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For years people have associated strength training exercise with athletes and bodybuilders believing that it is all about building big muscles. Yet only a very small percentage of men and women possess the genetic ability to develop the sort of muscular development that we associate with bodybuilders. It is strange that many people worry about developing large muscles when on the contrary those who do not do enough strength building and maintaining activity should be concerned about losing their muscle. After we get to our mid 20's and reach maturity our body begins a long and gradual degenerative process. One of the effects of this is the loss of about one-half pound per year of muscle tissue till age 50 then this rate doubles. Our muscle fibers simply become smaller and weaker - a phenomenon called disuse atrophy (waste away). If you had an arm or a leg immobilized in a cast exactly the same thing would happen. When challenged by weight bearing activity muscles and the bones they are attached too continually renew themselves. Old worn out degenerated cells and tissue are swept away and in their place new tissue that is younger, stronger and healthier is rebuilt. Without the challenge of strength building and maintaining exercise the human body has no stimulus for the 'growth and repair' mechanism to be activated. Cells and tissues weaken and degenerate and become prone to injury and disease. The old expression 'use it or lose it' is never more apt than in this instance. If you don't use it often and coax your body into doing some physical 'work' you will certainly lose it. If you haven't heard about strength training exercise, it is the process or exercising the muscular system with weighted resistance to strengthen, condition and to keep it strong and healthy. As we no longer get enough of the natural activity in our modern sedentary and largely inactive world we can only stay well and healthy when we take the time to put intentional exercise back into our busy lives. Strength training helps develop a leaner, stronger body boosting the metabolism (the body's engine) increasing available energy, endurance and stamina. Mental and emotional health is improved as well by increasing self-esteem, confidence and self worth. These improvements have a great influence on our metabolic efficiency (the way our body uses food to create energy) physical appearance and performance and reduce risk of injury and illness. Nothing can match strength training exercise for producing these benefits. Low intensity recreational activities like walking, jogging or cycling work the muscles only in limited ranges of movement and cannot strengthen the muscular system and combat declines in strength, bone density and muscle mass that accompany disuse. If you don't look after your muscles through the years you will lose up to 50 percent of them when you reach you senior years. This will leave you in a poor condition for the rigors of aging. Get yourself started on your proper strength training program and keep yourself strong so you will never need someone to help you get up from a chair or dress or feed you. It is in each of our hands so don't delay.
Do you want to discover the secret to rejuvenating your body and improving the quality of your life? Download my free ebook "Ive Found the Fountain of Youth- Let Me Show You Too!" here: Fountain of Youth For Free Fitness Report here Fitness Weight Loss Carolyn Hansen is a certified fitness expert and fitness center owner who coaches clients to look and feel younger.
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