I…. Wanna Rock & Roll All Night….
Fantasy. I…. Wanna rock & roll all night….
Reality. Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m sixty-four.
Photos: Mr. Speed Kiss Tribute Band; CNN
Fitness
Dumb and dumber
Men’s Health says hex-shaped dumbbells are best for your home gym versus round. Dumb (hex) and dumber (round). Yeah, round dumbbells roll. They’re not as good for chest exercises. They’re often more expensive, are not as comfortable resting on your shoulders, and are harder to grip in certain exercises. So go hex! Read all about it in Men’s Health.
– Jet Cannon
Strength Matters
Here’s the fun, fast facts from this Health article. Read more here.
- Combining muscle-strengthening exercises with aerobic activity can reduce the risk of all-cause mortality.
- Even small amounts of strength training—at least one or two days—each week can yield results.
- The most important part of an exercise program is to do activities you find enjoyable, so you maintain the regimen.
– Jet Cannon
TUT Training. Sloooow Down
Put high intensity training aside for a bit and add Time Under Tension workouts to your arsenal. Slowing down strength workouts may actually improve results. Read here for a starter workout.
– Jet Cannon
Eat, Sleep, Bulk
Maintaining or increasing muscle mass as we age can be useful for overall health and reducing fat. And the part we like comes via Women’s Health, “Bulking involves eating adequate protein, extra carbohydrates, and extra calories to provide your body with the additional fuel required to build more muscle via protein synthesis. The protein is the ‘building blocks’ and the extra calories and carbs are the fuel your body needs to use to do the building.”
The drawback is, “First, you need a stimulus for muscular development, which is usually resistance or strength training.” Oh, so there’s work involved.
Anyway, this is a very informative article on balancing nutrition, exercise, and sleep for better health.
– Jet Cannon
Magic Steps
It seems every new study comes up with a different number of daily steps necessary to stay healthy and keep the weight off. 7,000? 10,000? 8,600? But all studies agree that stepping out is a very good thing.
“CNN — Taking 8,600 steps a day will prevent weight gain in adults, while already overweight adults can halve their odds of becoming obese by adding an additional 2,400 steps — that’s 11,000 steps a day, according to new research.”
Here’s the article. Use caution if you’re reading and walking at the same time.
– Jet Cannon
It Don’t Come Easy
Eat This Not That says that weight training can burn more calories that the old tried-and-true running. And that’s good news for Baby Boomers whose knees and hips generally don’t care for running. So read this for a full-body weight workout to melt those pounds away! Assuming you’re willing to sweat with some consistency. As Ringo would say, “It don’t come easy.”
– Jet Cannon
Nature works wonders
HuffPost reported on a recent study in Berlin that concluded nature walks, versus urban walks, were the best for improving one’s mood.
“The study followed 63 people who were randomly assigned a nature walk or an urban walk. The nature walk took place in a forest in Berlin and the urban walk took place on a busy street in the city.”
“Participants were instructed not to check their phones or stop in stores while on their walk.”
Obviously, this study could never be conducted in the United States.
– Jet Cannon
it sorta makes sense
If we keep exercising as we age, we can stay physically fit and mentally healthier. Even loss of muscle mass is not inevitable. Don’t believe us? We wouldn’t either. But how about a Harvard Biologist? Many Americans stop exercising, which leads them to become less fit, which in turns causes them to exercise even less. Read more in Inc.
– Jet Cannon
Checkmate!
We enjoy writing about, but not actually playing, pickleball. America’s fastest growing sport. Popular with Baby Boomers. So a New York Times article by Melissa Kirsch caught our eye.
| “”The lesson began with a provocation. “People say pickleball is a mash-up of tennis, badminton and Ping-Pong,” our teacher said. “But it’s really a game of chess.”” |
Riiiiiight. We’re five shots ahead of you, dude!
– Jet Cannon
Hidden Powers
BBC SCIENCE FOCUS MAGAZINE reported this great news:
“We’ve all moaned about a bit of podge on our thighs or tummies, but that fat is not an inert lump of lard – it has an important job to do. And now, scientists are starting to find out even more about its hidden powers.”
Hidden powers!! Based on this, we’re a super-hero!! Who knew?
– Jet Cannon
Pickle ball Wizard
We watched a corn hole tournament on ESPN recently. The commentators noted that the high level of competition has sidelined many of the former top players.
And now pickleball. The Wall Street Journal posted an article on exercises to “turbocharge your pickle ball game.”
No mention of beer curls. Maybe it’s time to hang up the paddle.
– Jet Cannon
Photo: justbeerapp.com
Hydration, fat, and you
WellandGood.com has a sobering explanation of changing hydration needs as we age and suggests how to maintain adequate hydration.
“The amount of water you need to drink changes in tandem with your body composition, which naturally shifts as you age. For most people as the decades march on, fat mass increases while lean mass, or muscle, decreases. Muscle is ‘wetter’ than fat, so as we lose this muscle, we lose the ability to hold on to all that water.”
Pass the water.
– Jet Cannon
Ice bath testers wanted
This Men’s Health article says, “Science has shown [ice baths] can help reduce inflammation and help shorten the recovery period after physical activity.” And, “People who enjoy ice baths often explain they get a euphoric sense of feeling after each session.” A Buzz. Really?
Please try it and let us know.
– Jet Cannon
Photos: Womensfitness.net and icebarrel.com
