There Is a Price To Be Paid

You have probably heard me say this numerous times in the Total Results blog, but nothing in life is free, and nothing that is worthwhile has ever been achieved without real effort. That sounds like an obvious statement, but I believe that many people achieve some level of success in terms of their health but for whatever reason are unable to sustain it. Functional independence, staying out of the medical system, resistance to injury, and increased vitality all come with a cost. How important is it to you to remain in control of your own destiny? How badly do you want it? Before you answer those questions, you must understand that there is a price to be paid.

Some people look at high-intensity strength training as a chore. In some respect, that viewpoint is understandable; I would never classify a Total Results workout as fun, and I have never tried to sell that bill of goods to a prospective client. Even though a properly performed workout is intense and uncomfortable, one should look at it as an opportunity rather than drudgery. Every workout is a chance to accomplish something meaningful that will pay both immediate and future dividends. Realize how fortunate you are to be able to exercise once or twice per week, and remember that there are people with degenerative and debilitating conditions who would trade places with you in an instant.

Skeletal muscle is the engine of the body. It is the only type of muscle tissue over which you have volitional control (cardiac muscle and smooth muscle fibers contract automatically), and along with your bones, skeletal muscle does the most to determine your body's shape. Working to build muscle also has a profound impact on your mitochondria. Mitochondria are found in each of our body's cells, and they play an essential role by creating the necessary energy to drive cellular function and all of our body's processes. According to a study published in 2016 by Porter, Reidy, Bhattarai, Sidossis, and Rasmussen, "Collectively, 12 weeks of resistance exercise training resulted in qualitative and quantitative changes in skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiration. Resistance exercise training appears to be a means to augment the respiratory capacity and intrinsic function of skeletal muscle mitochondria."

A member of my family, who is in her late 70s, recently suffered a fall and fractured her femur, three vertebrae, and lacerated her scalp. Accidents do happen, but I believe this one could have been prevented, or at least the damage could have been minimized if she had not stopped strength training over two years ago. As a result, she required surgery to repair her femur, a hospital stay, and is now undergoing a lengthy rehabilitation. I can tell you that inside the American medical system is not where you want to be. Doctors and nurses are overworked, the standard of care is iffy, and the conditions are not always great. Effective communication is hard to come by. Establishment medicine rarely looks at preventative care, and if you suffer from chronic disease and have to be in the belly of the beast, it is difficult to get out. The best thing you can do is to take care of yourself and not be in there in the first place.

Yes, there is a price to be paid for robust health. You can pay now or pay later, but one way or another that bill eventually comes due. That price is less than one hour of your time each week, but it requires focus, dedication, and a willingness to learn. Accept the fact that this is what it takes, and that in the grand scheme of things it is a small price to pay. Do you want to spend your middle and later years in and out of hospitals, doctor's offices, and rehabilitation centers, relying on mobility aids to get around? Or, would you rather have the ability to call your own shots? Don't be plagued by chronic diseases and injuries that could have been avoided. You only get one body; treasure it and treat it well. Total Results can help.