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More and more emphasis is being placed on the importance of the health and condition of the muscular system these days. For the last few decades the focus has mainly been on 'cardio' (heart/lung system) and we were told by the experts that we needed to do long slow endurance type activity to keep it strong and healthy. But now we know that the muscular system that accounts for around 50 percent of our body weight is what we need to be looking after especially as we get older. The health of the muscles is directly related to the heart and its pipes anyway as if the muscles are strong and firm they assist the heart as their movement squeezes or 'milks' blood back to it. The muscles need to be in good condition to act like auxiliary pumps to take some of the load off the heart. Keeping our muscles strong with everyday activity is simply not going to happen in our modern world unless your job involves manual labor. Seeing every scrap of anything that resembles 'work' has been removed from our daily lives we do not get to use our muscles very often and most of us get through each day without literally 'moving a muscle'. If we do not get enough muscle building and maintaining activity we lose around one half pound per year with this rate doubling after age fifty. Our muscle tissue is vital for our health as without strong muscles pulling on the bones they are attached to bones become weak, brittle and easily broken. Strong muscles also keep our joints supported and cushioned from the wear and tear of everyday activity. Keeping our muscles strong with proper exercise like strength training stimulates 'growth and repair' hormones that will sweep out old cells and tissues from the body and replace them with new, younger, stronger healthier tissue which is what keeps us youthful. Without these hormones the human body has no impetus to renew itself and cells and tissues get old and prone to disease. Never has the saying 'use it or lose it' been more apt. Proper exercise in our modern world is no longer an 'optional' extra, or a luxury item that you do if you have time left over. It is not a choice. It is a non negotiable requirement in self care to prevent the epidemic of 'lifestyle' diseases that are engulfing our world. Heart disease, cancer, diabetes and at least 50 others are running rife amongst the world population and all it would take to reduce this is to give our bodies what they need to remain healthy and strong. At the top of the list is working the muscles with challenging activity and give the human body what it is designed for - activity and plenty of it. No matter how you feel about this, whether you like it or not you need to put intentional proper exercise like strength training into your life on a regular basis if you wish to remain strong and healthy. Not only will you be healthier in the short term but long term in the last 15-20 years of life you will be more likely to be able to take care of yourself keeping your independence and dignity so your health span matches your life span.
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: Reverse Aging 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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