The benefits of physical fitness, especially in a person over 40, are tremendously important for long-term health and well-being.  As we grow older so do our bodies at the cellular level.  This is the reason why our skin sags, gets darker and develops cellulite.  The benefits of physical fitness include being able to hold back the hands of time.  Well, not literally of course!  Exercise will build muscle and strength that often deteriorates as we age.  This will allow you to move more easily, accomplish daily tasks and delay the pain and discomfort that can be caused by arthritis.

People who exercise also find that they are able to lose those unwanted pounds more quickly and with less effort.  This is accomplished because exercise burns calories and if you don’t replace those calories you’ll lose both weight and body fat. The other benefits of physical fitness include decreasing the risk of high blood pressure or reducing high blood pressure.  Between the weight loss and the chemicals that are released during exercise you have a decreased risk of developing high blood pressure and a greater chance of reducing blood pressure that may already be elevated.

A connected illness with high blood pressure is heart disease.  Often those who suffer from high blood pressure also have some degree of heart disease.  The benefit of physical exercise is that it will decrease your risk of developing or dying from heart disease. Another condition that is linked with high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and diabetes is high cholesterol.  One of the benefits of physical fitness is to reduce your risk of high cholesterol, no matter your diet or genetics.  By reducing your risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart disease you also reduce your risk of premature death.

Not only will physical fitness decrease your risk of physical illness but also of mental distress and stress related illnesses.  For instance, a benefit of physical fitness is to reduce your risk of depression and anxiety.  You’ll spend less money on anti-depressants and improve your psychological well-being and work, recreation and sports performance.

The benefits of physical fitness are different for aerobic exercise vs strength training.  While aerobic exercise will improve your ability to use and transport oxygen, increase blood supply to the muscles and improve glucose tolerance strength training increases muscle strength, improves flexibility, balance and coordination.

The benefits to physical fitness are numerous.  Our bodies were designed for motion and movement.  Without that movement we suffer the consequences of stress related illness, and age related conditions.

When you begin an exercise program and you are over 40 years old, then there are a couple of details that you will need to address. First, see your doctor to evaluate your ability to tolerate the type of program you are planning. There are times when a condition lies dormant or is sub-clinical, which means you don’t know you have it and can silently do more damage when you engage in a vigorous exercise program.

Secondly, you will need to address the ‘clothing’ issue. Society is run by the youth and teens and junior clothing is ‘in’ while women’s clothing is difficult to find or exposes too much skin to make us comfortable. Find clothing that is appropriate for the type of exercise, the place and that you find comfortable. Clothing won’t make you work out harder or a better athlete but if you are comfortable while working out you may workout longer!

Statistically more than 60% of women don’t get the recommended amount of physical activity and there are one in four that aren’t active at all. But the benefits of exercise and physical activity are well documented. Women who begin an exercise program over 40 reap the benefits of lower cholesterol, lower risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Studies have found that if you begin an exercise program in your mid-30’s through 40’s you are more likely to be physically active after menopause than if you are sedentary as you reach menopause. Exercise after 40 is the best reason you’ll live longer.

The number one barrier that women cite for not beginning an exercise program is because of the lack of time. Unfortunately that may be due to the belief that the program must be intense, hard and grinding – something that leaves you spent and aching the next day. Let’s face it though – you aren’t training for an Olympic event. You are only working your body so that you can gain the health benefits of a strong fit body.

You need as little as 30 minutes each day. When you begin an exercise program over 40 don’t get hung up over the time or intensity. The most important thing is to be consistent and flexible in your approach. This isn’t an all or nothing issue.

High risk factors for developing high blood pressure can be poor diet, obesity, alcohol, smoking and a lack of exercise. Natural effective ways to reduce high blood pressure would be to start exercising, weight loss, proper diet control, stop smoking and avoid alcohol. Healthy diets should always include vegetables and fruits. Salt should be drastically reduced in order to decrease water retention - the more fluids that the heart needs to pump, the higher the blood pressure levels will be.

Yoga and meditation are two excellent ways to complement a weight loss program in an effort to reduce high blood pressure. Yoga and meditation help in strengthening the body and in lowering stress.

Read more at Natural Ways to Reduce the Silent Killer.