When most people think of the elderly, words such as frail and weak are often the first to come to mind. These stereotypes are of course not true, but they are all too common. This article will lay out how you can defy these stereotypes of old age, and enjoy your retirement as a healthy, strong, energetic person.

As lung volume drops, it becomes harder for the cells in your body to receive enough oxygen and that is where the health problems start. According to a study by Dr. Dean Ward, our lung function decreases by 40% by the time we reach fifty years old. Another study found that even a slight decline in lung capacity increased the risk of heart disease by 200%! Other studies found a relationship between lung volume and the risk of having a fatal stroke.

Any form of physical activity that you were able to do when young should still be appropriate today. You may find some limitations will apply when first starting out, but anyone can increase muscle mass and resiliency at any age. Many forms of prolonged exercise are excellent for endurance and the preservation of your health. Jogging has been cited as one of the easiest ways to start, though there are some reasons to start out more slowly that you once might have when you were very young. Advancing too far too fast will result in injury and disappointment.

Starting out slowly is the key to preserving your health and optimism. If any pace you set begins to make you feel breathless or you have pain anywhere, stop immediately and take stock of the situation. Are you breathless or in pain? If so, you might be starting out too quickly and need to gear down a bit. Whenever you think you are ready to move ahead to a new goal, increase the distance by 10% and evaluate how you feel. Remember that getting sore or injured is the surest way to get sidetracked and stop improving your health. If you are like some folks and have pain or just hate to jog, you might be tempted to try swimming; it’s just as good for strength and endurance and the rate of injury is much lower. Many people will make the time to swim when they find excuses not to jog, perhaps because of its low impact upon the joints and muscles. Be wary, though, swimming can be so pleasant that it’s easy to do too much at first.

Just like when you’re jogging, take frequent breaks, particularly if you’re short of breath. Get out of the pool and rest if your chest begins to hurt. Although swimming can be very tiring, it’s a very effective exercise because it works different muscle groups in concert, improving both coordination and endurance. Swimming is a great exercise that can do wonders for your body.

Bicycle riding is yet another exercise that can add years of vibrant health to your life. It’s a dynamic, intensive workout that can fight any boredom associated with physical training. You can see a lot more of your community and friends, too! Many of the physical activities we associate with youth are really quite appropriate and fun for any age. Whatever your choice, a minimum of 30 minutes a day most days will build endurance and strength.

Remember, building up your heart and lungs is the only way to avoid having a heart attack. The PACE program will also improve your stamina and keep you active all day long! You will achieve all of this without long periods of strenuous exercise, drugs, or unnecessary diet books.

Graham McKenzie in an online content syndicator for ground breaking new fitness equipment device that increases an athletes peak performance by an additional 13.8%.

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