Increased Fitness Doesn't Always Mean Being Lean:

Continuing our recent discussions, you can have increased levels of fitness and health without looking like a fitness model. Just because you don't lose a lot of weight with exercise doesn't mean that you aren't healthier or in better shape.

Your eating habits have a lot to do with how lean you are. Doing resistance training to increase your strength makes life's daily activities easier. It also helps protect your joints and allows you to maintain your mobility as you get older.

I've met plenty of people who exercise regularly but still have a couple extra pounds. But this is still better than the "skinny" person who doesn't exercise, but may appear healthy on the outside. At one of the healthclubs I worked at, one gentleman who was around 70 or so, was a regular exerciser and had a protruding stomach about the size of a volleyball.

Yet, he was stronger and in better shape than those his age who do nothing. Its well known that obesity carries an increased risk of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. So while trying to lose excess weight is always a healthy choice, having a couple extra pounds, but exercising regularly can be okay.

For example, a few years back I did personal training with two women in their mid 40's. These women were best friends and their families did a lot of activities together. They would carry on a conversation while I put them through their exercises. They worked hard but also got in their social time this way.

It worked out well as one would do the exercise and then switch with the other. This way they were able to get a lot of work done in a short amount of time, while keeping their heart rate up. Their overall strength and endurance increased with these intense "buddy" workouts. While I would have liked to have seen a couple more pounds lost with one of them, there are other factors such as diet that play a role in fat loss.

In any case, one of them told me about a hike in the mountains that she went on with her teenage daughter and some other teenagers. All the work in the weight room paid off as she was able to keep up with the "kids." She also said that some of the girls were huffing and puffing a little, but she was fine.

Just goes to show that outward appearances aren't the whole story when it comes to health and fitness. You should strive to keep your bodyfat levels under control, but maintaining or building your strength with resistance training is very important. This will also help with your mobility.

You know me, try to work on your posture first to make your exercise more efficient. Good posture is also important for avoiding injuries and reducing the stress on your joints. By focusing on these things and getting adequate movement, you can feel better and be healthier as you age.

For more information, read my article Resistance training can reverse the aging process.