As we get older we generally become less active and start to slow down as this is what we have been conditioned to do by society. Older people are actually encouraged to become and remain sedentary. You know the old 'grow old gracefully' routine or the 'hadn't you better take it easy' scenario. Do they think older people are going to break or fall to bits?

All this slowing down business has catastrophic effects on an aging body. Muscle tissue loss at between 300-500 grams per year is one of the major contributors. This sends the body's engine (the metabolism) and its systems and processes into a downward spiral of degeneration. This slow, stealthy muscle meltdown starts to happen from the mid 20's onwards and largely goes unseen. Body fat can build up padding the area where the muscle tissue has being lost so it goes unnoticed.

You see, our body only has two modes ? growth, repair, renew, replace, rebuild, heal and thrive. Or the opposite - the slow down, shut down mode, decay, degeneration? die.

Every day we have the opportunity to tell our body what we want to happen. It is waiting for our instructions of how we want it to behave.

If we stay strong we tell it that our strength is needed and so it will be kept. If we do not do enough of the right type of strength building and maintaining activity we tell our body that we no longer have any use for our strength so it may as well get rid of the tissue that gives us strength? our muscles. And so they shrink, become flabby and weak.

It is well known that we each need a certain amount of vigorous activity to remain healthy. The strength of our immune system is tied to our muscle mass and serves as the body's armor and defense against illness and disease. When we lose this mass through a no exercise lifestyle we leave ourselves wide open for premature disease especially the 'big three' heart disease, cancer or diabetes.

To strengthen the immune system along with every other system in the body the entire body's muscular systems must be protected and kept strong throughout life. The way to do this is with a proper exercise program that contains at least 60% strength training exercise. This will boost the robustness of the immune system itself and lessen the risk of killer diseases.

If you work your strength training program hard enough your heart rate will become raised speeding the circulation of antibodies and killer cells through the body. A single decent exercise session with a bit of 'effort' put into it can raise white blood cell count from 50-300 percent.

As many people get sick when they are stressed or depressed your proper exercise program reduces stress hormones and releases good hormones to make you feel good chasing away the 'blue's.

Exercising 2-3 times per week will keep these harmful stress hormones from building up harming the body by providing an outlet for the nervous energy produced by the stress from our busy world and lifestyles.

So, forget the notion that you should slow down and waste away as you get older. Never is there a more important time to get stuck in and start or continue with your exercise program. Make sure it is set up properly by a fitness professional and you are taught how to perform it properly and at the right level of intensity (degree of difficulty).

And no, walking, gardening, riding a bike, swimming or any other low intensity activity can never, ever in a million years replace strength building and maintaining exercise. If you believe you can get away with this you are going to be very disappointed in your results. Do it right and possibly save a life ? yours!