to rebuild or significantly enhance a person’s overall physical (and mental) resilience. Without a proper program, people over 50 can anticipate gradually becoming frailer and subject to injury from everyday events. Without training, older people can expect to eventually have difficulty doing routine tasks such as housework, mild recreational activities, playing with grandchildren, etc. A sound program of exercise can prevent this, or delay it for many decades.

The decline of functionality becomes a vicious circle. The more a person restricts what they do, the more they decline and the more they limit their movement. Eventually, they develop many chronic conditions that are the direct result of sedentary life, and poor habits. The good news is that this problem is very often reversible with a proper program of exercise and sound nutrition.

Finally, one of the most critical areas that should be part of any anti-aging program is cultivation of the mind. An anti-aging strategy that omits emphasis on the huge potential for building a great life rather than merely “surviving” is failing to take advantage of the enormous opportunity for health and happiness that is available to anyone over 50.

From this quick overview, you can see that a worthwhile anti-aging program is much more than a taking a few pills, or some highly expensive injections. It is not just about looking good, you actually have to be healthy, strong and viable. That is the opportunity that you have.

Tomorrow I’ll discuss how you can get started on a quest for a more youthful body, and mind.