THE MAGIC PILL

I have always said that I would be the richest man in the world if I could find the magic pill to cure obesity and diseases related to obesity. We have known for years that carrying excess body fat, especially in the abdominal area, increases our risk for certain diseases including coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, colon and breast cancer, and depression. Several billion dollars are spent each year on diet and diet related products making some companies and individuals very rich. Unfortunately we still remain the most overweight nation in the world and research shows that statistic will not change anytime soon.

It is with great excitement that I announce that we have created the “Magic Pill” and even though we have always had the ingredients right in front of us we have struggled to combine the proper ingredients to create this Pill. Finally, through extensive research and expense we have been able to name the magic pill and have chosen to call it EXERCISE. Although, many try to classify exercise into some narrow definition that limits its access due to lack of cost, knowledge or ability we have been fortunate to discover that all it really involves is movement. It is true that there is an advantage in knowing what to do however with the technology we have now days and with a little time invested we can begin the process to better health and a greater quality of life.

The three main components we must incorporate when pursuing any fitness program are Flexibility, Strength and Aerobic exercise.

Flexibility – the ability to increase the range of motion of joints in the body through a consistent stretching program which is a form of exercise used to elongate a muscle or muscle group to improve the elasticity of the muscle.
Strength – use of resistance (free weights or machines) against a muscular contraction which increases the anaerobic endurance and size of the muscle being used.
Aerobic – exercise involving larger muscle groups in a repetitive motion for an extended period of time and involves increased oxygen consumption.

We all know that exercise is nothing new but so often we use the lack of education as an excuse for not being more active. With the abundance of access to modern technology we should have no excuse for not knowing what to do. Invest some time and find a program that is right for you. If all else fails just start to MOVE and you will be surprised what will begin to happen.