Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Time Marches On

As we progress through life, we must take time to reflect and understand where we’ve been, where we are at this moment and where we are headed. This holds true on many levels of our personal lives of which training is a part of. We need to sit back and take stock of our current physical, mental, emotional and spiritual situation and figure out what we are trying to achieve for ourselves through exercise. Basically, we need to set realistic goals and expectations based on our current levels of wear-and-tear from years of training and what life has done to us through the course of time. This is not designed to be some part of a “gloom and doom” approach but an honest and realistic means to which you can achieve the improvement of your health through selective endeavors. Essentially, it boils down to making the correct choices through your determined needs and not being diluted through your wants. At times, it’s a hard pill to swallow when you can’t do what you used to do, but when one door closes another opens and new goals can (and should) be established.

As you meander down the road of physical fitness, alterations will more than likely need to be made so you can exercise safely, efficiently and effectively. This necessity will dictate the need for change so you can further enhance your health. Since exercise and health are very personal things, your approach should be one that satisfies your individual needs based on protocols that suit those needs. Massaging aspects of this modus operandi is vital to your success, please use the following as a consideration and make adjustments based on the overall concepts. Proceeding on any recommendation verbatim is a mistake since a “cookie cutter” approach to anything – exercise routines, diets, protocols, etc. - are less than beneficial if they do not suit your needs so tweak them accordingly.

Below are just a few suggestions that may help further your quest for aging fitness. They are not detailed as in doing so would be a lengthy process and one that would need to be addressed on a more one-on-one level. Each has merit based on your needs as I’ve tried many of these approaches for particular reasons with success. You will see that most offer less compressive forces with greater stimulus to the musculature and cardiovascular systems.

*Slower Rep Speeds
*Higher Repetitions
*Calisthenics/Bodyweight Movements
*Static Contraction
*Less Volume Per Workout
*Less Frequency
*Intermittent Intensity
*Interval Training
*Maximum Contraction
*Less Endurance Work
*Reduced Caloric Intake
*Organic Foods
*Reduced/Zero Gluten
*Ample Hydration
*Nutrient Dense Foods
*Straight Line Activities
*Relaxation Techniques
*Chiropractic/Acupuncture/Massage Therapy

These are simple considerations and more investigation will need to be done on your part. Anyone interested in more detail on any of these aspects and more can contact me for consultation. – Fred Fornicola

fred@premierepersonalfitness.com
908-433-4542