Keeping Fit with Jackie Smith
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from January 1982.
Brought to you by
While research definitely proves that exercise benefits the body, recent findings suggest that exercise plays an important part in improving mental performance.
Studies have shown that exercise can increase the oxygen-transport capacity of all parts of the body, including the brain. Early research demonstrated that brain cells deprived of sufficient oxygen do not perform their work sufficiently, and the intellect and reasoning powers fail as a result.
Thus, these studies demonstrate that a programme of regular exercise that increases oxygen transport to the brain can significantly improve mental performance. For optimum results, however, exercise should be varied and challenging, and not just routine and repetitious. YOU SHOULD WORK UP A GOOD SWEAT DURING AN EXERCISE PERIOD
While exercising we produce heat in proportion to the amount of muscle activity. If this heat were not dissipated the body's temperature could easily rise as high as 10 degrees F or more. Fortunately, the body is designed to keep itself from overheating. Warm blood is brought to the skin where it loses heat to the surrounding air. The sweat glands begin to secrete water, and the body is further cooled by evaporation and perspiration. In cold weather, heat is given off easily, but in hot weather the body must sweat profusely in order to coolitself. So, it should be obvious that sweating does not do anything but lower the body temperature. It does not help reduce body fat. You may weigh less after a work-out but this is due to loss of water, and there is very little water in fat. As soon as you quench your thirst you will gain the lost weight again.
Sweating does not promote fitness. Fitness is developed by exercising the muscles of the body - not the sweat glands.
IT IS DANGEROUS FOR PREGNANT WOMEN TO EXERCISE
Exercise kept within sensible bounds presents no threat to a pregnant woman as long as she is free from conditions that would, in the estimation of her obstetrician, rule exercise out.
Sensible exercise in fact, offers the pregnant woman the added advantage of toning and strengthening her lower back, buttocks and abdominal muscles, which must perform during giving birth. Many times the backaches that frequently follow childbirth can be prevented with proper exercise.
EXERCISE ONCE IN A WHILE IS BETTER THN NOT EXERCISING AT ALL
Exercising physiologists say that if you do not exercise regularly, you are better not attempting an exercise programme at all.
Occasional strenuous activity can subject your body to undue strain and stress, as your body is only accustomed to inactivity. Unless you can exercise at at least twice a week, stay away from the Sunday afternoon game of tennis or football. Exercise should be an integral part of every man's and woman's life. You will feel better and look better if you make it part of your lifestyle.
massage is the best way to get rid of cellulite. First of all, there are no special types of fat. Fat is fat, whether it is dimpled, bumpy, or looks like orange peel. To put concisely, there is no such thing as cellulite.
The American Medical Association issued a statement calling cellulite a hoax and denouncing its remedies as economic exploitation. To make matters worse, there have been reports of people who have been seriously injured by types of treatment used such as deep massage, sweat inducing body wraps, hormone injections, and starvation diets.
As for message, it may be relaxing and it makes you feel good, but sorry, folks, it will not remove fat! It is impossible to push it off or shake it off. Other than for fatty tumours (lipomas) the right treatment for unwanted fat is directed toward eliminating obesity. Since spot reduction is not possible, you must gradually lose fat from all over your body.
That means good diet habits (no fads or crash efforts, but a sensible, regular, well-balanced diet) and proper exercise.
