As you approach forty years of age and beyond the importance of exercise becomes even greater then when you were younger. Your body isnt what it used to be and if you want to slow the aging process and live a longer healthier life then exercise is the way to go. Being forty or older is not the end of the world. If you start exercising, eating right and taking care of yourself now chances are you will live a long and fruitful life. If you discount this advice then consider this.

People who do a minimum amount of physical exercise and smoke or have high blood pressure have a lower death rate then people who do nothing. Thats right, as you get older, the less physical activity you do the greater your chances of having serious health issues and dying at a younger are. The more fit you are as you age the greater the benefit to your overall health and longevity.

Why is fitness when you are over 40 so important? Because research has shown that people who do not exercise are more at risk for heart disease. In fact, not exercising ranks right up there with smoking, high blood pressure and bad cholesterol as a major cause of heart disease. Going for a walk every day or even 3-4 times a week will significantly decrease your chances of heart disease. The important thing is that you get out and do some form of exercise. It doesnt have to be a workout that lasts for hours either. Studies have shown how many exercise frequency is more important than how long you exercise.

As we age we begin to lose muscle mass, bone density, and strength. Exercise in general and resistance exercises, such as weight bearing exercise, in particular are great for slowing these loses.

Of particular importance is osteoporosis or loss of bone density, in women over the age of 40 because their estrogen levels are lower as they approach menopause. Although women are more susceptible to osteoporosis, men also need to be aware of its affects and take the proper preventative measures and nothing is better at preventing the loss of bone density than exercise.

So being fit and over 40 is like the fountain of youth. We all know that exercise is good for us, but the hard part for a lot of people is actually getting into that mindset and doing some sort of exercise program. We can come up with all the excuses in the world why not to exercise but the fact remains that following some sort of exercise program as we age can slow down that process and allow us to live longer and healthier lives. So join the fitness over 40 crowd and see how much younger you can feel.