Exercise and Breast Cancer Recovery

May 20, 2012 / Muscle-Man / No comments

The sounding board from cancer professionals in the 1990′s was to improve survival statistics AND the quality of life for breast cancer patients. With the many new types of medical treatments, women have been surviving at much greater numbers over the past ten years, but there is still a need to improve quality of life statistics.

Dr. David Speigal reported in 1989 that support groups enhance the survival times of women with metastatic breast cancer, so there are support groups in most cities in the US that cater to the needs of breast cancer survivors. Dr. » Read more..

THE BENEFITS OF EXERCISE FOR CANCER RECOVERY

May 20, 2012 / Muscle-Man / No comments
” I was always looking outside myselffor strength and confidence,
but it comes from within. It was there all the time”.- Anna Freud

Like most Americans, I had took great pride in the victory of Lance Armstrong in this year’s Tour de France. His victory was especially taken to heart because I understood the seriousness of his cancer diagnosis, and his subsequent return to competitive athletics. His victory has also given more thought to the diagnosis of cancer in world class athletes. With the diagnosis and treatment of skaters Scott Hamilton (testicular cancer) and Peggy Fleming (breast cancer), 100 meter hurdler Ludmila Enquist (breast cancer), miler Steve Scott (testicular cancer), and baseball players like Darryl Strawberry (colon cancer), » Read more..

Blood Pressure: The Pump Quotient

May 20, 2012 / Muscle-Man / No comments

Blood is the most universal fluid besides water in the human body. It carries oxygen and nutrients as both a warming and cooling mechanism, and carries away waste products. It simply is essential for the entire body to function and in some ways, is like a good highway system.

Like a freeway, if you get a bottleneck somewhere, everything grinds to a halt. In the case of driving, you might just be late. In the case of how your blood flows, slowing things down could lead to serious health problems.

Blood Pressure Function & Control

Blood pressure is the scientific measurement of how the blood is flowing from the heart through the veins and arteries. Because the heart works as a pump, the pressure exerted in your veins and arteries is not constant- it is higher with each pumping beat and lower between beats. The maximum pressure when the heart is pumping is called systolic pressure (SP), while the lower or minimum pressure that happens between beats is termed the diastolic pressure (DP). Blood pressure is not constant throughout the human body. It is lowest away from the heart in the small arteries » Read more..

Fitness Walking

May 20, 2012 / Muscle-Man / No comments

Walking has to be the most fundamental human fitness activity. Walking offers distinct fitness benefits no matter what shape you’re in:

  • A walking program is convenient and easy to start. You can do it almost anywhere. All you need is decent shoes.
  • If you’re not very fit, start slow and don’t go far. Build up speed and distance gradually. (If you suffer risk factors for heart disease like high blood pressure or chest pain, talk to your doctor first.)
  • It burns calories and helps to keep your weight down. » Read more..

Exercise and Stress

May 20, 2012 / Muscle-Man / No comments

When you feel stressed and time is tight, is your exercise the first thing to disappear?

That’s a mistake: exercise reduces stress and anxiety. Exercise is powerful anti-stress medicine. Results that can be derived from physical activity are:

  • Less anxious. Studies have found that exercise significantly reduces electrical activity in tense muscles as soon as your workout » Read more..

Senior Fitness

May 19, 2012 / Muscle-Man / No comments

Studies show that a key to longer life is staying active as you age. You have to use your body or risk losing it. Studies show that regular exercise reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer and stroke and also combats the effects of osteoporosis (bone thinning) while reducing the aches of low-back pain, arthritis and diabetes.

Exercise just plain makes you feel better. It increases endurance, helping you feel and manage stress better.

A senior fitness program incorporates the same, basic foundations as any fitness program: » Read more..

Make Time for Stretching

May 19, 2012 / Muscle-Man / No comments

Probably one of the most neglected components of an exercise programs is stretching. Stretching increases flexibility, helps you relax, improves your posture, gives you greater range of motion and may reduce your risk of injury.

Thirty minutes of stretching three times a week can quickly enhance flexibility but even 5 minutes after a workout can reduce stiffness. » Read more..

Exercise and Your Heart Rate

May 19, 2012 / Muscle-Man / No comments

During aerobic exercise, you can use your heart rate to measure how effectively you are improving your cardiovascular fitness. Experts recommend that, as you work out, your heart rate should be about 50 to 80% of your maximal rate.
Your maximal heart rate:

220 minus your age. (For a 40 year old: 220-40=180)

Target heart rate for aerobic exercise:

Maximal rate x .5 to .8. (For a 40 year old: 180 x .5=90; 180 x .8= 144. Range is 90 to 144.) » Read more..

Women and Exercise

May 19, 2012 / Muscle-Man / No comments

Generally speaking there is very little difference between the exercise benefits experienced by women compared to those gained by men. Overall, both sexes will improve aerobic endurance, flexibility and muscular strength when sticking to a safe and effective exercise program. But gender does discriminate in some unique ways when it comes to women and exercise. » Read more..

Maximize Your Fat Burning

May 19, 2012 / Muscle-Man / No comments

Some fitness professionals say exercising at a low intensity is best for fat burning. Others disagree. Which is it? Should you exercise at a low intensity or high intensity to maximize fat loss?

During aerobic activity, your body uses two kinds of stored energy for fuel: fat and carbohydrates/sugar. The intensity of your exercise session determines how much of each energy source is utilized. » Read more..

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