Beach Kettlebell

Newsletter

Newsletter #6, May 2007

The Benefits of Exercise

By Robert Orr

You would think the benefits of exercise are obvious to everyone. It is simple. Put your body through some exercise and you shall receive some health benefit. Many of us are surrounded by a fairly physical culture. Take my primary job for example. I am graded on my fitness twice each year by doing pull-ups, crunches and running 3 miles. Each of these events has a minimum standard. Do less than the minimum and failure is a guarantee.

I realize physical fitness is not common in corporate America or for that matter anywhere in America. It should be! Evidently most of America missed the boat on the fact that physical fitness and proper nutrition are a requirement of the human body. You may find these facts surprising. First, only tobacco contributes to more deaths than diet and physical inactivity. Second, diet and inactivity are related to a variety of chronic conditions including heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, and osteoporosis.

These facts make me wonder why fitness and nutrition aren’t important in this country. Well, there are groups of people taking advantage of our poor health by creating medications and surgeries that relieve the symptoms or “cure” these health risks. It is a billion dollar per year industry. Money from your pockets or from your insurance company is lining the industry’s pockets. Do you have any more questions?

What can you do about this? It is easier said than done but you need to change some life habits. Make healthy choices in your lifestyle. You have to take responsibility for your health. You may enlist the help of a friend or family member to keep you honest or hire someone to help you monitor your health choices. Some easy to follow examples or good choices look like this:

Choose to eat at home instead of fast food.

Eat foods cooked with olive oil instead of butter, margarine or vegetable oils.

Practice the push away diet. Push away foods that are high in fat and sugar.

Walk up the stairs instead of taking the elevator. Go another step and ride your bicycle or walk to work.

During breaks at work, do an exercise for a few minutes. A few minutes spread through the day adds up quickly. No more excuses for not having enough time.

Let’s go back to the beginning of the article and correct the facts. The benefits of physical fitness and proper nutrition are not obvious to everyone. Let me help you by providing you with some motivation to make a change now. The World Health Organization has identified the following benefits of physical fitness:

Immediate Benefits:

	Glucose levels: Physical activity helps regulate blood glucose levels.
	Catecholamine (dopamine and epinephrine) activity: Both adrenalin and noradrenaline levels are stimulated by physical activity.
	Improved sleep: Physical activity has been shown to enhance sleep quality and quantity in individuals of all ages.

Long Term Effects:

	Aerobic/Cardiovascular Endurance: Substantial improvements in almost all aspects of cardiovascular functioning have been observed following appropriate physical training.
	Resistive training/muscle strengthening: Individuals of all ages can benefit from muscle strengthening exercises. Resistance training can have a significant impact on the maintenance of independence in old age.
	Flexibility: Exercise which stimulates movement throughout the range of motion assists in the preservation and restoration of flexibility.
	Balance/Coordination: Regular activity helps prevent and/or postpone the age associated declines in balance and coordination that are a major risk factor for falls.
	Velocity of movement: Behavioral slowing is a characteristic of advancing age. Individuals who are regularly active can often postpone these age-related declines.

Travel

During the spring and summer, many of us take advantage of the beautiful weather and take week long trips. Some people head for the beach, some prefer the serene beauty of the woods while others don't rough it, they take a week and spend it at a hotel.

Regardless of your summer vacation plans you may wish to continue your exercise program. If you are traveling by air, taking your kettlebell may not be a feasible option.

One training tool that is an option regardless of travel mode or destination is the TRX System. I have been using the TRX system since February and pack it every time I travel. This system folds up no bigger than a shoe. The TRX enables you to add resistance or even reduce resistance for virtually every body weight exercise. The TRX is a fantastic tool for developing the entire body; especially core strengthening.

Get yours today.