URGENT…DISTURBING STATISTICS

Disturbing statistics!

A sedentary lifestyle is responsible for one out of ten mortalities worldwide or over 5.3 million+ yearly since 2012. Health authorities pronounced this matter as a worldwide pandemic; Harvard analysts found that lack of exercise is accountable for a shocking rise in people passing away from coronary illness, type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, and colon malignancies.

Studies have demonstrated that it is more probable that those with prior health conditions will die from the coronavirus.

A strong, responsive immune system is superior to any mask, medication, or vaccine. Because without it - nothing will help you! It is your insurance against viruses, against falls, accidents, and other unforeseen circumstances that may occur.

One of the foundational law of nature states that the weak shall die, and the strong shall live. 

Therefore, your first priority needs to become a stronger you, that is if you want to thrive in your personal and professional life, not just survive or even die; Physically, mentally, emotionally, psychologically stronger, because you can't have one without the other. They are interrelated. 

Sadly enough, many have been and are still laughing at the face of death. 

Attitudes and language that put you at risk of dying prematurely

"I am so busy."

"I am good; I walk every day."

"My children come first."

"My business comes first."

"My cat has diabetes." 

You cannot take care of anyone or anything, whether it is your pet, children, significant other, parent, a friend, your business when you are sick or dead or lack the strength to handle problems that come up.

Which one of the following activities is likely to make you stronger, faster?

1) Yoga 

2) Pilates 

3) Running 

4) Swimming 

5) Walking 

6) Lifting Weights 

Right answer: #6

The number 1 scientifically proven anti-aging sport, is STRENGTH TRAINING;

What better approach to get STRONGER! 

Without getting too scientific, what you need to know is that there are two types of muscle fibers in the body.

Slow-twitch muscle fibers activate concentric contractions, these are the muscles we use in yoga and in aerobic, treadmills, dancing and marathon runners  etc…. This develops endurance, it is called static strength. It does not have the necessary properties to build muscle mass. If you are trying to lose weight, then a good thing to know is that studies have shown that those who do a lot of yoga have a slower metabolism, so yoga would not be a good activity of choice for the purpose of losing weight.

Fast-twitch muscle use eccentric contractions, it is an anaerobic activity; it develops explosive strength and is muscle building. Strength training and sprinters employ fast-twitch muscles. Note that most sprinters need to do strength training to balance out muscle mass by developing their upper body, as sprinting mainly builds leg muscles, which would leave them with an unbalanced physique, and poor performance.

Using lightweight and high repetitions fall into the slow-twitch category and is not a muscle-building activity and neither is lifting 10 lbs dumbbells at home or putting 2 lb bands on your wrists while on your walk or doing dishes. These types of activities are still falling in the aerobic category.

Aerobic activities and Yoga, are scientifically proven to be missing the key anti-aging component to a balanced exercise program, which is muscle building.

Here is an overview of what happens to the body as a result of losing muscle mass, which begins as early as age 30, depending on your lifestyle. The women on the top row of the picture are incorporating strength training to their weekly activities,  while the women at the bottom row are not.

If you are not building muscle mass, you are losing muscle mass. Muscle loss syndrome is no joke; it leads to serious health problems.

There are various categories of issues that may arise

A. If you have a tendency towards weight gain, you will continue to gain weight and suffer the health consequences associated with it, such as

• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Cancers
• Back and neck pain
• sciatica

B. If you are small framed or petite, you will use muscle tissue for energy, which will deplete your body

• Weak immune system
• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Diabetes,
• Anemia.
• You’ll also be prone to suffer from back and neck pain but for you especially, you will be in very serious danger of developing
• Osteoporosis

In any case, you are aging prematurely.

Don’t wait until you get sick to take action. I saw an advertising panel from AARP the other day, it said strength is not optional. Strength is not optional and you develop and keep it with strength training; that is why it is called strength training, or bodybuilding!

STRENGTH IS NOT OPTIONAL

Of course, we understand, you have no time, remember:

Those who think they have no time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to make time for illnesses.” Earl of Derby

This is why you need a structured strength training system, the keyword here is a system, that will address your basic needs (aerobic and anaerobic = endurance and muscle building)  to stay healthy, saving time money and energy long term but also to give you the education needed to sustain the workouts on your own, for the rest of your life, because there are no quick fixes here, this about adopting healthy habits. After all, you wouldn’t stop brushing your teeth just because you had a cleaning last week, right? It is the same thing with strength training, if you don’t do it, your body will suffer decay and you will have to pay the price sooner or later.

By the way, health is cumulative, you start losing muscle mass as early as 30 years old, depending on your lifestyle and your fitness activities,  so the sooner you start on a healthy and balanced strength training system, the easier it will be for you later on in life.

The path to becoming physically and emotionally strong requires increasing your physical strength while keeping the body grounded. This is done with specific ergonomic strength training. 

The process immediately relieves stress and produces endorphins that counteract the negative effect of the cortisol hormone that is created by fear, anxiety, worry, and tension.

Ideally, the process of increasing physical strength is done in a gym where adequate weight lifting equipment is found. Since the gyms are temporarily closed virtual programs are available online to do in the comfort of your home, eliminating any excuse not to exercise.    

It is each individual's responsibility to educate themselves on what to do at home. Many well-intentioned people are getting injured at home by doing activities that are beyond their comfort zone. A dancer friend of mine just reported spraining her ankle by jump roping with her son. Others are doing exercises based on body weight, such as pull-ups, push-ups, walking lunges, which can be really hard on the joints, causing shoulder and knee pain. 

To build strength and develop lean muscle mass, you must lift more weight than what you would do with bodyweight activities alone. Despite mainstream thinking, yoga isn't a muscle-building activity, for instance. 

WHAT TO DO

Below are a few thoughts to build strength at home 

• Purchase some workout bands
• Purchase some free weights, 
• Use your imagination and check your home for things that you could utilize, for example, a gallon of water, soup jars, cat litter sacks. 
• Learn proper ergonomic techniques to build strength safely and at the same time correct your posture

Many people are spending their days online, attending everyone's virtual events. This can be more of an escape from reality than providing real solutions. Instead, sit in silence and spend quality time with your family. Escaping reality has never improved anyone's circumstances.

Learn to set your boundaries and say NO to loved ones in order not to hurt yourself.

Don't' use lockdown as an excuse to become a couch potato, indulging in junk food, and booze every night. Use this time to become healthier. Learn new things that can transform your life, and your reality beyond the lockdown and the pandemic.

This is a time for global transformation, which must start with you first.

Gandhi once said:

"Be the change you wish to see in the world."

You don't know what you don't know. So when an expert crosses your path, keep an open mind and an open heart, as she/he may be the angel sent to SAVE YOUR LIFE.