There's no doubt that fitness over 40 is widely discussed by medical professionals, organizations and people in all walks of life. They may complain because they can no longer climb flights of stairs due to uncomfortable knees.

You may listen to talk of friends with coronary disease or elevated cholesterol, or an acquaintance who may have been diagnosed with diabetes or raised blood pressure.

Fitness over 40 programs and routines will help to lessen your risk of stress and age related illnesses. Increased physical fitness will help to produce the muscle strength to support joints and decrease pain related to arthritis.

Sadly, only 40% of individuals in the US get the suggested amount of exercise and 75 percent are sedentary. This statistical data is gradually increasing as is the number of those who are suffering stress induced illnesses such as cardiac disease, strokes, increased cholesterol levels, raised blood pressure, and blood sugar disorders such as diabetes.

Physical activity is not very helpful if it doesn't elevate your coronary rate and breathing for 30 minutes, and fitness over 40 programs don't always start in the gym. That may mean taking a brisk 30 minute walk around the neighborhood, jogging, riding bikes with the kids, rowing, watching TV while on the treadmill, hopping on an physical exercise ball or bouncing on a trampoline.

The first real step for a fitness over 40 program is to address lifestyle changes that might affect your ability to start a program with things like dieting and nutrition.

Another thing to incorporate into your over forty program is to eat more whole grains and fruits and vegetables. A nutritionist can help guide you slowly in the right direction towards a healthier diet that you can stick to.

Your health can be improved greatly if you work to get 5 - 7 servings of fruits and veggies a day, drink ample amounts of water and cut white flour from your diet.

Exercise is always essential but you also need a firm foundation of nutrition, diet, and new lifestyles that will make you healthier. Your fitness over 40 program can consist of cardiovascular and strength training.

Cycling, jogging, swimming, or many other types of physical exercise can be considered cardiovascular developing. You will more than likely stick with the physical exercise if you and a friend do it together, have fun and put some variety in it.

When doing strength training you will want to skip every other day so that you won't pull any muscles.

Two to three days per week, strength training can be done at home with hand weights or at the gym. Not only will strength training improve your figure, it will also increase the strength of your joints and diminish your chances of getting osteoporosis.