When we were younger we didn’t think about the future too much, at least not getting old. Gradually as the years go by it enters more into our thoughts and becomes more of a concern. We can even feel the impacts of age on our body and mind.
For a lot of us our main concern is with how age impacts our looks. The younger generation are used to having every angle presented through social media and other tools, and the idea of imperfection can be worrying. Unfortunately for all of us though we will continue to change whether we like it or not.
Getting older involves a lot of transition and change to how your body functions and therefore how you will look and feel. In order to fully prepare for this, you need to understand what might happen, what the implications are and ultimately the actions you can take in order to minimize any impacts.
Getting older isn’t the same for everyone so there’s no exact guide on what to expect, however the main impacts will generally be the same for everyone. At around 26 years old your body stops regenerating cells at the same rate and this is effectively where you stop renewing everything. Despite this it’s a number of years before you might notice any changes.
As we age our bodies will become less resilient. Active people may start to notice more aches and pains from exercise. Muscles may take longer to recover and this can have a direct impact on your strength levels.
Generally, people tend to start feeling more discomfort in their back, legs and hips as they get older. This is just because of the frequency of use of these areas and the impact they will sustain on a day to day basis. Unfortunately, as these are damaged they will cause direct implications on your mobility. This can make stairs, sports or even longer travels difficult and you may need to use specialist tools or walking sticks to assist you.
More worrying to a lot of people than muscle or joint pain is the impact that aging can have on your skin. Let’s have a look at how aging impacts your skin.
Your skin cells contain a lot of collagen and elastin. This elastic tissue is vital for keeping your skin in good condition and protecting your body. It’s also an essential part of keeping the shape and firmness of your skin.
As you age your body will start to produce less of this elastic tissue and as a result your skin can begin to overstretch. This means that it will become damaged more easily, that scarring can be seen more and stretch marks may start to appear. It can also lead to loose skin or wrinkles.
Another essential element of healthy skin is lubrication. Oils are produced by the body for this purpose but sebaceous glands begin to slow down production as we age. For men this will normally be after the age of 80 but for women it can start just after the menopause.
The result of less lubrication for your skin is that it is more vulnerable to the elements. It can cause skin to become dry and itchy, causing redness and soreness.
The impact of aging on your skin generally is that it is much less resilient. Outside factors and UV radiation will have much more impact and your skin will struggle to retain its firm shape. This means an increase in wrinkles and loose skin which is generally most prevalent around the neck and chin area.
Aging skin is one of the biggest fears for a lot of people, who would do anything to prevent this happening. There are far ranging solutions out there but be warned, some are not as effective as others.
We’ve painted quite a worrying picture but it really isn’t all doom and gloom we promise. There are a lot of preemptive actions you can take to slow down the aging process, specifically when it comes to your skin.
For skin care you will find there are lots of home remedies promising results, however you have to approach with caution. Skin can be fickle and is different for each of us. You can’t always be sure exactly how you will react to certain ingredients and you don’t want to break out in a rash or worse.
Instead the safer option is to look at existing specialist anti-aging ranges. Most clinical brands have a range of anti-wrinkle and anti-aging products. These vary massively in price depending on brand but whatever you go for make sure you look for a moisturizer that can soften your skin.
For the rest of your body it’s all about exercising but limiting impact. Swimming and cycling are great because they are low impact, but running can have a real impact on your joints that you want to avoid. Remember that doing nothing can be as damaging as doing nothing!
Support as you Age
For older people, it’s all about managing the expectations and lowering the risks associated with age by staying active in a sensible way. By lowering the pressure and stress on the body you can help preserve yourself and stay injury free for much longer.
For younger people who are responsible for older generations it’s all about helping make the best choice for these relatives. This can be a real challenge. For those who have elderly family or friends that they are unable to care for anymore, there are a number of options available to assist. This includes care homes.
Homestyle Aged Care have been helping support families and offer care for over 20 years. They currently operate over 36 different care homes with unique facilities and great staff.
We see a lot more of those people who are dedicated to fitness these days. Our Facebook and Instagram feeds are full with models posing and showing us how impressive their physique is. In fact it’s hard to go a day without seeing some abs that we’re envious of.
It’s not just on social media but it’s becoming a hot topic in society. We all want to be fit and look great. Healthy shops are flourishing and gym memberships are booming. It’s all about looking great and being the best we can be.
It would be an overstatement to say it’s a new idea. The Greek philosophers all agreed that not using the body to the fullest extent was a real waste and they believed in sculpting excellence. What has changed though is the science behind it and we have become a lot more effective at getting the maximum results from our time exercising.
Abs are the ultimate to looking great. In a lot of ways the definition in our abs defines our fitness overall. With even, firm and well defined abs we have the confidence that our body is on point and we’ve worked hard to achieve it. Of course great abs isn’t just about the look. Having solid abdominal muscles helps our whole body function, providing greater support for the whole body and preventing future health issues.
Abs are just like any other muscle group. You have to train them using the right equipment and using the right routine, only then will you get the best results.
Sit Up Benches
Sit up benches, as the name suggests, are benches that have been designed specifically for sit ups. Sit ups are the core exercise for your core. Everybody knows their effectiveness and has worked them into their routine at some point, benches let you take this to the next level.
Sit up benches revolutionize your workouts. The number one key feature is the angles they allow. Sit up benches allow for various angles so you can adjust and get the full range of motion. This helps exercise all the small muscle groups you may not usually target.
They also allow for much more focused and safer exercise. Benches allow you to take the other part of your body out of the equation, isolating the abdominal muscles so that you can work them out as much as possible. It stops any potential strain or injury to your knees or ankles (providing you use it right).
Sit up benches are a really great way to make sure your abs are tight and firm. They’re the next stage of ab exercise and help you achieve your fitness goals more effectively.
Best Bench for Sit Ups
There are a lot of different benches on the market for sit ups and in this crowded market place it’s hard to tell if you’re getting the best product at the best price. While it’s difficult to cut through the field and find the best there are a couple of features to look out for:
Adjustable benches are the way to go for sure. Getting the best abdominal workout is about exploring the range of motion and the flexibility that comes with it. The best benches for sit ups will include various inclines to suit you.
Ergonomic design is now built into a lot of the top models. This is just so it fits the curve of your back and really helps cut down on any back strain or injury that can occur.
There is now no standard size for a bench so you can find one which really fits your need. Available both wide and long you can explore the market and make sure you’re getting a sit up bench which is just right for you.
Sit up benches really are a great investment and if you haven’t used one before you’ll definitely see the improvement. Check out the full guide here.
