So what does all this have to do with muscle? Well it is a blog and I am adding this to my offerings as a fitness professional of 35 years. I believe that I have something to say and something to offer to anyone willing to listen. I am old school but old school works. Yes, in the old days, we didn't do blogs, and when I started in this business, there was no internet and no cell phones. I remember when I got my first "bag cell phone" and it was pretty cool. Now I carry a cell phone in my pocket that would make Captain Kirk jealous because it is more advanced than his communicator. But I digress!
Back to the muscle issue.
Muscle used to be for athletes and bodybuilders. And going to the gym used to be just for those that were already in shape. I never subscribed to that philosophy though. I believed the ones that needed to be in the gym were those that were overweight and out of shape. Where else are you going to reverse that condition? And back then, there were no treadmills, no bikes, ellipitical trainers had yet to be invented. (Dang, I really am old school now that I think about it... ) There were just weights and the ones that used them were the athletes. So you could kind of see why the overweight and deconditioned were reluctant to join a gym. But all of my clients did join a gym at my urging.
One of the things that science is just now figuring out is just how great and important strength training is for the human body. And researchers are scratching their heads at how effective strength training is for cardiovascular health, fighting disease and offsetting muscle loss due to sickness and inactivity. It is great for protecting bones and when those bones are injured, strength training does a great job in healing them.
Not so with aerobic exercise - at least not to the degree that strength training does. And that is why I believe that you need to do strength training and get your muscle on!
For example, strength training is awesome for those with diabetes. Over the years, I have seen countless numbers of clients that have experienced incredible results with strength traning. And the reasons are many. For example, strength training will do the following:
- Increase new lean muscle tissue and thus new insulin receptors allowing more sugar to be transported into the muscle
- Using available sugars for lifting weights for both usable energy at the time and for immediate recovery after the workout
- Burn bodyfat for longer periods of time after the workout called EPOC, which means "Excess Post Oxygen Consumption" or in some circles, the "afterburn" which can last upwards of 48 hours depending on how intense the workout was
- Can improve cardiovascular health and fitness in greater ways that can aerobics because of the SAID principle or "Specific Adaptation To Imposed Demands". In other words, the ejection fraction will be greater, stronger and fight cardiovascular disease because of a more powerful heart where an aerobic heart may be strong for faster, shorter pumps, but that's really not realistic whereas strength training mimicks more in life than aerobics does
- Strength training has been around since the 1700's and aerobics was invented by Dr. Kenneth Cooper in 1967. Just like the low fat diet, the introduction of aerobics has made more people fat and out of shape because the approach is all wrong.
- Strength training is incredible for improving aerobic conditioning and anaerobic conditioning whereas aerobics only addresses one side of the conditioning continum.
The problem with strength training though isn't without it's faults though.
- You really don't want to do it by itself as you can get hurt - you need a spotter.
- You need someone to help you master the correct form. (That's why there are coaches)
- Women still think they will get big and bulky - THEY WON"T.
- You can get sore at first - but it soon passes
- It requires work and dedication when you lift heavy things.
Now the great thing about strength training is that you don't need to lift heavy things. In fact, strength training, also called resistance training can involve nothing more than your body weight. You just have to know what you are doing and how to go about it. Simple and that's why there are coaches.
So there you go. My blog. While I have blogged on and off for several years, I am dedicated to making this a regular thing. I have some things to say and my friends think I do too. So who am I to argue with them?
If this article has blessed you in any way (or not) would you please let me know? Shoot me an email to biofitexercise@gmail.com and tell me your thoughts. And be nice.
Stay strong and continue to Fight the Good Fight of Faith!
Coach JR
