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20–30 | 30 – 40 | 40–50 | 50–60 | 60+ | Condition Management
Let’s be honest, the vast majority of people who start a new fitness and health regime do so because they want to look slimmer and more attractive.
Yes, they would like to have more energy and feel that bit less lethargic in the afternoons, but ultimately goal number one is about looking good.
That’s not a problem. The way we see it, any goal that makes someone take on a healthy, active lifestyle has got to be a good one.
In fact, we’ve already helped thousands of people lose weight and feel great and we could do the same for you.
However, when you join Fitbug you will make simple lifestyle changes that will have massive health implications not just now but for the rest of your life.
For example, a little activity every day can help to prevent heart disease and strokes. And there are numerous other benefits you can experience depending on your age and circumstances.
Your twenties are when your body is at its most efficient, it is also the time when you are most likely to exercise.
The problem is that most people who get active in their earlier years do it with the aim of achieving the body beautiful rather than looking at the bigger picture.
We are not saying there is anything wrong with striving for a better physique, but a far healthier way to look at your youthful body is as a vault that stores up benefits for when you get older.
For example, during your twenties, your body is still building up the strength of your bones. That makes it the best time to develop a strong skeleton to stave off the risks of osteoporosis in later life.
But much as your good habits pay dividends later in life, your bad habits also have a nasty way of coming back to haunt you too.
If you have a predisposition to conditions such as diabetes or hypertension, then a junk food and alcohol-rich diet or inactive lifestyle can accelerate their onset.
By following a personally tailored Fitbug program, you can limit the risks of bone damage from osteoporosis as well as reducing the risk factors of life-threatening conditions such as heart attacks and strokes.
Everyone has heard the horror story that once you hit 30 it becomes harder to lose weight. Well here’s the bad news: it’s not just a story, it’s a fact.
However, don’t panic that overnight you are going to leave your twenties behind and suddenly find yourself perched on a slippery slope to obesity, because it doesn’t work like that.
What actually happens is that sometime in your 30s your metabolism starts to slow down by about five per cent a decade, which means that despite the fact you are still eating the same amount of calories you will start to put on weight.
That’s because your body is no longer renewing cells at the same rate and you are starting to experience a bit of muscle wastage (around about ½ pound a year).
Unfortunately, because you are losing muscle mass, your body no longer needs quite as many calories to maintain its current weight and any excess energy is stored as fat.
However, it doesn’t have to be this way. By hitting the targets set for you by Fitbug, you will help maintain your muscle mass – and in turn your body will continue to burn calories at a higher rate.
Of course, maintaining your weight isn’t the be-all and end-all, but by maintaining a healthy shape and size and keeping excess weight around the midriff to a minimum you will help to restrict the risks of heart disease.
What’s more, by getting on your feet rather than putting them up, you will be helping your body to combat the stresses and strains of every day life.
For more information about using the Bug to combat stress click here.
According to the old adage, ‘Life begins at 40’. That’s because middle-aged people often feel safe, settled and secure.
But while you may be experiencing mental and emotional stability, your body is experiencing huge physiological changes.
On the surface, there is the loss of elasticity in skin and muscle and the likely increase in weight, particularly around the midriff.
Internally, the changes may be even more dramatic, including stiffening and shrinking of the skeleton and a decrease in heart and lung capacity. That makes it the decade when the likelihood of men developing heart disease suddenly shoots up (women may be up to a decade behind).
And research shows that if you are obese in your middle years you greatly increase your risk of a premature death from heart disease and diabetes .
The great news is that health experts believe that a program of regular exercise, combined with a healthy, balanced diet, as recommended by Fitbug, can slow the aging process. And mild exercise can produce impressive gains in strength and lung function.
For women, the 40s is a vital time for setting lifestyle habits that you will maintain after you undergo the menopause.
And being physically active is certainly a worthwhile practice to adopt because a major study of older women has found that exercise can reduce all causes of death in postmenopausal women.
Fitbug will not make assumptions about your level of fitness and your capabilities, but it will encourage you do what you can when you can to experience great health benefits.
Plus, when you follow the nutrition guidelines set for you each week, we will ensure that you get all the nutrients you need for a healthy life.
If you are over 50 and still not doing any regular activity then alarm bells should be starting to ring in your head.
After all, research suggests that about half of the physical decline associated with ageing may be due to a lack of physical activity.
And if you don’t exercise after you hit the big five-oh you may be exposing yourself to a whole host of health problems including reduced flexibility, mobility, coordination and bone strength, as well as increased risk of heart disease and stroke, elevated blood pressure and susceptibility to mood disorders.
If you are still not convinced that you should be doing something, here is an alarming fact. In a study of nearly 10,000 older adults, those who were regularly active in their 50s and early 60s were about 35 % less likely to die in the next eight years than those who were sedentary.
Meanwhile, a further study found that taking regular exercise in your late 40s and early 50s can reduce the risk of dementia by up to 50%.
However, as you get older it is vital that you don’t throw yourself in at the deep end, but take activity at your level. That’s why Fitbug and it’s gradually increasing targets is the ideal plan for you
As you get a little older, it is really important to keep the mind active as well as the body.
The great news is that physical activity – particularly walking – will do both.
When we get active our heart rate increases and we breathe a little quicker which in turn increases the blood flow to the brain.
All of which helps to explain why senior citizens who walk regularly showed significant improvement in memory skills compared to sedentary elderly people.
Studies also found that those who walked regularly improved their ability to process information, make informed decisions and concentrate for longer periods.
Following your own personal Bug activity plan can reduce the risk of a stroke.
What’s more, the increased self esteem and higher energy levels resulting from the activity will help you look and feel younger.
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