Archive for May 31st, 2007

31
May

What is Fitness?

bgwithgym.jpgThe 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.

31
May

Strength Training: The Fountain of Youth

462.bmpIt 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.


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