As more is discovered about the chemical messengers called hormones that carry instructions to all of our body’s cells, tissues and systems we are beginning to understand their importance to our health and wellness.
Hormonal health has become big business in recent years and for good reason.
Scientific evidence leaves little doubt that the ‘big three’ heart disease, cancer and diabetes are related to unfavorable changes in our hormonal levels. Shifts in these levels trigger other changes that lead to dozens of diseases and illnesses that hospitalize and kill millions of people each year.
Hormonal decline is a central feature of the degenerative process known as aging. As we get older this process is responsible not only wrinkles and grey hair but for lost muscle and bone strength, increased body fat, diminished energy levels and an increased risk of disease.
This decline also makes you become less active which makes the problem worse. This gives rise to a vicious cycle referred to as the “downward spiral of aging” leading from a strong, robust, energetic, and vital, youthfulness to a state of weakness, feebleness and frailty and finally disability in the last third of a person’s life.
Recent research into the hormonal effects of vigorous activity uncovers how our hormone balance can be stimulated and altered in our favor when we are physically active. When we perform an exercise program that contains muscle building and toning exercise not only can it go a long way to improving our health and everyday physical performance but has been proven to slow the aging process as well.
In the past we were only concerned about what happened during an exercise session and we completely overlooked what happened after the exercise session was over. Now we are aware of how important the after effects of exercise are that relate directly to good and not so good hormonal balance.
The key benefits of a properly designed and effective exercise program are metabolic and hormonal so the maximum health benefits are obtained. It is important for health that our body composition (lean muscle/fat ratio) is a healthy balance. We now know how to increase the metabolic rate through proper exercise that will help us to burn more body fat for energy rather than store it which can lead to health problems.
Strength Training
The type of exercise that can make the most difference to favorable hormone levels is strength training exercise.
Don’t be mislead into believing that any cardio type activity such as walking, jogging or cycling can give these benefits as it won’t. Time spent on these activities will leave less time for the proper exercise that will work at keeping your hormonal army working for you.
Recreational activities are fine as part of an active lifestyle but can never replace muscle building and toning exercise which is what we lose at the rate of around one half pound per year after our mid 20’s for the rest of our lives unless you work to keep it.
If you are new to exercise make sure you get your program set up by a fitness professional so you take the fastest path to great results. The program needs to be upgraded every 6-8 weeks so the results keep coming.
Your strength training program is a powerful tool that will work at keeping your hormone levels in balance so you will feel good and look good as well. You may find that you end up with more youthful strength, vigor, energy and vitality than you had 20 years ago. Now that is something to look forward too isn’t it?
Regain vitality, muscular strength, endurance and lead a higher quality of life…
If you truly want to take command of your life…
“Healthy Self Healing” can help you do just that…
For more tools and resources from Carolyn Hansen to assist you in attaining your health and fitness goals and achieving the success you desire in life, please visit:
Isn’t it time to throw away all the false statements you’ve accepted about dieting and exercise and learn what it really takes to stay healthy and fit long into your senior years?
