Can You Afford Not To Exercise?

Many people mistakenly believe that their genetics determine whether they remain strong, healthy and vibrant and live a longer life or become sick and have a shortened life. But in reality, your genes are responsible for only around 30 percent of longevity.

Factors that we can actually control such as exercise and diet play a much larger role, some 70 odd percent. That means how long, and how well you live is really all up to you.

The experts are saying that many people do not do enough proper exercise to keep themselves strong and healthy and say that the activity levels of a large percentage of the population has become so bad it is seriously threatening health.

Not only are levels of health being threatened but also the length and quality of many peoples lives. What you consider a long life may be years of even decades shorter than what it actually could have been with better health and fitness choices. Another important factor is were those years lived full of the 'zest for living' along with high activity or were those last years lived with frailty, weakness and disease?

There is one thing that has great bearing on the way you age and that involves you overall body strength. If you do not do enough muscle building and strengthening activity you will lose muscle tissue. From the mid 20's this loss is happening at the rate of one half pound per year and from age 50 onwards this rate doubles.

This loss of muscle tissue with age (sarcopenia) is a serious health threat. What's more, you can expect that bone loss will match muscle loss as the muscles are attached to the bones, and when muscles weaken, bones weaken as well. Along with the muscles and bones the entire human body and all of it systems and processes weaken as well including the immune system.

We can live like this for years (or decades) while this gradual and barely noticeable decline in overall health is happening. But at some point the weakness get to the point where the human body succumbs to disease. But much of this weakness can easily be countered with a proper exercise program mostly made up of strength training exercise to hold off the muscle loss which triggers the downward spiral of declining health.

Just 2-3 sessions each week done properly at the right level of intensity (degree of difficulty and effort) can work magic in rebuilding lost muscle tissue and holding off further loss. As you gain muscle strength, joints and muscles work more efficiently together to increase your functionality all round including balance, flexibility, stamina endurance and injury prevention.

Strength training exercise is heralding a revolution in the maintenance of functionality as people grow older. The muscle mass decline that goes with aging is not inevitable as once thought and can easily be prevented. You will scarcely believe how much easier your recovered strength will make your life in every way - working, exercising, carrying things, challenging tasks and activities and even sports.

The way to get started is to see a fitness professional at your local health club or gym. When you learn how to exercise properly and are aware of the goals you should expect to accomplish, you will be much more likely to continue with your exercise program. Don't be mislead into thinking that low-intensity or light activity such as walking is going to work as it is not enough to give anybody marked exercise benefits.

If you like the idea of enriching your life with the positive habit of exercise, try this initial goal: "I will make a commitment to learn how to exercise correctly and stick to the program for 60 days." It could well be a most rewarding 60 days and a smart step towards making it a transformation to last you a lifetime.

Article Source: http://articles.drbonomi.com

Download my free ebook "Ive Found the Fountain of Youth- Let Me Show You Too!" here: Fountain of Youth For Free Fitness Report here Fitness Weight Loss Carolyn Hansen is a certified fitness expert and fitness center owner who coaches clients to look and feel younger. Just ask your medical scrubs-wearing doctor.

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