As more people enter their golden years, the population of older adults who exercise is EXPLODING. And for good reason. They’re realizing that staying strong and independent isn’t about finding the fountain of youth; it’s about making smart choices today.
This is where functional fitness comes in. Functional fitness isn’t just about lifting heavy weights—it’s about training your body to handle the demands of everyday life. Think about it: getting up from a chair, carrying groceries, or playing with your grandkids all require a certain level of strength and mobility.
Strength training, a cornerstone of functional fitness, progressively overloads your muscles, which could increase their size and strength. And because muscle tissue is more metabolically active than fat, increasing lean muscle mass can boost your metabolism, helping you burn more calories even while resting. This may leave you lean and strong into your golden years.
Beyond aesthetics, this kind of training puts healthy stress on your bones. This stress may strengthen them and could even prevent age-related issues like osteoporosis.
The goal is to build a body that doesn’t just look good, but works well.
The Power of Omega-3s: A Surprising Discovery
Clinical research shows that certain supplements can amplify the benefits of functional fitness. For example, researchers in Brazil made a fascinating discovery regarding omega-3 fatty acids and strength training.
They recruited 45 women with an average age of 64 and divided them into three groups:
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Group 1:
Strength training only. -
Group 2:
Strength training with omega-3 fatty acids for 90 days. -
Group 3:
Strength training with omega-3 fatty acids for 150 days.
Not surprisingly, all three groups increased their strength and muscle force. But here’s what was shocking: the groups supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids showed significantly better improvements in both muscle strength and functional capacity than the strength-training-only group.
This means that while strength training is crucial, the right nutritional support can enhance your ability to perform daily tasks with greater ease.
The Takeaway
There’s no secret to a long, healthy life. It’s a combination of smart, consistent choices. Functional fitness is a simple, effective way to improve your body composition, strengthen your muscles and bones, and increase your longevity.
And when you combine that training with the right nutrition—like increasing your intake of marine (fish) and vegetable sources for omega-3s—you may build a stronger, more resilient body. This could lead to a leaner, fuller life well into your golden years.
It’s a simple, easy, and quick way to improve your overall health.
Until next time, have faith and take action!
Robert Freeme
