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THE OFFICIAL TOP TEN REASONS OLDER ADULTS NEED TO EXERCISE

By Jim On September 17, 2009 No Comments

HERE IS A CLIPPING FROM THE AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EXERCISE(ACE) ON WHY YOU NEED TO EXERCISE WHEN YOU ARE OVER 50.

It is becoming increasingly clear to the medical community that it’s just as important for older adults fo stay active as it is for their younger counterparts. Exercise helps maintain mobility and stamina, reduces the incidence of disease and leads to an overall better quality of life. Get moving today and live longer and stronger!

1) INCREASE BONE DENSITY AND PREVENT OSTEOPOROSIS – As we live longer lives this disease will begin to dramatically affect a large portion of the baby boomer population, it’s one of the major diseases of growing old. It affects 20 million women and 5 million men and leads to some 250.000 hip fractures each year. EXERCISE DELAYS THE ONSET OF OSTEOPOROSIS BY INCREASING BONE STRENGTH.

2) TO IMPROVE SELF EFFICIENCY AND MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE- One of the top concerns of older adults is losing control, becoming dependent or a burden to someone. Exercise helps older adults maintain a greater capacity to undertake the activities of daily with less effort.

3) TO INCREASE METABOLISM-Strength training increases muscle mass which has been shown to elevate metabolism.This may lead TO AN OVERALL REDUCTION IN BODYFAT PERCENTAGE.

4) TO MAINTAIN BALANCE AND IMPROVE REFLEXES TO DECREASE FALLS- As adults age there is a natural decline in balance and coordination, which can be postponed or even prevented with proper strength and balance training.

5)  TO CREATE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY OR FEELING OF BELONGING- Exercise groups enhance social interaction among older adults who may not otherwise leave their homes. New friendships are stimulated during group exercise gatherings.

6) TO IMPROVE PULMONARY FUNCTION- Pulmonary function declines with age due to the degeneration of the vertebral discs, which alters the shape of the thoracic cavity . Exercise decreases the amount of disc degentrations and lets you breathe easier

7) TO BOOST MOOD- Exercise reduces the incidence of depression and improves self esteem while providing for a feeling of accomplishment.

TO HELP AND REGULATE DIABETES- Aerobic exercise has beenshown to be an important means of preventing and treating non-insulin dependent diabetes by helping to regulate blood sugar levels.

9) TO IMPROVE FLEXIBILITY, JOINT RANGE OF MOTION AND FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT. Physical activities that require the body to go through a full range of motion helps keep the body flexible and mobile. Circulation is also increased.

10) TO IMPROVE CARDIO STENGTH- Cardiovascular exercise helps maintain a healthy heart and  cardiovascular system and reduces the risk of heart disease. Appropriate physical training improves all aspects of cardio functioning.

Redefining The Age Process – Going To The Gym After 50

By Jim On August 2, 2009 No Comments

Day after day the media extols the virtues of exercise for reducing the risk of disease enhancing energy and losing fat, but being over 50 presents a special set of challenges and strategies. Before you head off to the gym read this and prepare yourself. The key to a successful fitness regime after 50 is simple. You must accept that your body is changing. Many of us are uneasy with change especially with our bodies. Images of sagging skin, excess bodyfat, gray hair and loss of function are negative associations we would rather not think about. The baby boomers of today are rebelling against the stereotypes and revolutionizing the aging process. Baby boomers revolutionized the concept of youth in the late 60’s and early 70’s and they’re at it again!

[This time we're redefining the aging process and going beyond the wildest fantasies of our grandparents who spent retirement in rocking chairs.]

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Exercise Is The Fountain Of Youth

By Jim On July 27, 2009 No Comments

What if i told you the fountain of youth had been discovered and you could reap the benefits today? You would think I had lost my mind or I was trying to sell you a new line of supplements. Read on the next few paragraphs will change your body and your life forever.

[Surfing is an awesome way to enjoy the gifts of life while staying fit.]

Age Is Creeping Up On All Of Us

By age 50 most people have already lost 12% of their muscle strength and increased their body fat by 12 to 15 %! The culprit is DISUSE – if you don’t use it you lose it and it takes an enormous toll on our bodies not only in our appearance but in our quality of health and daily functioning.

Exercise is the secret fountain of youth and the only proven way to combat aging and get rid of unwanted fat. In fact most people regain up to 1/3 of their muscle mass and strength after only a few months of training and lose about 5% of accumulated body fat.

Do Something Daily

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Healthy Aging and Your Diet: 5 Menu Tips to Help You Stay Young

By Jim On July 15, 2009 No Comments

Fear of aging and it’s inevitable conclusion inspires people to do some crazy and expensive things. Longevity schemes ranging from restrictive eating regimes, growth hormone injections to miracle supplements coax billions of dollars from America’s baby boomers every year. Peddlers of these products would have you believe that you can stop the biological clock for the right price.

[No matter what we do of course we are not getting out of here alive, but you can take steps to keep your body robust, strong, and nimble for as many years as possible - life is simply full of so many beautiful things to see and experience. There is a revolution in how we think about aging in this country.]

Along with exercise, avoiding toxins and reducing stress What You Eat can have a powerful effect on how you age. The goal isn’t to stop aging but to delay the onset and reduce the risk of age related disease. Right now the best way to do this is to eat the right foods and in the right quantities. The recent animal based study released about the restrictive diet experiment and it’s effect on age allegedly proves eating less adds years to your life- but how many years in humans has yet to be proven.

Also do you really want to deprive yourself of the pleasure of eating to add a few years? It’s something to think about. The authors of the study recommend a 30% reduction in the amount of food you eat, but I believe if you just ate 15% less you would see dramatic changes in your health and appearance.

I would rather take a proactive approach and focus on What You Can Eat that will help you live longer, smarter and stronger.

Here Is My Menu Ideas For Staying Young:

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How To Keep It Going – Maintain Fat Loss Habits When The Going Gets Rough

By Jim On June 30, 2009 No Comments

I love to read motivational stories and get inspiration from the struggles of others who are striving for greatness and extraordinary achievement. I have been listening and reading self help literature since the early 80’s and never grow tired of the genre. I enjoy sharing what I have learned with others and use many of the concepts in coaching baby boomers with fat loss issues.

I recently came across Dave Kekich – a millionaire businessman and entrepeneur who is also completely paralyzed from the waist down. He has published Kekich’s Credo – A List Of 100 Nuggets Of Wisdom To Help You Live Better And Be More Successful In Life And In Business.

Here Are A Few Of The Ideas From The Credo Adapted To Help You In Your Journey Towards Fat Loss And A Healthier Body.

People Will Do Almost Anything To Stay In Their Comfort Zone

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Your Problems Solved! Fat Fighting, Libido Lifting Age Defying Advice.

By Jim On June 16, 2009 No Comments

Don’t you love that headline? I was inspired by a recent article in Men’s health on solving your problems in the various decades of life. It has always fascinated me that life’s complicated issues can easily be resolved in a two page magazine article. It’s the magic of the magazine medium. I think I have always been attracted to magazines for the escape they provide into their perfect little world. Regardless of whether it’s Men’s fitness, Martha Stewart’s living or the Family circle you can always find ways to improve your world and start fresh with some great ideas and inspirational pictures.

So here is my best shot at neatly re- solving your health and fitness problems as you venture through midlife .

Problem #1- We Start Losing Muscle And Gaining Fat As We Age.

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The Top 7 Nutrition Secrets To Get Rid Of Belly Fat

By Jim On June 12, 2009 No Comments

The #1 question i hear from my clients over 50 is – “how do I get rid of this gut?” or #2 “I hate having this extra belly fat!” Guys want to know the secret to losing fat in the belly more than anything else. It trumps health concerns, energy levels and building strength and muscle as a goal in a healthy life. It’s true you can have all the good health, positive energy, athletic ability and muscle mass, but if you carry a gut it cancels out your image as a fit and buff guy. The flat stomach rules!

What’s the secret?

Well, unfortunately there is no secret but there is a good chance if you follow a few of the tips I am going to give you here you will start to see dramatic changes in just 3 weeks! So here we go.

My Top 7 Tips For Losing Belly Fat When You Are Over 50

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The Prime Directive – Leave No Regrets!

By Jim On June 2, 2009 No Comments

If you had only 3 months to live could honestly say you have no regrets about your life or the many choices you have made? I have been reading John Izzo’s book “The Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You Die” and the chapter called “Leave No Regrets” grabbed my attention. Why?

15 Years Ago I Came Face To Face With Death

I was diagnosed with a potentially fatal immune disease – and at the time there were no drugs to cure it. I wasn’t expecting a 40th birthday. I was shocked and dazed, despite all the years I had immersed myself in self help psychological counseling and spirituality, nothing prepared me for that kind of trauma.

Miraculously within a few weeks my perspective and outlook changed dramatically. Life was a rare and precious thing to be celebrated and enjoyed everyday. The disease was a gift that helped to change my perspective about life.

Right Before All This Happened I Was Going Through A Rough Time

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SIX Foods For Better SEX

By Jim On May 25, 2009 No Comments

Want a really romantic dinner? Candles and soft music are nice but what you eat beforehand could take things to another level.

[There's nothing like spending the evening in the company of a gorgeous lady.]

The following healthy and delicious foods may actually affect hormone levels, brain chemistry, and energy heightening arousal and excitement. While there aren’t any double blind studies to prove the aphrodisiac qualities of these foods, plenty of anecdotal evidence suggest they really help. Before reaching for the little blue prescription pills, why not work in one or more of these superfoods on your next date.

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Faster Fat Loss Recipes And The Cooking Club

By Jim On May 22, 2009 1 Comment

Last week Sunday was the first meeting of my cooking group. It’s me and 3 other guys who get together on the weekend and try out new healthy recipes so we’ll have ready to go healthy meals in the freezer during out hectic work week.

[The cooking club - a support squad for clean eating.]

A Cooking Support Squad Works For Several Reasons:

1. It’s great EXCUSE to socialize with like minded health oriented guys who love to cook and eat fresh home made food.
2. It gives us a chance to try those recipes that we never quite get to try and accumulate in the dusty corners of our cabinets.
3. It creates a sense of accountability to others- you can’t let the others down by not pulling your weight and doing your share.
4. The weight of a deadline creates an urgency that leads to action and creativity, especially in managing time.
5. It pulls you out of your old eating ruts- Most of us eat the same 15 foods over and over without even realizing how predictable we are.
6. Portion Control- Most guys despite eating a healthful diet tend to overeat and underestimate portions sizes. We portion our meals into freezable microwaveable containers and know exactly how many calories we’re getting.

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