It’s no secret that staying lean and physically fit can become a much tougher challenge with age. Many people entering their forties and fifties can remember a time, perhaps during their teenage years or twenties, when they could eat just about anything and have the luxury of knowing it wouldn’t have a visible impact on their overall health and physical well-being.
But this situation typically changes as we enter middle age. Why? There are usually a few reasons, from reduced physical activity to slowed metabolism, meaning the body just isn’t quite as good at burning off fat and calories as it was before. The good news is that women have some options when it comes to simple physical activities that can help build strength and burn fat and calories. Let’s take a look at some of the best options for women in this list.
1. Full-Body Workouts
Before we get into the specific exercises you can do to maximize your lean muscle development and maintain healthy bones and connective tissue, let’s be clear about something: you’ll need to focus on building and executing workouts that exercise all of your major muscle groups, not just those in your legs. That means looking beyond cardiovascular exercises, including running and cycling, to those that build muscle and burn fat in your upper body.
How often should you do these full-body workouts? At least twice a week, most experts say. As for what those workouts should consist of, there’s lots of room for creativity, just be conscious of the muscle groups you’re working. If you feel like there are areas of your body that are being under- or over-worked, then it’s time to change things up.