If we want to look younger we generally think of a surgical type procedure like a facelift. But it doesn't make sense to seek to have the face looking younger if the body is not up to par. To really look and feel younger we really need to look at a solution that not only addresses the face but the body and that includes inside it as well.

We all know the signs of aging ? loose, sagging skin, increasing waistline, loss of muscle tone and lean body mass, wrinkles, fatigue, memory loss, joint stiffness and the list goes on. We age because our body's natural production of "youth" hormones decreases with age and inactivity.

These hormones are responsible for the development of lean body mass, bone density and an efficient metabolism that reduces the body's fat storing capacity. Age is not the factor that inhibits the body's release of these hormones. It is the changes that accompany aging that are responsible for it ? changes such as weight gain, obesity, high sugar levels and high levels of free fatty acids in the blood.

And these changes are caused by being less active, living a no exercise lifestyle and a belief that we should slow down and take it easy as we get older. These are the very things that cause accelerated aging along with an increased risk of a serious disease or illness. These factors however are within our control through proper exercise and good nutrition which means that there is lot you can do now (whether you are 30 or 50) to stimulate the body's release of these "fitness" hormones.

New age technology has allowed research to delve into the effects of proper exercise and its effects on our metabolism (the body's engine). For many years exercise professionals have believed that the focus should be on what happens during an exercise session. But this new research has shown us that what happens after the session has ended has far more significance on "metabolic fitness".

This new type of fitness produces the hormones necessary to instruct the cells to renew, rebuild, repair and rejuvenate body cells, tissues and systems. These hormones not only cause cell renewal but shift the metabolism into high gear to mobilize excess body fat stores. This is how they get the term "youth" hormones.

Not all exercise will give this effect though. Low intensity activity like walking or recreational activities like cycling or swimming do not work the muscles intensely enough to give this anti aging effect.

What is required is a proper exercise program that contains a large percentage of strength training exercise performed at the right level of intensity. Add in some interval training ? short bursts of high intensity activity once or twice per week and you can expect 3 times the results in half the time.

New research into the hormonal dynamics of exercise reveals that much of what we used to believe is wrong. In fact, the way you are currently exercising may be robbing you of up to 90% of meaningful results. Specifically, the general focus on burning calories is misguided, because calories burned during exercise is a relatively minor benefit. The major long term benefits of a properly designed exercise routine are metabolic and hormonal in nature.

Seek the help of a fitness professional to set up your program and teach you correct exercise technique and intensity. When you structure your workouts for optimal hormonal response, the difference in results will astonish you.

A few lifestyle changes will allow you to alter the aging process to keep you looking younger for longer. With the emergence of new technologies, although slowly but steadily we are heading towards the dream of keeping oneself young regardless the age.

Proper exercise is a good place to start and like any good investment ? everything to gain and nothing to lose.