Aging, Mortality, HGH and Exercise

We know that an inactive lifestyle places extra strain on the body, increases the risk for cardiac problems such as cancer and many other diseases.   Our aging metabolism is less able to use fatty acids properly, thus placing more burdens on our system, depressing our immune system and possibly leading us in the direction of atherosclerosis.  Exercise uses free fatty acids for 80% of the calories needed to complete an activity especially converting them to energy.  If we exercise and incorporate a healthy diet we are likely to recapture youthful vitality by slowing or reversing many of the physiologic problems that are associated with aging. 

One of the problems of aging is that as we grow older, our bodies produce or manufacture less of the HGH hormone coupled with a 30% decrease in strength by age 70.  Exercise, luckily for us, stimulates and increases production of this vital hormone.  As our metabolic rate and activity level goes down, we need fewer and fewer calories to maintain body weight.  However, most of us to do not decrease our calorie intake to match our declining needs.

Simply put, as we age strength and activity levels decline and caloric intake should decline as well.  Exercise helps to produce more strength, and energy for more activity.  If you want to eat more, then you have to exercise properly if you want to deal with weight gain.

So for me, I place emphasis on maintaining my strength thereby increasing my HGH.  It is clear to me that I do not run as well or as fast as I did 10 years ago.  Within the past 10 years, I am a little more consistent with incorporating stretching, weight training, and/or the use of bands in an attempt to slow this decline.  I want to continue to do and maintain my strength. Fear of becoming frail and weak motivates me.  I also enjoy eating, and therefore I have another reason to exercise if I do not want to put on a lot of weight.

The following are the continuation of reasons to exercise taken from doctors Klatz and Goldman’s book “Stopping the Clock.” 1.  Improves blood circulation, resulting in better functioning organs, including the brain 2.  Increases productivity at work 3.  Improves balance and coordination   4. Helps to retard bone loss as you age, thereby reducing your risk of developing osteoporosis 5. Improves general mood state 6.  Helps in maintaining an independent lifestyle 7.  Allows more energy and vigor to meet the demands of daily life 8.  Increases overall health awareness 9.  Improves overall quality of life.

It is crystal clear that exercise is good.  Note, no one says it is easy.  In my book, my friends all take the exercise pill.  And that certainly is one of the variables that accounts for their success and the ability to enjoy life.  Join us.

From Seceretariat:  Just one more reason to keep exercising. This is from this weeks Time. A study of 14,245 men found that regardless of how much weight gained or lost over 11 years, those that stayed fit or got even fitter, lowered their risk of dying from heart conditions by at least 30 percent!!

"I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it."– Thomas Jefferson