| In generations past, the aging process was a cruel | | | | evaporate, bones do not have to become brittle, |
| and inevitable march towards frailty and loss of | | | | limbs do not have to become stiff and inflexible, |
| independence. Anyone fortunate enough to reach the | | | | backs and joints do not have to ache, metabolisms |
| age of 70 usually looked hunched, shriveled and old. | | | | do not have to slow to a crawl and fat does not |
| Today, however, we know that many of the | | | | have to hang off our bodies and bulge from our |
| weaknesses and conditions that used to make old | | | | clothes. |
| age so oppressive are not necessarily predestined. | | | | Taking care of ourselves means strength training |
| The first physical sign of aging is the loss of muscle | | | | exercise, of taking an active role in your very own |
| tissue, starting somewhere in the 30's amounting to | | | | aging process so that many the problems you will |
| around 300 grams per year. This loss continues | | | | face are eliminated or at least do not get any worse |
| unrelentingly throughout a person's life accelerating | | | | before they need to. |
| after age 50. Most people would notice a slight drop | | | | Each year millions of dollars are spent on pills, potions, |
| in strength, tasks that were once easy become | | | | surgery etc by people searching for the perfect anti |
| more difficult but for the most part there is little | | | | aging formula. Instead of being found in a bottle of |
| change in body weight or size. This is mainly because | | | | pills it is found in good old-fashioned "work" and |
| body fat is accumulated and hides the muscle tissue | | | | sweat. That's right, nothing else known to mankind |
| loss. | | | | can fight the aging process better than giving our |
| This increase in body fat is the second physical | | | | bodies what they have been designed to do, and |
| marker of the aging process. The third physical | | | | that is the vigorous physical activity that they need |
| marker is bone loss. Just like muscle tissue if it not | | | | to stay healthy. |
| worked hard 1% of bone mass is lost each year. | | | | To stay youthful, dynamic and healthy you need to |
| Weakened muscles not longer place enough stress | | | | keep that focus on strengthening your muscles and |
| on the bones they are attached too so the body has | | | | bones preventing the loss of muscle mass with a |
| no reason to keep the skeleton strong. Bones | | | | proper exercise program that includes at least 60% |
| become weaker, more porous, lighter and at greater | | | | strength training exercise. |
| risk for fracture. | | | | Instead of looking forward to decades of pain and |
| These three conditions, muscle mass loss, bone loss | | | | suffering as the body slowly deteriorates we must |
| and body fat increase all go together hand in hand to | | | | stop being doctor dependent and learn how to take |
| propel you speedily down the downward spiral of | | | | charge of our own health to control our aging. |
| accelerated aging. The metabolic rate drops, energy | | | | When you add some "work" back into your life you |
| levels plummet, the body hurts from the lack of | | | | are dipping into the Fountain of Youth. You can |
| muscle supporting and protecting joints and bones | | | | become lean and fit, reduce the risk of chronic |
| and the immune system weakens leaving one at a | | | | disease, relieve fatigue and anxiety, and regain the |
| greater risk of contracting a life threatening disease | | | | youthful enthusiasm and energy you need to live |
| or illness. | | | | your life to the fullest. And as the Fountain of Youth |
| If we take care of ourselves properly, muscles do | | | | promised, you will not only feel years younger, you |
| not have to shrink, strength does not have to | | | | will also look years younger. |