That's Fit

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose two per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hi Fitz. I am 61 years old and would LOVE to have better looking arms and legs. I will do what ever is recommended if someone who knows what they are talking about would tell me that exercising WILL bring back muscle tone! I just don't want to do it if it is a waste of time. I don't have flabby arms and I do play tennis for fun, but I don't want to end up with flabby arms either! They are softer than they used to be. I want to have muscular arms. Is that possible at my age - or a waste of time?? I do walk about 1 1/2 miles three times a week and I have lost 20 lbs. in the last three months. I am now 153 lbs. Is there real hope for us senior women? Carol

Carol. Thanks so much for writing, and I'm so glad you did. As I read your email, I was thinking that it probably represented what about a billion other senior women were wondering as well. Truly glad you wrote. First. Congrats on losing the 20 pounds. That's not easy, and I'm proud you've done it. You actually just accomplished something that most of the 60+ crowd thinks has become impossible. Weight loss. Lots of people think they can't lose weight after the age of 25. Apparently not true, right?

As for concern about your arms and legs. Get to work sister, cause you can definitely make progress! Strength training will absolutely help you gain the muscle tone you're longing for and keep you strong and sturdy. In fact, I've trained many women in their sixties and early seventies who have done push-ups, kickboxing, weight training, tubes, and more. They've all seen significant improvement in their muscle tone and have loved the new feeling of comfort wearing sleeveless shirts and shorts in the hot sun again. The only thing I find truly working against us as we age is skin elasticity. From arms to boobs and butts. Skin just gets looser. Argh! I hate it, but it's true.

Pursue a safe strength training program that is challenging for you. Strength train at least three times a week and the results will come quickly. Let me know how it goes! Fitz.

P.S. Check out this story about this 86 year old body-building great grandmother. You'll love it!

Q. Fitz. I stepped on the scale yesterday and weighed 168 pounds. Today I got on and weighed 174! What gives? How could I have gained six pounds in one day? Alan

A. Fear not Alan! I can imagine you didn't consume the 21,600 calories it would have actually taken to gain six real pounds. I think you'd be in a coma if you did. 3,600 calories equal one pound, so unless you truly pigged out all day on horrific foods.....you're safe. Our weights naturally fluctuate from day to day and hour to hour. Based on water weight, the foods and beverages we've recently consumed, bowel movements we may or may not have had, and hormonal changes for women........our weight can vary.

Instead of freaking yourself out on a daily basis, I recommend finding a consistent time to weigh yourself once a week. Get a bathroom scale and step on it naked in the morning about midweek. That way, you're clothes won't be a factor, food will be less so, and your weekend indulgences may be gone. In the long run, you're true weight will prove itself.

Punches & Kicks,