Dr. Wayne L. Westcott’s article "Strength Training Benefits: The First Step in Reaching the Sedentary” gets the story on muscle mass straight. Boy (and Girl), is this important — especially among those of us who are approaching their sixth decade and up. As Westcott points out, “It should … come as no surprise that obesity has increased by almost 70% in the past 10 years."
Among the many misunderstandings in the public's mind is that all exercise is basically the same. How could any culture today not know this is B.S.? Ignorance, of course. If we led the world in illiteracy and didn't teach reading, _____. If you can’t fill in the blank, you haven’t been following me over the years :-).
Know any of those poor, weak, stumbling, folks? Pitiful. Worse, is their ignorance about how the physiology of aging works. How could it be otherwise? Ninety-nine percent of us didn't get any education in the first place, or learn how to survive and thrive in a sedentary society.
Do you think when these tottering old farts present their condition to their doc, he/she will tell them to "get in shape and get your muscle mass up to speed?" Seriously doubt it.
Please note, as the title tells us, “Strength training is the first step in reaching the sedentary." Not walking. Not cutting calories. Not some exotic menu. Why? Because Westcott, who was a consultant to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports at one time, says so and he has been a leading figure in the field for at least four decades.
Da Coach