Rob Williams writes a weekly full-page column for The Province newspaper entitled Body by Rob.
Rob is a kinesiologist and posture specialist in downtown Vancouver. To learn more about Rob please visit his website: www.williamshealthgroup.com
I hope you enjoy reading his article as much as I did.
Athlete –Whether competing in sports or getting through life, think of yourself as an athlete and train like one. It’ll only do you good.
Balance — Always balance your body, your training program, your life, your diet and your budget.
Carbohydrates – They aren’t bad. They just need to be treated with respect and careful scrutiny to avoid the side effects.
Diabetes – Exercise and a healthy diet can fend off this disease, like so many other serious conditions and illnesses.
Effort – Light exercise is a lot better than sitting on the sofa eating French fries, but to really see the benefits of exercise you’ll need to push yourself.
Flexibility – Whether you’re looking for enhanced performance, or reduced wear and tear on your body, being limber is a great idea at any age.
Genetics – Many fitness hopefuls have unrealistic expectations about their bodies. Remember, you can’t change your genetics, so make the best of what you’ve got.
Heart – You’ve only got one heart, so eat healthy food, exercise regularly and avoid risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Injury – If you notice a small pain or problem, be sure to have it assessed and treated early to avoid a more serious injury or long-term pain syndrome.
Joints – When training, pay close attention to the stress your activities might be putting on your joints, and try to minimize it.
Kinesiology – The study of human movement, performance and function with emphasis on anatomy, biomechanics and physiology.
Lunges – Unless there is an orthopedic contraindication, lunges are among the most effective lower body training activities around.
Muscle – This is the stuff that moves you, drives your metabolism and protects your body. Make the time to build muscle for better health.
Negatives – Most of the muscle-building stimulus during resistance training happens during lowering or ‘negative’ phase of an exercise.
Osteoporosis and Obesity – Two more insidious illnesses that can be countered with appropriate exercise programs.
Posture – The position from which all movement begins and ends. Poor posture creates poor movement. Poor movement results in injury.
Quality – One of the most frequent words that comes out of my mouth, movement and training should always be focused on quality and control.
Role Model – By living your life as a healthy and active person, you can’t help but influence the people around you, from your kids to your family and friends.
Strength – Being just a little bit stronger makes everything you do a little easier, and a lot less taxing on your body.
Target heart rate – If you’re going to spend time exercising, be sure to know your target heart rate ranges for the goals you’re hoping to achieve.
Unique – Remember, your body doesn’t have to look like a fitness model to be healthy. Work hard, be yourself and be proud.
Vitamins – A diet rich in vitamins and minerals is necessary for optimal health and vitality. Focus on natural, organic products that provide the greatest amount of nutrition.
Water – Avoid dehydration by consuming water steadily during the day. This will optimize your temperature regulation, metabolism, digestion and many other bodily functions.
X – As in Core X and AFX Both of these exceptional training tools are developed locally, and are making big waves in the training and rehab markets worldwide.
Youth – These are the people who really need to start exercising and stick with it.
Zumba – I’m still not sure what it is, but it gets people moving, so it must be good.
