Personal Trainer Singapore – Coach Jonathan Wong

I just read a study published in the medical journal “Archives of Internal Medicine” Jan 25, 2009. Yes it was done on women aged 65-75 and it divided them into 2 groups. One group did strength training with dumbells, and another group did “balance and toning” exercises. These were the results…

“A year later, the women who did strength training had improved their performance on tests of so-called executive function by 10.9 percent to 12.6 percent, while those assigned to balance and toning exercises experienced a slight deterioration — 0.5 percent. The improvements in the strength training group included an enhanced ability to make decisions, resolve conflicts and focus on subjects without being distracted by competing stimuli.”

You know the worst part – those who wasted time on “balance and toning” did not even maintain their full function.

And in these studies, usually, even the strength training is average at best, and the results were still good. Imagine if the strength training was conducted by a well qualified personal trainer… I suspect the results would be even better.

Why? The key indicator in quality of life in senior citizens (actually I think it applies to ALL people!) is muscular size and strength/power.

• Size because the more muscle mass you have the more immune system resources you can buffer – i.e. you don’t get sick
• Strength/Power because the stronger you are, the less likely you will get injured. This means, no falling down, no broken bones, no trips to the hospital and no long term bed rest i.e. no fast degeneration!

The problem – as mentioned in this study, is that senior females DON’T OFTEN DO STRENGTH TRAINING, the very form of exercise that will help them. But that is why they have many health issues! So it’s not ok to be “average”. Average is sick and dependent. Be normal! It is normal to be energetic, mentally sharp, lean and strong – at any age.

Kahyin, one of our senior clients warms up with some jumps - she DOES look way younger than her peers and is way healthier! This study is right!