Stay younger as you age-exercise regularly

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, America did a study on competitive runners, swimmers and cyclists aged between 40 and 81 to see if exercise can preserve lean muscle mass. All the subjects featured were fit, training 4 to 5 times per week and competing regularly. Researchers measured their muscle mass, leg strength and body composition, determining how much muscle tissue was composed of fat. Past studies have shown that as we age not only do we lose muscle mass but the muscle that remains contains fat which degrades the quality and reduces strength. However there was little evidence of this with the subjects involved with this study. Those at the higher end of the age group, the 70s and 80s had almost the same thigh muscle mass as those in their 40s with minor if any fat increase! They also remained strong. There was however a drop off in leg strength around age 60 in both men and women subjects. They weren't as strong as those in the 50s age group but the difference wasn't great and further decline was minimum. The 70 and 80 year olds were about as strong as the 60 age group. Dr Vonda Wright, an orthopedic surgeon who oversaw the study said, "These results suggest strongly that people don't lose muscle mass and function as they grow older. The changes that we've assumed were due to aging and therefore were unstoppable seem actually to be caused by inactivity and that can be changed."

Sorry-there's no short cut to losing weight

Despite all the adverts out there in the media, you know the ones, 'eat as much as you like and take this pill twice per day and still lose weight!' Or 'I lost pounds on this new fad diet where all I eat is any foods which are green or blue or whatever....' there is no magic formula to get you to lose weight or get fitter. It's human nature to want to find a short cut and in this age where everything is instant we believe that science must have come up with something by now to avoid having to eat healthy and exercise on a regular basis. However the truth is there are no quick fire solutions. The fad diets will make you lose weight short term but due to their extreme nature can only be done for a short period of time and most of the weight you lose is muscle rather than fat anyway. As soon as you go back to eating normally again the chances are that you will put the weight back on and extra and you will resort to dieting again, hence the phase yo-yo dieting. Your metabolism (speed in which your body burns energy)would have lowered so the body will find it harder to burn calories daily and store as fat instead. The makers of fad diets and pill peddlers are making a fortune on the misplaced hopes and dreams of people looking for a quick fix. It sounds boring and very basic but the only long term and safest way to lose weight is to eat healthily most of the time, drink plenty of water and to exercise regularly (at least 2.5 hours a week minimum). So until there is a real magic pill that can burn fat without eating healthily and exercising the best way is still exercise regularly and eat healthy balanced meals.

Body Combat

Had an audition at Virgin Active in Romford last Wednesday for cover and I am pleased to announce that they liked me and I will now be placed on their cover list, with the likely hood of getting some permanent hours in the new year. Body Combat is a martial arts based fitness class which includes moves from different disciplines such as kickboxing, karate and MMA, set to music. I have my first cover session on Thursday 25th Oct at 9.30am. Why don't you come over and have a great workout with me.