The One Exercise You Should Try Before You're 30

By Corrie Pikul

This type of move has major anti-aging benefits—and the earlier you start doing it, the better.

Before we tell you, let's go over a few things...

What you know: Your bones get weaker as you get older.
What you probably don't know: Before they get weaker, they get stronger: Up to 90 percent of peak bone mass is acquired by age 18 in girls (age 20 in boys), and bone mass keeps growing until around 30. Once you hit menopause, that's when you start losing bone mass—rapidly at first, and then at a slower rate. So seizing the opportunity to build your bones during peak growing season (i.e., your 20s) fortifies them against fractures, breaks and a stooped posture, says Sabrina Strickland, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon at New York's Hospital for Special Surgery. If you're over 30, it's not too late: you can still protect your already-fully-grown bones against thinning.

What you know: Osteoporosis is pretty common among women over 50.
What you probably don't know: Though about 16 percent of women over 50 are diagnosed with osteoporosis, many more women that age (approximately one in two!) will break a wrist, a hip or some other part of their skeleton because of weak bone mass.

What you know: Exercise builds bone mass.
What you probably don't know: The best bone workouts meet certain criteria, says Wendy Kohrt, PhD, professor of medicine at University of Colorado at Denver, who studies how exercise affects bone density. They must be high-intensity enough to generate a maximum stress on the skeleton, dynamic enough to generate the signal to the cells to grow more bones and put unique demands on the skeleton that requires it to adapt. So swimming and cycling, while good for your heart and muscles, aren't very effective when it comes to bone-building. Soccer, in which you're sprinting down the field, pivoting and lunging to chase an opponent, and jumping to score a goal, is amazing (it's one of Kohrt's favorites). Runners-up include field hockey, tennis, and hiking with a pack.

What you know: Weights are good.
What you probably don't know: Kettlebells can be even better. You can use them to perform moves that meet all of Korht's bone-building criteria.

The Ultimate Bone-Building Move

The double kettlebell clean and jerk combines full-body pulling and pushing movements to strengthen different muscle groups simultaneously, says Steve Cotter, the director of the International Kettlebell & Fitness Federation and a certified strength and conditioning professional. The "clean" part of the move covers the glutes, back, hamstrings and hands, while the "jerk" develops the legs, shoulders, triceps and upper back.

Here's how to do it -- ideally, first watch this YouTube video of Cotter doing the move in competition.

1. Pick up two kettlebells, one in each hand. (Start with 8-pound weights and progress to 15- to 20-pound weights).
2. Bend your knees slightly and hinge forward at the hips while ensuring your back remains flat. Let the kettlebells hang in between your legs.
3. Swing the kettlebells gently between your legs to gather a little momentum.
4. In one fluid motion, stand up and swing the kettlebells out, up and in toward your chest.
5. Pause with your elbows bent and your fists facing each other near your clavicle.
6. Bend your knees slightly and explode up on the balls of your feet, simultaneously extending your arms toward the ceiling and pressing the kettlebells up into the air.*
7. Pause briefly, then let the kettlebells drop back down to shoulder height and then down to the starting position.
8. Do these in sets of 10. Cotter recommends starting with three sets and working up to five. (Rest for 1 to 2 minutes between each set.)

*Note: In step 6, there's no jumping involved, because landing while holding a heavy weight can be tough on your knees, Cotter says. You will get the same kind of explosive blast-off by pushing up on your toes (your heels leave the ground). In fact, Cotter says he uses this move with basketball and volleyball players to help them improve their jump height. (On non-kettlebell days, you could do jump-squats, which have similar benefits for your bones.)

As a reminder, always consult your doctor for medical advice and treatment before starting any program.