GETTING IN SHAPE

When it comes to "getting in shape" it seems like no one really explains the subject well to help people gain a true understanding of the process. So, seeing as though the New Year is right around the corner, today we are going to take a journey down that road to give you the tools on how to get yourself "there".

WHY IS GETTING IN SHAPE SO IMPORTANT?

A consistent lack of exercise, over long periods of time, causes a myriad of issues, problems and factors that contribute to more of the same:

* Reduction in bone density

* Increase in accidental knee, hip, back, shoulder, spinal injuries

* Loss of energy

* Weakens the immune system's ability to fight against bacteria, viruses, cancers and inflammation

* Shortens the average lifespan

* Damages genes that can be passed on in reproduction

* Causes and promotes sleep disorders

* Increases intensity of symptoms of most illnesses

* Reduces the body's ability to excrete toxins

* Inceeases anxiety levels

* Promotes hormone imbalances and adrenal fatigue: erectile dysfunction, P.C.O.S.(polycystic ovarian syndrome),

* Negatively effects blood pressure

* Negatively effects blood sugar

* Promotes hypertension

* Reduces lung capacity

* Promotes atrophy

* Inhibits a great deal of the body's ability to produce serotonin, responsible for modulating cognition, reward learning, memory, feelings of well-being, happiness and numerous physiological processes.

The goal is not just long life, but medication-free, ache-free, walking freely, talking freely, remembering clearly and living with the opportunity to love and see the fruits of your life grow.

WE ARE DESIGNED TO MOVE:

Most of humanity has been gifted a group of systems that are responsible for allowing us to exist in this world. From the molecular and cellular systems to the floral and central nervous systems, we are intrinsically responsible for each systems' wellbeing equally as much as they are for us. Below are a few of those many systems, and some of the ways exercise affects each system:

* Cells: regular exercise helps renew the mitochondria of each cell, promoting proper cell death resulting in new "improved" cells.

* Flora: raises a person's core temperature and reduces blood flow to the intestines, which could lead to more direct contact between gut flora and immune cells in the mucus of the gut, and has the potential to shift microbial composition.

* Central Nervous: exercise increases the heart rate sending more and more oxygen to the brain, and promotes brain plasticity by stimulating growth of new connections between cells in many important cortical areas of the brain.

* Autonomic Nervous: the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine stimulate receptors in the heart which causes the heart rate to increase. The autonomic nervous system's ability to perform its many life-sustaining functions depends on our activity levels. The "awakening" in the morning is largely due to the autonomic nervous system's lightly "spiking" of the adrenal glands to send a small dose of cortisol through the blood stream to the brain. Sleep, heart rate and anxiety levels are ALL within this subject.

* Circulatory/Respiratory: During exercise muscle cells respire more than they do when the body is at rest, and the heart rate increases. The rate and depth of breathing increases, this process makes sure that more oxygen is absorbed into the blood, and more carbon dioxide is removed from it. This process is largely why just a few breaths from CPR can bring a person back to life;

the entire body needs oxygen.

* Skeletal: Bones are living tissue. Weight-bearing physical activity causes new bone tissue to form, and this makes bones stronger. This kind of physical activity also makes muscles stronger. Bones and muscles both become stronger when muscles push and tug against bones during physical activity.

* Digestive: Regular exercise stimulates the gut, whilst increasing intestinal activity, so digestive problems are prevented. It increases blood flow to all your muscles, and this keeps the muscles in the digestive system moving, allowing food to pass through it much quicker, even when you're resting.

* Muscular: exercise sends blood to muscles improving delivery of various nutrients, minerals and vitamins to muscles, building them, making them more effective and faster at regenerating after injury or workout.

* Urinary: During exercise, the kidneys tend to filter out more protein, as well, producing elevated levels of protein in the urine. The kidneys are also partly responsible for maintaining acid-base balance. When you exercise intensely, you produce lactic acid, some of which the kidneys excrete. For this and other reasons, urine becomes more acidic during exercise. Following exercise, the kidneys help to metabolize the remaining lactic acid. The amount of fluid filtered by your kidneys also is reduced during moderate to intense exercise, resulting in decreased urine production(so drink half of your body weight in ounces in water, daily, and exercise, so you won't have to pee so much).

Immune system: Exercise helps flush bacteria out of the lungs and airways, causes change in antibodies and white blood cells. Endometrial cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer and gastric cancer survial rates are each dramatically increased with regular exercise.

So for those if us who feel like exercise isn't for everyone, please know that your body will 100% disagree eventually.

Why is it important to get in shape?

Because we were designed to.

#iamkalmesewell