Exercise Now for “Exceptional” Health Later

Midlife women who exercise a lot, say three hours a week of jogging or walking briskly for five hours a week, are most likely to experience “exceptional” health, free of chronic illnesses, later in life.  That’s according to a recently published study of more than 13,000 women who participated in the Nurses’ Health Study.  And if you’re wondering what type of exercise will yield the most benefit, another trial of women over the age of 60, conducted at the University of British Columbia, concluded that resistance training with free weights and machines, along with squats and lunges, once or twice a week for a year improved muscle strength and cognitive skills far better than a regimen of toning and balance exercises also done twice a week.

Both of these studies, recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, contribute to growing evidence that physical activity is crucial to the quality of  life in our later years and starting at any age will be beneficial.

I recently wrote about some excellent online resources to help you get started with an exercise routine.  I also recommend Joan Pagano’s Strength Training for Women, an illustrated step-by-step guide for women at all levels of experience.  I bring this book with me to the gym on my weight-training days and consider her my very own personal trainer.

If you also have an exercise book or DVD that you want to recommend, let us know in the comment box below.
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