We have to admit many years ago when we set-up our Ottawa personal training studio we were reluctant to speak out too much. Eventually one gets the urge to purge to the public at large. Here it goes – a strong case can be made for our assertion that:

“Not exercising is as unhealthy as smoking cigarettes”

In modern living we have no demands to maintain basic muscle mass. This means we suffer loss of stamina, endurance then eventually flexibility and balance as well (medically termed sarcopenia). We are seeing the weakening of society hitting at earlier and earlier ages. We may live a little longer on whole (though not as long as many assume) but our quality of physical life is in decline. Furthermore, the level of medical intervention required to deal with “general frailty” has risen dramatically.

Just trying to stay active isn’t actually exercising though it is needed to maintain basic health BUT:

You won’t remain active or active at any reasonable level if suffering from age related weakening.

As well, please remember just because some folks still get ill even if they exercise regularly it is no different than some people who smoke making it to a ripe old age. These are very low percentage situations. On whole if you don’t strength exercise to avoid weakening you will suffer the same level of deterioration and disease as a smoker…no we are not kidding. It’s just a plain old fact of modern life – the human body is either stimulated to stay strong or it weakens and:

“Weakness is always the beginning of illness”

The percentages are roughly the same with smoking caused illness and death as with physical weakness induced disease and mortality. The take home? Forget the debate, ignore any hype and just do strength exercise at regular intervals. Let go of the excuses and let this sink all the way in:

“No maintaining your strength leads to sickness”

Be well, be strong,

Andrew and Tierney