Why Exercise?

Exercise – Is it worth the effort?


Question: Do you look forward to experiencing any or all of the following?

  • Premature mortality 1
  • Cardiovascular or Respiratory Failure 2
  • Coronary Artery Disease 3
  • Falling 4
  • Insufficient Metabolic Rate 5
  • Accelerated loss of bone density 6
  • Obesity 7
  • Anxiety and Depression 8,9
  • Feelings of Stress 10,11
  • Loss of Cognitive Function 12,13
Of course not! Well, if there was a scientifically researched and documented pathway to addressing ALL of those diseases in one fell swoop, would you be interested in participating?

When is the last time you heard a person say, 
“I’d like to experience a massive heart attack 
that leaves me in a state of being able to 
do about 1/3 of what I could previously do?”

Name one person who is hoping to lose control of one side of his or her body due to a stroke. Can you think of a single person who desires to be afraid to walk a pet or small child because they might fall down and break brittle bones. Have you met a person who looks forward to having diabetes and losing the sensation of touch in their extremities. When is the last time you heard a person say, “I’d like to experience a massive heart attack that leaves me in a state of being able to do about 1/3 of what I could previously do?”

What I have to offer is not a pharmaceutical prescription. It is not invasive surgery. You won’t find it at a nutritional supplement store. And, you don’t have to wonder if your insurance covers it.

When engaged in regular, vigorous exercise, 
there is a direct correlation in reducing the 
onset and/or severity of 
ALL the above diseases.

Brace yourself. It’s exercise. That’s right – E-X-E-R-C-I-S-E. The research is overwhelming, conclusive, and beyond question. When engaged in regular, vigorous exercise, there is a direct correlation in reducing the onset and/or severity of ALL the above diseases.

So, is it worth it?

How can I help? In many ways. Here are some of the services I provide: 
  • Fitness Assessment
  • Goal Setting
  • Exercise Prescription
  • Movement Screening
  • Exercise Program Design
  • Exercise Technique Instruction
  • Strength Programs
  • Endurance Programs 
  • Flexibility Programs
  • Neuromotor Programs (think balance)
  • Corrective Exercise
  • Encouragement & Accountability

Having a personal trainer goes far beyond the realization that you need to exercise. Think of it this way: executives know what money is, but they still hire an accountant. You know how to drive a car, but chances are good you have it repaired by a mechanic. We understand what it’s like to have muscle soreness, but rubbing them doesn’t seem to replace a massage therapist. You are capable of reading a real estate or other binding contract, but you rely on a realtor or attorney to put your mind at ease. And you understand the principles of cutting or styling your hair, but you end up in a salon.

So, contact me. Let’s make an investment in your health future. Because you know what? For those who ignore taking care of their body, the above diseases are just around the corner. And when that corner is passed, they may well trade the car for a mobility scooter  and the salon for a respiratory therapist.  Adopt the attitude that as long as you are existing, you darned well want to be living – and enjoying your quality of life.

In my youth, I remember laughing at the comic line, “Whenever I feel like exercising, I lie down until the feeling goes away.” That line seemed so witty, clever, and provided enough supportive laughter to help ease the guilt of not being more diligent about regular exercise. 

...I was losing my hope for aging in a manner that 
would allow me to continue an active lifestyle.

When I reached my 50s, panic began to settle in as I found myself examining male specimens 5, 10, and 15 years my senior, sizing up the future, as it were. And I didn’t like what I saw. Not only was I losing my stride, endurance, and muscle tone, I was losing my hope for aging in a manner that would allow me to continue an active lifestyle. Everywhere I looked, my eyes would find men with caved in chests, flat butts, sloping shoulders, unstable gaits, and the general appearance of being well on the way to that scooter and perhaps a brisk game of shuffleboard.

Aging is inevitable and so far as I know, there is no Fountain of Eternal Youth. On the other hand, I decided that as long as I’m breathing, I want to maximize my quality of life by maintaining physical fitness. I want more than to exist - I want to live. And the research is abundantly clear, regular exercise will help me realize that goal.

Take a look at some of the documented findings concerning exercise. Large-scale studies conclusively show that with increased regular exercise, the incidence of the aforementioned  diseases goes down.

The earlier you start, and maintain, an exercise program, the more you are investing in your future health.
  
Is there a guarantee? Of course not. But if longitudinal studies conclusively show an inverse relationship (that is, as exercise increases, the above diseases decrease), it’s hardly wishful thinking. No, it’s reality.

The earlier you start, and maintain, an exercise program, the more you are investing in your future health. You will keep weight gain at bay, decrease the loss of bone density, improve your balance, increase your metabolism, improve your cardiovascular and respiratory endurance and health, and so much more. 





 1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Physical Activity and Health [Internet]. Atlanta, (GA): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; [cited 2011 Apr 3]. Available from http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/health/index.html
2 American College of Sports Medicine, ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. 9th ed. Philadelphia (PA): Wolters, Kluwer, Lippincott Williams & Williams; 2013.
3 American College of Sports Medicine, ACSM’s Resource Manual for Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. 6th ed. Philadelphia (PA): Wolters, Kluwer, Lippincott Williams & Williams; 2010. 868 p.
4 Chodzko-Zajko W, Proctor D, Fiatarone Singh M, Minson C, Nigg C, Salem G, Skinner J. Exercise and physical activity for older adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41(7): 1510-30.
5 Chodzko-Zajko W, Proctor D, Fiatarone Singh M, Minson C, Nigg C, Salem G, Skinner J. Exercise and physical activity for older adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41(7): 1510-30.
6 Kohrt WM, Bloomfield SA, Little KD, Nelson ME, Yingling VR. American College of Sports Medicine position stand; Physical activity and bone health. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004;36(11):1985-96
7  JE, Blair SN, Jakicic JM, Manore MM, Rankin JW, Smith BK. ACSM position stand: Appropriate physical activity interventions strategies for weight loss and prevention of weight regain for adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41(2):459-71.
8 Paluska SA, Schwenk TL. Physical activity and mental health: Current concepts. Sports Med. 2000;29(3):167-80.
9 Christmas C, Andersen RA. Exercise and older patients: Guidelines for the clinician. J Am Geriatric Soc. 2000;48(3):318-24.
10 American College of Sports Medicine, ACSM’s Resource Manual for Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. 6th ed. Philadelphia (PA): Wolters, Kluwer, Lippincott Williams & Williams; 2010. 868 p.
11 Milani RV, Lavie CJ. Reducing psychosocial stress: A novel mechanism of improving survival from exercise training. Am J Med. 2009;122(10):931-8.
12 Chodzko-Zajko W, Proctor D, Fiatarone Singh M, Minson C, Nigg C, Salem G, Skinner J. Exercise and physical activity for older adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41(7): 1510-30.
[13] Fabre C, Chamari K, Mucci P, Massé-Biron J, Préfaut C. Improvement of cognitive function by mantal and/or individualized aerobic training in healthy elderly subjects. Int J Sports Med. 2002;23:415-21.

About Me

I am an American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Certified Personal Trainer, holding a degree in Exercise and Movement Science, which is inclusive of anatomy, exercise physiology, injury prevention and management, exercise assessment and prescription, and more.

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Meet Jim!