You're never too old to start weight traning

Regardless of how old you are, you can start working out with weights. Don't be afraid that you're going to get bulging muscles - that will only happen if you work out three hours a day and consume a lot of supplements. What you will do is strengthen your musculature to make it easier to carry your kids, carry groceries, catch yourself should you start sliding on the ice, increase your enjoyment of skiing or tennis... and just generally provide you with a good, toned body.

Even little old ladies should work out with weights - assuming they have a clearance from their doctors and don't have brittle bones. Of course it helps if you start out at age 60 rather than at age 80 (and obviously younger than that) but you can start at any age - simply get the appropriate weight amounts.

Solid cast dumbbells come in weights from 1 pound in increments all the way up to 10 pounds. For the elderly who have never used weights before, five pound dumbbells should be fine. It's not about building big muscles, it's about strengthening your muscles. 20 dumbbell curls with each hand, using a 5 pound weight, may be nothing to most people, but to women in their 70s who have never trained with weights before, it's accurate.

I want to make the distinction that I want my readers to "train with weights" , not "lift weights." Lifting weights is what body builders do, the ones who like hypertrophied muscles. (As an aside, I must say that I don't care for that look, not on men and definitely not on women, but it's a free country and if that's what they like...)

By weight training, you're actually "sculpting" your body, removing as much flab as possible. However - don't get carried away with that, either. A little flab is necessary, in particular in women - if you lose too much body weight you'll no longer have periods, for one thing. There is nothing wrong with being able to "pinch an inch." You just don't want to be able to pinch two inches!

When you're first starting out with weight training, be truthful with yourself. If you're a bit of an athlete, you can use weights appropriate to your strength, and do as many repetitions as you can. However, if you're not an athlete, don't be afraid or embarrassed (even privately!) to start out with the lightest weights, and the easiest repetitions.

"No pain no gain" - as far as the average person goes - is a myth. Too many people work out hard for a couple of days, develop muscle soreness, and lose interest in ever exercising again.

Just take it easy! Keep a record each day of all your exercises. Start out very simply, and increase weight and repetitions, every week or so.

Weights
Purchase your weights at garage sales or at used sports stores. This will save you a lot of money.

Weights needed:
Dumbbells - from 5 to 10 pounds. 15 to 20 if you're a guy.
Leg weights - from 5 to 20 pounds (if you dont' want to invest in a weight bench)
Weight bench - if at all possible, invest in one that has an attachment so you can do leg exercises
Barbbell - A barbell set, from 50 pounds to 200 pounds, is nice to have, but dumbbells and leg weights can be sufficient. Having a barbell helps to vary the routine, which ensures that one's thrice-weekly regimen will be maintained.