70% of Americans are concerned with muscle loss.
What are you doing as part of your weight, health, eating and exercise, to prevent it?
WHEE (Weight, Health, Eating and Exercise) is a community support diary for Kossacks who are currently or planning to start losing, gaining or maintaining their weight through diet and exercise or fitness. Any supportive comments, suggestions or positive distractions are appreciated. If you are working on your weight or fitness, please -- join us! You can also click the WHEE tag to view all diary posts.
Some muscle atrophy occurs normally as we age. Other causes can be related to disease and injury.
Despite Risks, Americans Are Not Taking Action To Protect Themselves Against Muscle Loss As They Age.
"Muscle loss is a serious issue that can lead to severe health and lifestyle consequences, yet building and maintaining muscle isn't top of mind for most adults," said Evelyn Granieri, M.D., M.P.H., MSEd, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, who provided expert input into the survey before it was fielded. "Especially with an aging baby boomer population, it's important that people take charge of their health and take action now so that they can continue doing the things they enjoy in the future."
Clinical research shows that starting at age 40, the body can lose eight percent of muscle per decade, which can lead to loss of strength, mobility and the freedom to enjoy daily life.
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In fact, one in three Americans surveyed over age 45 point directly to their loss of strength or mobility as the reason for giving up activities they once enjoyed.
- Yet, despite the risks associated with muscle loss,
of those surveyed, only a quarter make both a balanced diet and resistance training part of their everyday routine and 80 percent of Americans over age 45 have never discussed the issue with their physician.
Muscle atrophy is defined as a decrease in the mass of the muscle; it can be a partial or complete wasting away of muscle. When a muscle atrophies, this leads to muscle weakness, since the ability to exert force is related to mass.
What should you be doing?
An exercise program will assist in keeping muscle strength.
Our own diarist NC Dem has an excellent series on fitness and exercise. Try the following:
Basic Stretching for sore Muscles
Exercises for Your Chest
Exercises for your Glutes
Exercises for your Triceps
Hip Stretches
And many additional diaries on exercise and fitness....
Diet and exercise will assist in correcting muscle atrophy. Muscle makes up about half the weight of a healthy adult. To have an active life as we age muscles must be cared for and maintained. A failure to maintain muscle leads to fatigue, a decrease in strenght, and a decline in the stability of your joints. This may also lead to falls and fractures.
Some symptoms of muscle loss are:
muscle weakness
muscle pain
muscle cramps
spasms
seizures
muscle aches
coordination problems
If we take care of our muscles it will help us age gracefully and live more enjoyable lives.
WHEE Diary Schedule:
June 15
Tues AM - WHEE Open
Tues PM - Debbieleft
June 16
Wed AM - WHEE Open
Wed PM - WHEE Open
June 17
Thurs - WHEE Open
Thurs - anotherdemocrat
June 18
Fri AM - WHEE Open
Fri PM - Wee Mama
June 19
Sat AM - WHEE Open
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June 20 - Father's Day
Sun AM - WHEE Open
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June 21
Mon AM - WHEE Open
Mon PM - WHEE Open
June 22
Tues AM - WHEE Open
Tues PM - Debbieleft
Please volunteer to do a WHEE diary. Select any WHEE Open slot and inform the current diarist (me) to be added to the schedule. First time diarists welcome. Anything related to weight, health, eating and exercise is welcome. Next month will be the 1 year anniversary for the WHEE series. Join us and help us grow.