HEALTH AND FITNESS continued
HEALTH AND FITNESS continued
HEALTH AND FITNESS con't. next column HEALTH AND FITNESS con't. next column
Leah King
CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER
CERTIFIED CONDITIONING SPECIALIST
Live Strong fitness "Take Me Out to the Dog Games"
(910) 691.2639
CALL FOR APPOINTMENT
By L.S. Crain, S.Pines resident 1989-2017,
now lives in Taylors, SC, his birthplace.
Visit
our new
location
to enjoy
your
UTOPIA!
Time To “Spring” Forward
by: Mark C. Ford, CPT
In my last article, I wrote about the perils
of inactivity or “hibernating” during the winter
months. For those of you who took my advice
and stayed active, congratulations! You should
be entering the spring ready for a fun and healthy
season. For those who didn’t, I have some good
news, it’s never too late to start.
One of the biggest drawbacks to prolonged
inactivity is weight gain. Research has shown
that most people tend to add additional pounds
during the holiday season. You’ve all heard the
statement that the pounds seem to come on a
lot quicker than they come off. Actually they
don’t, it just seems like it because it’s a lot more
fun eating and drinking and enjoying tasty
deserts, than sweating and grunting in a gym
trying to get rid of all those extra calories you’ve
consumed over the last 3 months. However, a
calorie is simply a unit of energy, and I know it’s
hard to believe, but it takes the same amount of
effort to expend a calorie as it does to consume.
Of course, the biggest culprit to weight gain
is fat. There are basically 2 types of fat in our
bodies. The first one is called visceral, which is
found in the abdomen, accumulates around the
internal organs, and is known as the bad fat. The
other one is called subcutaneous which means
“under the skin.” Visceral fat is considered to be
the worst of the two and can lead to a number of
health problems. It is evidenced by the infamous
“beer belly” in men and can show up more on
the hips and buttocks in women causing a pear
shape. Both are indicators of potential health and
particularly heart complications. Subcutaneous
fat, on the other hand, does provide some
benefits such as acting as an insulator, and quite
frankly we would look like skeletons if we didn’t
have some subcutaneous fat.
But now the question. How do I get rid of this
fat? And how do I keep it from coming back? Well,
there really is only one way, and it isn’t rocket
science. DIET AND EXERCISE, one without the
other doesn’t work. You can go on an extreme
diet without working out and probably shed
some pounds, but they will most likely return.
And you can workout like crazy and continue
with an unhealthy diet and probably not receive
the desired effects.
I do want to caution that before you begin
an exercise program, you should consult your
physician, especially if there is any history of
heart, blood pressure or respiratory conditions
that could be aggravated by physical exertion.
A CPT or Certified Personal Trainer can easily
put together a program that will target the areas
you wish to improve, and just as importantly,
monitor your progress and make adjustments
when needed. They are also required to complete
Continuing Education courses every two years
to make sure they are knowledgeable on the
latest advancements in the fitness industry.
One big obstacle to staying on an exercise
program is simply finding the time. Demanding
work schedules along with family obligations
sometimes leave very little time left over
for fitness. With a little ingenuity and small
investment, it is really quite easy to set up a
home gym where you can workout on your own
schedule. A lot of people also like the privacy of
exercising at home, not to mention the time you
save traveling back and forth to the gym.
I try to emphasize with my clients that it
really just comes down to lifestyle and what is
important to you. But I truly believe that most
people, when given the opportunity, will find
that they will enjoy an active lifestyle and the
benefits associated with it.
So if you’ve been one of those hibernators,
then don’t worry. The days are getting longer,
the temperatures are getting warmer, and it’s
never to late to get up get moving and “Spring”
forward. You’ll be glad you did. ☐
Mark Ford is an ACE (American Council
on Exercise) Certified Personal Trainer
who specializes in working with people
age 50 and over in the comfort of their
homes. He can be reached at
(910)975-2572 or mford42@nc.rr.com.
No. 134 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. p.35
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