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THE FITNESS EXPERT By John DeFendis
EXERCISE (Week #6)
Exercise may be described as the active use of the body
to build or maintain strength and endurance and to make the body healthier.
This can include anything from running marathons to brisk walking, for
anyone from the professional athlete to the sedentary person trying to
get in shape. Exercise as a recreational activity is relatively modern
development. In the past, many aspects of life in and out of the home
involved physical labor. Now, relatively few occupations involve such
labor, and physical activity has become associated with recreational exercise.
The energy for this activity comes from the two systems for different
types of activity. The anaerobic system, which does not require oxygen,
provides energy for short-term activity of moderate intensity. This system
uses glycogen (glucose) from food as the fuel source. It is the major
source of energy for the first minute and a half of exercise. Beyond the
second minute of exercise, the oxygen-using aerobic system, for endurance
activities, predominates. The aerobic system requires glycogen, fats,
and proteins for fuel sources. Exercise that depends on stamina and endurance
uses the aerobic system and has been found to contribute more to cardiovascular
health. Most daily activities are aerobic since they require little power
and occur over prolonged periods, but heavy labor is usually both aerobic
and anaerobic.
Regular exercise helps keep younger people in shape, in areas such as
weight maintenance, heart rate, lung capacity, and cholesterol and blood
pressure levels. People who exercise regularly are more likely to continue
to exercise throughout their lives. As people age, the benefits of regular
exercise grow more important. While genetics plays a role in the effects
of aging, exercise has a beneficial effect on the aging body, helping
to maintain fitness and slow down the physical effects of aging. The body
becomes deconditioned with age and, if not properly exercised, can develop
significant problems in the muscles, bones, and cardiovascular system.
Muscles wither away and lose their tone, leading to more frequent tearing
of muscle tendon units. Bones become weak and brittle, fracturing easily
and more often. The cardiovascular system adjusts down to the point where
any little chore can cause an increase in the pulse rate and blood pressure
and earlier development of atherosclerosis.
High blood pressure, heart disease, and high cholesterol work together
in the development of cardiovascular disease. Regular exercise is believed
to protect against cardiovascular disease, especially myocardial infarction.
Of major importance is the consistent finding that being physically active
does not increase an individual's chance of cardiovascular disease. Exercise
has been shown to lower cholesterol levels while increasing the level
of high density lipoproteins, the so-called "good" cholesterol.
A good proportion of the U.S. population is obese, and the major cause
is lack of physical activity. Most sensible weight loss programs now recommend
a combination of Diet, Nutritional Supplements, and Exercise. I call this
the complete 3 Point Program. The combination of the three ingredients
of Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements, and Exercise has guaranteed results.
If you want further assistance or advice, please feel free to call me
at (561) 968-6578. I will make sure that you are on the right course.
Best of luck in all your health and fitness endeavors.
Your Coach and friend,
John DeFendis
NOTE: JOHN DEFENDIS IS A CONTRIBUTING WRITER FOR THE FORUM
NEWSPAPER. HE IS A FORMER MR. U.S.A. AND HAS BEEN FEATURED ON "ABC
T.V.'S 20/20", "GOOD MORNING AMERICA", AND "THE JOAN
RIVERS SHOW". HE HAS BEEN A TRAINER FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND IS THE
DIRECTOR OF EXERCISE WITH THE IFPA. HE DEVELOPED THE BURN FAT BUILD MUSCLE
PACK AND CAN BE CONTACTED AT (561) 968-6578.
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