Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Sylvia Malnikow, 71, has been using a heart rate monitor to get in shape.
Sylvia Malnikow/ Polar 100: "OH, THERE WERE TIMES BEFORE I ENTERED THE PROGRAM WHERE I WAS LESS IN SHAPE, WHERE I WOULD BE HUFFING AND PUFFING AND MY LEGS WOULD BE HURTING ME GETTING UP THOSE HILLS AND I'D HAVE TO REST MORE. BUT NOW I CAN JUST GO RIGHT UP THE HILL."
She's tackled the hills of Sausalito and now wants to work on her flexibility, balance and strength.
Strength training burns body fat, improves posture, and keeps your bones healthy.
What's more it helps reverse the steady muscle loss that happens after age thirty.
When it comes to strength training, find what works for you. Machines are great, but they're not for everybody.
Sylvia Malnikow: "I'VE TRIED THEM, BUT I DON'T LIKE THEM BECAUSE THEY TAKE SO MUCH TIME TO ADJUST, AND THEY'RE KIND OF COMPLICATED. I JUST PREFER GOING RIGHT OVER TO THE WEIGHTS."
Eric Harr/ Fitness Expert: "LUNGE IS ONE OF THE BEST EXERCISES YOU CAN DO. IT WORKS EVERY MAJOR MUSCLE GROUP OF THE LOWER BODY, BUT YOU NEED TO DO IT PROPERLY SO THAT YOU DON'T HURT YOURSELF."
Fitness expert Eric Harr says you need to remember three things in the weight room.
ERIC HARR "NUMBER ONE, USE GOOD FORM. IF YOU'RE WORKING YOUR BICEPS, FOCUS ON YOUR BICEP RATHER THAN THROWING YOUR BACK INTO THE EXERCISE. NUMBER TWO, RELAX, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TENSE YOUR WHOLE BODY. IT SHOULD JUST BE THE MUSCLES THAT YOU'RE WORKING, OKAY? NUMBER THREE, CHALLENGE YOURSELF. DON'T COME IN AND MINDLESSLY JUST DO THIS. YOU WANT TO CHALLENGE YOURSELF EACH TIME."
Harr says to reap the benefits you need to strength train twice a week. But the results are well worth the effort.
Sylvia Malnikow: "I THINK IT'S MY CONFIDENCE, MORE SELF-CONFIDENCE, NOT JUST IN MY BODY, BUT IN MY OUTLOOK. I JUST FEEL MORE SECURE."
And that's good at any age.
