My father died because he didn't have a good workout program to
go along with his diet.
You see, although my father was never overweight, and ate a
healthy diet for as long as I can remember, he never
incorporated a formal workout program into his routine. Most of
the time he would be sitting, reading; he'd never even take a
walk around the block.
I vividly remember how weak and slow my father became as the
years wore on.
This lack of a formal workout program finally caught up with him
one day. He tripped, fell, and broke his hip. While most of us
can survive minor trips without falling, the typical elderly
person cannot. Many times a weak and elderly person just doesn't
have the speed and strength required to "catch" themselves in
the middle of a trip and prevent their fall. Because they didn't
employ any kind of a workout program to prevent loss of the
"fast-twitch" or power muscles of the body, their muscles can no
longer react quickly. It's mainly the reason why older people
move slowly like they do -- they've lost the ability to move any
other way except slowly. The old adage here, "use it... or lose
it" is never more aptly applied.
Also, because years of inactivity causes leaching of calcium
from their bones (osteoporosis), most elderly people that fall
also break bone(s) in the process, usually their hips.
In my fathers case, as well as most other elderly people who
fall and break their hips, this usually signals the beginning of
the end.
My father had 2 falls within 2 years, breaking his hip each
time. After his first fall it took 6 months before he was able
to walk (more like shuffle) again. After the second fall he
never walked again and passed away in a year. And boy did he
suffer while in bed. Not just physically, but mentally and
emotionally as well. Imagine an active, independent person
suddenly being confined to a bed, knowing he'll never walk
again? It's like a jail sentence.
I somehow felt responsible not convincing him to start a workout
program, especially knowing what I knew about how a workout
program could increase his strength, vitality, and bone density.
When he died I made a promise to myself...I would strive to
teach as many people as I could about the positive, life
enhancing benefits of exercise.
Because it's not about what you do "tomorrow" when you get old,
but what you do "today" to prevent the decline from happening. I
say this because you're probably muttering to yourself that
you're young now, and you don't have to worry about this.
If you're over 35 then your health and strength are declining my
friend, even though you may not be noticing it. And it's a hell
of a lot easier to prevent decline than it is to reverse it.
Perfect example? Jack LaLanne! In a recent interview Jack said
he has never gone a day in his entire 92 year life that he has
not exercised.
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE:
A workout program that focuses primarily on strength training is
the closest thing to a fountain of youth
That's what research conducted by Gary Hunter, PhD, professor of
human studies at the University of Alabama's School of Education
found.
The study found that women as old as age 77 who began a workout
program on weight machines increased their physical strength
more than 50% within four months.
Such strength is vital in preventing debilitating injuries often
associated with aging - from gradual weakening and lessening of
mobility, to osteoporosis and injuries from falls.
The women in the study also increased their walking speed by 18%
even though walking was not part of their training.
As you see, there really is a "fountain of youth". It's called a
strength training workout program. You can help yourself now and
prevent the typical age-related declines in health and vitality.
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