aging

Erik's Weekly Fitness Tip | 2 Ways To Combat Aging

 

All The Rage

There are 2 wildly popular topics that dominate in our culture right now - weight loss and anti-aging.  The general public is so concerned about these things that many industries have created the latest fad to combat them. These “cure-alls” generate billions of dollars every single year in product sales, procedures and crazy claims. The worst part is that most of the products and information out there are total crap. 

Aging

For today’s newsletter we’ll stick to aging.  I think it is fair to say that no one wants to get old, but there isn’t really a choice in the matter.  So lets focus on being part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

2 of the best ways to combat the aging process:

1.     Strength Training:  

Yeah, yeah I know, here you go again on the importance of being strong.  Let me tell you this, I have yet to come across a client who tells me they’re strong enough. 

Simple reminder, after the age of 30, we are losing a small amount of muscle mass every single year.  While you might not notice much initially, you can bet at some point, simple daily tasks will get harder. 

Weight training helps maintain the all important muscle mass.  And for those who are concerned about aesthetics, muscle burns calories so get lifting!

2.     Recovery: 

Our bodies do not recover as fast as they once did.  Hormone levels drop, bad sleep, not eating enough, and the thousands of responsibilities that we have to deal with all affect our ability to recover from workouts. 

Intense training bouts are perfectly okay to be doing.  The difference now is you have to build recovery days into your weekly plan.  Instead of a 24-hour recovery period when you were younger, you will now need to stretch it out to 48-72 hours. 

On your days off, sleep, quality food consumption, and plenty of water are an absolute must. 

Image Credit: Robin Arm via Unsplash

Call me if you'd like to start a strength training program 310.251.7420

 

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Erik's Weekly Fitness Tip | Life And Aging

 

On My Mind

Health has been on my mind more and more lately. 

  • longer work hours 
  • less sleep,
  • the faster pace of life 
  • the wanting of immediate results 

I’ve been taking notice more and more when I’m out that the daily grind is taking a toll on us.  Our health, as a population, is getting worse and things aren’t going to turn around anytime soon.  Stress, deadlines, the sheer craziness of life does not come without consequences.  People are wearing down and aging faster then ever. 

My #1 Concern

My focus, my drive, and my concern is health.  Not just mine, but for my family, clients, and friends.  I realize how fragile we all are and I’m reminded of it everywhere I look.  One fall, one diagnosis, one accident away from life being never being the same. 

Bulletproof we are not.  Our health supercedes everything.  My college coach Al Carius would always say, “If you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything.”  At 21 I didn’t fully understanding what he meant by this nor did I really care.  20 years later I now completely understand this message and care a lot.  

I lost my sister 5 years ago next month to cancer, I’ve had multiple clients, friends, and other family members have to deal with serious health issues.  Many of these issues could have been avoided if they had only made the investment in their health.  Investment - putting time in, effort, money, and sacrifice into achieving a result.  

That same effort that you put into your job, buying your house, and taking trips, needs to be made towards your health. 

Keep Father Time At Bay

Aging is inevitable.  But how you choose to age is entirely up to you.  You can succumb to it, but as I’ve written before Father Time does not take kindly to being inactive, idle or the desk-bound lifestyles.  In fact, Father Time is no different than the animal kingdom, he preys on the weak first. Life can be brutally hard on those who choose to ignore a commitment to their health.    

Pick up some weights, jog around the block, ride your bike through the neighborhood, add some greenery on your dinner plate, or get your co-workers to walk at lunch.  These should be daily habits that you practice.  Now practice stringing together days, weeks, months, and years of taking care of the single greatest thing you own, your body. 

Call me if you'd like help taking care of your health 310.251.7420

Image credit: Ismael Nieto

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