Because we cannot really see our muscles we tend to forget about their importance and most of us have no idea of how much they can affect our health and well being especially as we get older. Not only do our muscles hold us upright and hold our bones together they are the mechanism that drives our bodies engine (our metabolism) and our means of movement.
They allow us to run, jump, throw and lift heavy objects or do precise work such as threading a tiny needle or painting a picture. We expect that our muscles will always be there for us and will continue to work in the background like faithful servants never complaining. But if we don't keep them strong with muscle building and maintaining activity we are most certainly going to lose them.
The average man and woman between the ages of 20 and 50 years who does not have a proper strength training program in place will lose one half pound of muscle per year. This amount seems small and it is but the problem is it is cumulative. It snowballs little by little, bit by bit till after a decade it is 5 pounds and after 30 years it is 15 pounds.
Then we have a problem - the loss of 15 pounds of muscle tissue is a serious issue and may manifest itself in physical ailments such as lower back pain, painful knees or shoulders, diabetes, arthritis or even heart disease. And from there on it is a downward spiral of degeneration that we used to call the aging process but now we know it is nothing more than not enough proper exercise.
To make matters worse along with the loss of muscle tissue ounce by ounce, the average man and woman is gaining body fat at triple the rate at around 1?pounds each year. This adds up to 15 pounds per decade or a staggering 45 pound body fat gain over 30 years. Yikes!
This fat gain is usually hidden as it pads the areas that have lost muscle tissue filling in the spaces and of course the bathroom scales do not show the true picture as the fat gain hides the muscle loss. The scales only show the overall increase in body weight as 30 pounds.
But with the loss of 15 pounds of muscle and the gain of 45 pounds of fat the body composition is a very changed scenario. You now have a ticking time bomb as far as health risks go. This loss of muscle not only weakens the entire body it weakens the immune system as well leaving one at risk of major disease especially the 'big three' villains, heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
But you don't have to go down this path. It takes just 2-3 sessions each week of a proper exercise program containing mostly strength training exercise to avoid this negative health situation. But is has to be strength training exercise. Do not think that long, slow activities like walking, jogging or cycling will ever stop muscle tissue loss because it won't - not now - not anytime soon - not ever.
Get yourself protection from disease and degeneration - seek the help of a fitness professional to set up your program so you can get immediate, maximum benefits. You can waste precious time and effort on a regime of activity that might be fine as part of an active lifestyle but will not be effective against the outgoing tide of physical decay that our modern 'work' free inactive lifestyles are causing us.
But you are lucky as you have now read this and are going to take action so it does not affect you. You are aren't you?
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