We had just finished buying groceries. As I grabbed the bags
and attempted a quick departure from the supermarket, my husband implored me to
stop and give him one. How would it look to others, he remarked, a woman
carrying all the bags of groceries while the man just walked beside her? I relented, not wanting to hurt his
feelings. He understood my reluctance to part with even one bag. My muscle
mass was at stake, after all!
I lift, stretch, jump, and walk quickly, as often as
possible, and dance. These are all benefits for bones, muscles and joints.
Movement of any sort is both restorative and life giving. ... When ‘puppy boy’
was alive, his 88 pound body required lifting, up and down a few stairs to go
outside/inside. ... Gentle support was always provided to initiate movement for him and to make it as safe as was possible. ... (In winter, ice was a constant reminder of
how easily it was to fall-for both of us. ... He was an old guy being helped by
an old girl!) ...
Movement is necessary and an ongoing requirement for all of us, in building
and retaining muscle mass. I have fallen
down the stairs on a few occasions and slipped on ice, disguised under light
fallen snow and still managed not to break a bone though the bruises were
reminders of these miscues. ... On those occasions, I laughed at myself, hoping my brain would think it was simply misadventure on the part of a young person. ... Could I have elasticity, not easily measured
in a bone density test? ... (I am at a high risk, though I do not know why.)
... Lifting or carrying ‘heavy’ objects are
an important part of my day whenever and wherever possible. It is a form of ‘resistance
training’ that puts stress on the body, in a healthy way, strengthening bones
and muscles,I have learned. ... When muscles are strengthened, bones benefit,
too. (Probably the mind, too)
In winter, we heat with firewood, our primary fuel source.
This activity is a constant reminder, a built-in ‘resistance training’ chore,
for me in bone strengthening. It is also
invigorating. ... (I have learned to breathe
deeply and properly, in making lifting easier, much like the cleansing
breath during childbirth. Deep breathing helps to move muscles/ease heart
stress.) Our tendency to hold our breath
when fear strikes or when lifting heavy objects creates a burden on our heart
while immobilizing our muscles. Proper
breathing is always a must when any work is being done.
Challenging our bodies physically is necessary to maintain a
certain level of strength as we age. Diet is our biggest ally, however, overlooked
in so many ways in our quest to find answers to health problems or fatigue.
Sugar seems to be a major culprit in our body’s ills, so we should be vigilant
in how much we consume and also its origin. Sugar in its ‘natural habitat’ (fruit
and vegetables) is much better than ‘processed’ sugar from questionable
sources. ... Fresh Fruits and vegetables, otherwise known as live enzymes, are definite
requirements for the overall health of
bones, muscles and organs. The profit margins in Mother Nature’s foods are low
so it stands to reason that the food marketing machine‘s advertising campaign
is on other ‘food like substances‘. How inconvenient
is it to eat an apple or peel a banana?
As we age, every opportunity to challenge our bodies should
be undertaken, helping to offset, minimize or eliminate the adverse affects of
short term acts of sabotage in our diet and exercise plans. Moving benefits the whole body, especially, our bones
and muscles. To Mother Nature who has bestowed upon us some of the greatest tools
on earth: fruits and vegetables, we pay homage to her power and wisdom.
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