“Physical activity is the closest thing to an anti-aging pill”– Health Canada
Exercise directly counters many age related factors including:
- Muscle loss
- Increased body fat percentage
- Slowed metabolism
- Decreased energy
- Poor posture
- Decreased bone density
- Diminishing sex life
- Increased prevalence of sickness and disease
Life Prolonging Effect of Resistance Training
Recent findings show that physical strength is the best indicator of life expectancy.
Active living and maintenance of lean body mass creates a positive cycle:
- The stronger you are and the more muscle you have the more active you are able to remain as you age. In turn:
- The more active you remain as you age the more muscle you will maintain and the less body fat you will develop over time. Muscle mass, low body fat levels, and activity are all associated with longevity.
Simply put the more muscle you have the better your chances of living longer. You are able to remain active and enjoy a better quality of life. While all activity helps, the best form of exercise for developing and maintaining lean body mass is resistance training.
Positive Chain of Events
An exercise program that includes resistance training:
- Increases muscular strength and tone, and the amount of energy used by the muscles both while exercising and at rest.
- Increases the use of body fat as a fuel source
- Increases metabolic rate (rate the body burns energy at rest)
- Strengthens bones
- Improves cardiovascular health
- Improves release and function of “youth” hormones, the decline of which is seen as aging
- Relieves mental and physical tension and helps maintain cognitive function
Which in turn lead to:
- A tighter, leaner, stronger body
- Higher energy
- Lower stress
- Better sleep
- Greater concentration and productivity
- Improved posture and mobility
- Lower instances of back pain
- Less risk of physical injury (fall, lifting, accidents)
- Lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and resting heart rate
- More self-confidence and empowerment due to improved appearance and sense of accomplishment
- Looking and feeling younger
- A longer more active life
- Lower instances of disease including heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and many forms of cancer
Regular exercise which creates the above physical and mental results frequently leads to:
A Positive “Addiction”
The release of endorphins during and after exercise creates a high. Coupled with the other effects of physical activity, which are both seen and felt, a strong drive to exercise results. This drive improves mental and physical well being. Better yet, the choice to exercise can reduce and replace addictions such as smoking, excessive drinking and overeating.