WHY WOMEN SHOULD PUMP IRON TOO

On average, people lose 3 to 8 percent of muscle mass over the course of each decade after their 30s. Strength training can slow this decline. In fact, according to a Sports Medicine review, all seniors—men and women—have a lot to gain from resistance exercises, whether they’re pumping iron or simply doing squats, push-ups, and sit-ups. While men add more pounds of muscle overall from those activities, the benefits in women are proportional to their (usually smaller) sizes. Fighting off age-related muscle loss isn’t the only perk: Resistance training can improve stamina, balance, flexibility, and bone density, which can translate into a lower risk of falls.