Exercise like a man or a woman

Though we all have the same red blood running through our bodies, when it comes to gender and exercise, we are different.
Males and females differ slightly in their hormonal and physiological profile. Women tend to carry more body fat (sorry ladies) while men inherit a greater percentage of muscle tissue. The good news is that body fat in women gives them that curvaceous shape that we men love while more muscle tissue in men means greater strength and if we work hard enough, the coveted six pack. Women tend to have lower hemoglobin levels in the blood with a slightly lower oxygen carrying capacity which may reduce performance capacity. Notice that it says “may reduce performance capacity”. Believe me I have participated in enough aerobic marathons to know for certain that some women can outlast the best of us men. Also, women, because of the greater percentage of body fat, are better insulated against the cold and starvation. So you see ladies a little extra fat is actually good. Ok, what exactly am I trying to say through all this? My point is even though we are different exercise makes us equals. Whether you are a man or a woman, the important issue is that the principles of physical exercise apply EQUALLY to males and females. So let’s make exercising a part of our lives.

Use it or Lose it!

In answering the question who should exercise, the most obvious answer comes to mind; everyone. Seriously folks, aside from a few exceptions everyone can benefit from exercise and becoming physically fit. The advantages are shared equally by the young, the mature and the very mature. I won’t use the term old cause that’s just a state of mind. Matter of fact there are some older physically fit people who have a “real age” much younger than their unfit counter parts. Let’s face it, exercise makes you young. Inactivity is without a doubt the culprit in the fitness formula for all ages. The natural, unavoidable decline in our bodily physical abilities is sped up by inactivity. Exercise stops the aging process and it becomes more, not less, important in the later years to animate the physical systems of the body to resist the deterioration that comes with inactivity. Remember, the universal rule of the body for all ages is ‘use it or lose it’. So if you want to extend your ability to live independently and not be a burden to yourself or others, exercise. It’s what’s up!
Happy Results!

What is Metabolism?

Metabolism is defined as “chemical reactions by which energy is provided for the maintenance of life. Energy extracted by the body from food or stores for all activities such as heat production, movement, building tissue, bone etc”.
Our bodies burn energy all day to stay alive. A chief source of this energy is stored body fat. Aerobic and muscular exercise uses your body’s fat for energy not only during but for many hours after exercise. The metabolic rate- the rate at which the body uses energy through chemical reactions by which it extracts energy from the food you’ve eaten or fat stores to use for growth and body maintenance- is raised in exercising individuals. Exercise is cumulative, so that when you are at rest, even asleep, your body will burn more fat than those who decide to use other ways to lose weight that does NOT affect the metabolic rate. Unfortunately, we often choose the easiest path when it comes to weight loss. It is only by increasing muscle mass and exercising to become functionally fit, can we begin to utilize that excess stored fat for its intended purpose-energy. It is a waste of time to engage in exercise methods that just redistribute fat cells about the body. Cellulite cannot be pummeled, squeezed, pounded, kneaded, displaced or persuaded to melt away. Only by activating your metabolic processes can you authentically burn fat and begin to take full control over the body fat that contributes to your overall weight.

How Fat Are You?

ON THE WELLNESS PAGE OF MY WEBSITE THERE IS A CHART LISTED THAT SHOWS THE percentage body fat for males and females. This chart is important because it points to a very important subject that most people looking to be thin are not aware of and that is “the too much fat factor’
Now that you’ve figured out your body type it’s important to discern how over fat you are. I say this because many people look at so called skinny people and think because they are thin that automatically makes them healthy. I can assure you that that is not the case. A healthy body is determined by optimal body fat to lean body mass ratio. This is vital in your search for a healthier and in most cases thinner you by giving you a guideline to go by. The fact is many thin people when measured by this guideline would be considered over fat. For example, a woman who weighs 125 pounds with 18% body fat (considered ideal) at age 20 by age 50 may weigh the same but without proper diet and exercise can gain fat while losing muscle so that by age 50 she has 30% body fat (considered high) and be classed as over fat. So it is important to gage overall health not by how much you weigh but by how much fat you have.

What Is Your Body Type?

What Is Your Body Type?

Because we come in all shapes and sizes with different heights and body structures, most old school weight/height charts are undependable as there is no such thing as an ideal weight. Given that muscle mass weighs more than fat, some of the world’s best athletes would register as obese on old school weight/height charts. By establishing what body type you are you can get a better idea of how your body type will change with exercise. Your somatotype or body type is inherited and it determines how your body will respond and change through exercise. There are three categories to help you make this determination: Ectomorph, Mesomorph and Endomorph. Remember these are general classifications. Most of us have a mixture of two or all three.