Real Fitness Experts

A new study published by the National Institutes of Health pulls together a body of previous studies and makes it clear that middle-age and older adults should be doing anaerobic exercise - high-intensity intervals and sprints rather than slow, low-intensity exercise like walking, says 50 year old fitness book author Phil Campbell, M.S., M.A.

“Anaerobic sprinting types of exercise–whether it’s running, cycling, swimming, cross country skiing-are shown by medical researchers to make the body produce significant amounts anti-aging growth hormone,” says Campbell, author of a fitness book for middle-age adults, now in it’s 2nd edition (Ready, Set, GO! Synergy Fitness, Pristine Publishers, 368-pages, $19.95).

It’s widely reported that several well-known entertainers take growth hormone (GH) injections for its body fat cutting, muscle toning, youth rejuvenating properties, but Campbell cautions that there can be serious side-effects from GH injections. At age 50, Campbell prefers getting the benefits of GH by running sprints and other types of high-intensity exercise.

“Growth hormone injections are given to children with clinical stature growth problems to help them grow normally,” explains Campbell, “however, GH does not make adults grow taller.”

For middle-age adults, GH can reverse several measurable clinical factors of the middle-age bulge–now named “the somatopause” by researchers. The middle-age somatopause is signified by energy decline, weight-gain (around the middle, and hips), loss of muscle, and wrinkled skin after the age of 30.

“Anaerobic exercise should be a part of every fitness routine,” says Campbell. However, he cautions that physician clearance and a progressive build-up of the high-intensity exercise is necessary to prevent injury.

Researchers report;

“Aging is often associated with a progressive decrease in the volume and, especially, the intensity of exercise. A growing body of evidence suggests that higher intensity exercise is effective in eliciting beneficial health, well-being and training outcomes.
In a great many cases, the impact of some of the deleterious effects of aging could be reduced if exercise focused on promoting exercise produced growth hormone,”
(”The exercise-induced growth hormone response in athletes,” Godfrey, Sports Med. 2003;33(8):599-613.2003)

Campbell cites 160 biomedical research studies in his book to make the case middle-age and older adults should be performing shorter, but more intense forms of exercise.

National Institutes of Health Research link

Ready, Set, Go! Synergy Fitness is available online and at bookstores. www.ReadySetGoFitness.com. To interview Phil Campbell call (731) 660-3333 or email pristine@charter.net