The title of this Blog is the “Fit Method.” Therefore, it seems only right to talk a bit about what fitness is and how it can be improved. Much like a lot of other things, fitness means something different to every individual. In general terms, fitness is a state of physical health and well-being. Of course, different people have different standards for fitness; for instance a senior citizen exercises to achieve a level of fitness which would strengthen their aging body to prevent it from injury, whereas a marathon runner excerices to gain a level of fitness that would enable them to run 26.2 miles.
Physical fitness can actually be broken down into nine different categories: strength, power, flexibility, endurance, balance, body composition, agility, speed, and coordination. All of these components are necessary to achieve total fitness, yet, some of them are often overlooked. It is my goal to educate you, my readers, on these various components of fitness so that you can implement them into your workouts. Proper fitness is like receiving a proper education. The same way that a good education encompasses a variety of subjects (math, history, sciences, etc), proper fitness requires training in the nine different components. Why? It makes our bodies perform better and more efficiently.
Therefore, as I will reiterate in other posts, to achieve a healthier and better you, you need to follow a fitness regimen that addresses the nine components of fitness that I have listed.
It is common knowledge that strength training can induce fat loss and improve athletic performance. However, a recent study shows that the it can also reverse the effects of aging. According to a Reuters article, a small study was conducted at Buck Institute for Age Research in Novato, California which showed that older muscles can be rejuvinated through exercise. Basically, the study found that resistance training improved gene expression in older muscles. The improved gene expression meant that the functioning of the mitochondria got better, a sign that the muscles looked more youthful. Hence, the study concluded that strength training not only preserves muscles, but also prevents age from taking its toll on them.
Therefore, this study re-inforces the saying, “age ain’t nothing but a number.” So if you are trying to look younger and keep your age from showing, you need to hit the gym.
If diets worked, how come there are so many of them?”
-Tim Keightley
While most of us at one time or another have tried to go on some type of diet, few can say that they actually stuck with it and achieved long-lasting results. Why? They are too restrictive and hard to stick to. They are too extreme and are centered around a negative perception of eating, i.e. “eating carbs is bad, stay away from them at all costs.” A diet puts nutrition and eating in terms of negatives. However, that is the wrong way to look at them. As humans we do not respond well to negation. We don’t like it when our choices are restricted. And that is why diets are not very successful. They attempt to enforce a regimen that we cannot conform with.
That is the psychological explanation as to why diets do not work. But there is also a physical explanation. They are usually based on extremes. However, our bodies do not like extremes. They demand moderation and consistency. We eat because our bodies require a certain balanced amount of nutrients to function. The nutrients are divided into two groups: macro and micro. Macro are those that we need large quantities of: protein, fat and carbohydrates. Micronutrients are those nutrients that we need a smaller amount of: vitamins and minerals. For our bodies to function properly they need a proper amount of each of the nutriets. Unfortunately, diets are centered on cutting back on the nutrients that we need. Therefore, while there might be some short-term results, diets are hard on the body. By not getting the nutritients that the body needs, it is hard to sustain both the the results of the diet and a healthy life-style. I could go on and critique every diet that exists out there individually, but I have just described the fundamental reason as to why diets do not work.
Clearly, proper nutrition is important. Therefore, there is a distinction between healthy eating and diets. Healthy eating, as opposed to diets, is based on moderation and consistency. It is a positive outlook on eating because it does not place a restriction on what can and cannot be consumed. Rather, it limits the amount of consumpion of different foods. Healthy eating centered around portion-control allows for the body to obtain all of the nutrients that it needs without creating a surplus. This approach is much easier to follow than diets which makes it easier to maintain over a period of time.
What exactly constitutes healthy eating? That I will talk about in my next post.
So I have had several people approach me about whether I watch Bravo’s show Workout and what my thoughts are on the show. These days I don’t really watch much tv outside of sports and movie channels. However, a couple of weeks ago I did catch the season marathon of “Workout”. I was flipping through the channels and I noticed the show, and decided to see what the big fuss was about. Three hours later, I was still tuned in to find out what happens to Doug and whether the Skylab clients would reach their final goals. Needless to say, I was hooked.
The show is quite entertaining, and even moreso for me, given the nature of my work. However, I don’t think that it captures the full grasp of what we do as personal trainers. It seems to me that there is a perception of us, which is solidified by the show, that we are rep-counters that are only used for the aesthetic goal of losing weight. That is far from the truth.
The scope of our work exceeds weight loss. We deal with a full range of things, from helping one client prepare for a triathalon to helping another client gain the energy and strength that they need to play with their grandkids. Our job is to make a very positive change in our client’s lives that can stay with them throughout their lifetime. I feel that this important aspect of our job gets lost in the show.
Nevertheless, it is a very interesting reality show. I will definately be looking forward to the next season.
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The title of this Blog is the “Fit Method.” Therefore, it seems only right to talk a bit about what fitness is and how it can be improved. Much like a lot of other things, fitness means something different to every individual. In general terms, fitness is a state of physical health and well-being. Of course, different people have different standards for fitness; for instance a senior citizen exercises to achieve a level of fitness which would strengthen their aging body to prevent it from injury, whereas a marathon runner excerices to gain a level of fitness that would enable them to run 26.2 miles. 
