Article of the Week: Fit for Life: The Importance of Being Active

If you are reading anything these days or watching the tube, you are certainly not unaware of the importance of exercising. It's something we all hear about, read about and think about, but how many of us really make the commitment to do it?

There are many reasons why we don't and most of them relate to the habit of a lifetime of not exercising because we just don't like it or just can't summon the energy to do it in any form, small or large.

There is no question that an appetite for being active is no different than intellectual curiosity. It increases with use and is stimulated by examples, by role models.

Some years ago I interviewed Bob Delmontique, best known as a trainer to such movie starts as Errol Flynn, Paul Newman, and more recently Sharon Stone. Bob is now 85 and remains an inspiration for anyone who is interested in maintaining their physical and mental well-being into their vintage years.

I often re-read the advice he shared with me in the interview and then rededicate myself to the principles, because like most human beings, I tend to fall off the wagon for the usual reason. The fact is that life often interferes with our best intentions, but postponing a desired goal does not mean abandoning it.

Here are some of Bob's words of wisdom on the subject of staying fit for life:

• Aerobic training is the secret of longevity because you strengthen your heart and lungs. Aerobic means "oxygen-demanding" and the more oxygen you take in, the more stamina, endurance, and energy you have.

• Walking and hiking are the two best exercises you can do. Hippocrates, the Greek patron of medicine, prescribed walking for all his patients whether they had heart conditions, weight problems, or nervous disorders.

• Exercise has two parts: Weight training builds bone density and guards against osteoporosis and gives you lean muscle mass. Aerobic exercise builds a strong cardiovascular and pulmonary system.

• Stretching is crucial. As you grow older, your tendons, ligaments, and muscles tend to shorten, especially if you spend a lot of time just sitting in a rocking chair."

And finally, "activity is life. Stagnation is death. Action is the key to your well-being."

Source: Eldr Magazine