AEROBICS KING SUGGESTS STRENGTH

Lake Michigan Shoreline in Early Spring

I've got friends my age that still pound the pavement. They're addicted to running and cardio. I've tried to tell them that it's bad for their joints. These same people can't do the lifting and digging I do on a daily basis and wear out faster than a pair of cheap shoes from Wal-Mart. No endurance or strength.

Now Dr. Kenneth Cooper, a Texan who coined the term " aerobics " and inspired a whole generation to take it up has suggested that shifting to even more strength work as you age is good for the joints. Don't get me wrong, running is good for the heart, but bad for the joints, and I don't care how old you are. Forty year olds get knee and foot problems from it.

Jim Karas, a Chicagoan, who wrote " The Cardio-Free Diet " thinks that cardio overstrees the body and works against those trying to lose weight. He's the one who worked with Diane Sawyer to give her that beautiful bod. He was converted in the 80's as an aerobic instructor who witnessed a huge number of dedicated students that despite the exercise didn't loose the weight. One day he peeped into the weight room which had few participants and noticed that all of them were very lean. He switched to strength training and discovered that he and his clients were able to keep the weight off.

How much strength training is effective ? Karas says that 60 minutes a week is sufficient. Heck I get that much on a daily basis.

So, once again, gardening which involves a lot of lifting ( 40 to 50 lb. bags of manure, peat, etc. ) digging , bending and stretching is beneficial.

Moral of story : Grab the dumbells and walk, don't run.