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The top ten causes of death in the USA are:
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Heart Disease
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Cancer
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Diabetes
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Stroke
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Lung disease
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Accidental injury
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Pneumonia/Flu
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Alzheimer's disease
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Nephritis/Nephrosis
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Systemic infection.
You probably do not find this list overly valuable to
improving your lifestyle; instead, you must look at the
following underlying causes of these deaths: smoking,
diet/inactivity, alcohol, infections, toxic agents,
motor vehicles, firearms, sexually transmitted diseases
and illegal drugs.
Smoking along with poor diet and exercise habits are
responsible for approximately 900,000 deaths per year!
These are the two leading causes of death in the USA and
nearly all industrialized nations. If you smoke or use
tobacco: STOP IMMEDIATELY!! Tobacco kills
450,000 Americans per year and is a leading cause of
heart/lung diseases, many cancers and stroke. Poor diet
and lack of exercise kills 450,000 Americans per year
and these numbers are increasing at an alarming rate.
The resulting Obesity Epidemic has created both Diabetes
and Cancer Epidemics that continue to increase. Even
more alarming is the increase in disease to our children
as the Obesity Epidemic takes hold of our young.
If you are obese or overweight or your children are
obese or overweight, you need to take action to correct
this IMMEDIATELY! Getting ready for Bikini
Competition Season, or your egos vanity are no longer
the most important reasons for maintaining a normal
weight, getting in shape or losing weight; your life and
welfare are now at risk. Recent studies indicate that
even overweight individuals display at least one risk
factor for Metabolic Syndrome (a precursor for many of
the causes of death listed above).
If you are not sure of your percent of body fat or
whether you are classified as "underweight",
"overweight", or "obese", the IFPA has provided the Body
Mass Index Tables on the IFPA Web Site Home Page:
http://www.ifpa-fitness.com/Fitness-Resources/Charts/BMI.html
The criticism of BMI as a measure because it does not
take into account the muscle mass is irrelevant for
children, most women, and those who are physically
inactive. Physically inactive people have a relatively
low percent of muscle mass. If you do exercise and have
accumulated a substantial amount of muscle mass, see
your local IFPA Certified Fitness Professional who is
trained to accurately access your percent of body fat
vs. lean body tissue.
Diet and exercise go together for maximizing health,
longevity and optimum performance. Despite the
marketing hype that Carbs are bad! A recent 10-year
study by Dr. Jacobs at University of Minnesota School of
Public Health found that the death rate among people who
ate at least one serving of whole grains a day was
15-25% below the death rate among those who ate only
white bread, white rice and other refined grains. Whole
grain foods are: whole wheat, whole-steel-cut-oatmeal,
pumpernickel and oatmeal breads, whole-wheat pasta,
bulgur, etc. Eat complete, low-fat proteins: eggs, egg
whites, lean cuts of beef, chicken, turkey and fish,
especially cold water fish such as wild salmon for
essential fatty acids. Consume healthy fats such as
extra-virgin olive oil. Consume vegetables and fruits
and avoid processed foods, sugar and fats.
Make a pact with yourself and friends and family to
exercise daily, a minimum of 30 minutes a day of aerobic
exercise and strength train the major muscle groups 2-3
days a week.
Drink alcohol in moderation (One drink per day if you
are a woman and two drinks per day if you are a man).
If you are an alcoholic, get help IMMEDIATELY! If you
dont drink-dont start! Despite the new marketing hype
on the antioxidant Resveratrol found in some red wines
(Merlot & Cabernet), this is not a good reason to begin
drinking.
Lower the fat in your diet. The American average is 40%
of calories coming from fat. The IFPA recommends 15%
and most studies on health and longevity show the
longest lived, healthiest individuals consume between
10-20% calories from fat.
Begin a STRESS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. Exercise of any kind
is a good stress management tactic, unless you are
highly competitive and overdo it. Moderate levels of
exercise frequency, intensity, volume and type can be
extremely healthy, but extremely high levels can have
negative effects. The most popular stress management
exercises are yoga, tai-chi, and similar relaxed type
movements.
Caution: Many Americans consider golf to be their
aerobic exercise. If you are riding in a golf cart, you
are not exercising. If you are conducting business on a
golf course, you are not relaxing and this is not part
of your stress management program.
The following are my two favorite rules for stress
management:
Rule #1: Dont sweat the small stuff!
Rule #2: Everything is small stuff!
You are as old as you feel.
Muscle mass is the key factor in your body's overall
vitality and exercise puts on muscle mass! There is
ample evidence that in-shape older males (i.e.: 60-72
from one Tufts University study) could lift more than 25
year old workers! Eight weeks of strength training has
shown remarkable improvements in older individuals such
as: increased strength, metabolic rate, aerobic
capacity, blood sugar tolerance, bone density and body
temperature regulation, and decreased body fat, blood
pressure and cholesterol/HDL ratio.
Along with the above recommendations: sleep 7 to 8 hours
a night, eat a healthy breakfast, drink plenty of pure
water, and avoid toxins and toxic people!
I wish you the very best of luck and a long and happy
life!
The IFPA is the only
IACET approved organization that offers a
NOCA/NCCA accredited
examination in the fitness industry. It is a demanding
certification. The challenges of successfully completing
the exam are essential to ensure the safety of your
clients. The challenges of the examination will also
ensure you the greatest possible opportunities for
success in your personal fitness training career.
Good luck!
James T. Bell, PhD
CEO IFPA
www.ifpa-fitness.com
(800) 785-1924
(813) 979-1925 (Tampa)
14509 University Point
Place
Tampa
FL 33613
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IFPA INTERNATIONAL NEWS
______
October Bali/Jakarta
IFPA - Advanced Exercise Prescription
Specialist Certification Workshop 7th - 9th
AAAC
(Bali) 10th 12th
ABAARM
(Bali) 13th 16th
IFPA
PFT (Bali) 13th 15th
IFPA
Asia Fitness Conference (Jakarta) 17th 19th
IFPA
AAF/S (Jakarta) 18th 19th
.
IFPA Conference
in Indonesia!
The IFPA will have special events in
Indonesia in October!
IFPA - Advanced Exercise Prescription Specialist
Certification Workshop 7th - 9th
October 13-15 in the incredibly
beautiful resort area of Nusa Dua, Grand Hyatt Bali,
Indonesia
October 17-19 in Jakarta, Indonesia
Not only will these events be
outstanding educational events for fitness
professionals, but Nusa Dua is truly among the most
beautiful sites in all the world. Contact the IFPA for
more information.
For more information on Indonesian
events, email:
Indonesia@ifpa-fitness.com
or call +62 21 780 2778
(International).
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James
T. Bell, PhD. is the
founder and CEO of the International Fitness
Professionals Association, IFPA.
 More
Books from Jim Bell, PhD.
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