Think about it:
Our body is almost a perfect machine, but unfortunately we are born without knowing how to use it, and we learn over time by growing and gaining experience.
The science of the human body, in fact, does not provide all the answers.
Just think about how little we still know about our brain and its mechanisms, and how many diseases we are still unable to find a cause or a cure for.
However, there is one thing we do know: we have evolved and have come this far, thanks to the exceptional ability of our body to adapt. Our body, in fact,is “tuned” for survival, and every time it suffers damage, it initiates a series of processes that allow it to become stronger and heal.
Think about a wound: if not irreparably damaged, the tissue that is injured will eventually heal. Do I want to become good at a sport? As I train,
stressing and damaging my body, it will become stronger and more capable over time.
At the same time, however, our body is capable of entering a mode we could define as “energy-saving.” This happens whenever energy expenditure is no
longer necessary because it’s not required by external factors.
This is precisely the case when we stop training: in this case, the external environment no longer sends stimuli to our body requiring it to be performant
because we have suspended our workouts.
As a result, our body eliminates all the gained adaptations, entering the aforementioned “energy-saving” mechanism.
This concept is known in training theory as reversibility: no adaptation of our body can be maintained forever if we stop training.
Additionally, I suggest three valid reasons for training consistently:
1. Stress reduction. Training, when properly dosed, decreases accumulated and/or perceived stress.
2. Training means being fit and feeling good when you look in the mirror. This is one of the greatest gratifications we can give ourselves.
3. Having a trained body (differently depending on age, gender, and existing conditions) reduces the perception of fatigue and allows for an easier and more active life.
We don’t have to aim to be athletes or have six-pack abs—that is not our goal. Our goal is to live fully and love ourselves. Look around: how many people do you see struggling to climb stairs or bend down to pick up a set of keys that fell to the ground?
Conclusion:
There are many elderly people who are not self-sufficient, with conditions like sarcopenia, who could improve their quality of life simply by having a workout routine tailored to them.
And I’m not talking about lifting weights like a bodybuilder would, but simply being able to climb a few steps without the risk of falling and breaking a hip, or carrying grocery bags or cases of water: simple everyday actions that become increasingly difficult to perform as we age.
It’s up to you to choose whether to train or not… it’s up to you to decide who you want to be in this life, whether a burden on society and healthcare costs,
or self-sufficient and healthy until the end of your days.
