Flexibility and Mobility Are Quality of Life Issues

     "I can help you do what you want to do. But you need to do two things. One, you need to show up! Two, you need to do some things outside our gym as well." Bryant Boykin, General Manager with Jason's Health and Fitness of Foley, began talking to the men of Zion's "Men's 710" January Breakfast and Speaker Fellowship about the impact of training and commitment on a woman who was post-stroke and unable to golf. She had been a life-long golfer and just wanted to get back on the links. So she came to Boykin and the Foley program he supervises. The folks at Jason's Health and Fitness came up with a customized, do-able program designed to give her both flexibility and mobility training. She was motivated by that little white ball, and she found that what Boykin advocates, really works. "You see," Boykin proclaims, "if you can do small changes physically, they build to big results." That woman is back on the links!

     Bryant Boykin (c), General Manager of Jason's Health and Fitness of Foley, AL, discussed basic fitness issues relating to men's health, at the January meeting of Zion Lutheran Church's "Men's 710 Breakfast and Speaker Fellowship" in Silverhill. Boykin fielded a variety of questions from attendees, some of them seated (l to r) Ralph Utter, Pete Midgarden, Gus Utter, Milt Luoma, Bryant Boykin, Dwaine Pitcher, Ernie Burnett, and Charlie Canning.

     Boykin observes that "some people come to us as a last resort." Before getting to that point, people need to work on finding ways of staying active. A focus on flexibility keeps the cardiovascular system healthy and a focus on resistance training (the old "weight lifting" idea) fits right in. "These things help all of us, regardless of age. At Jason's Health and Fitness, Boykin's crew develop safe and effective customized programing to accomplish that flexibility and mobility. When a program is customized, that means that there are goals set forth that support a life style and a time frame. That program will involve generic exercises and additional exercises aimed at any specific goals identified.

     Boykin reviewed the work of Dr. Wayne Westcott who reported in 2001 that "Strength Training Changes Lives of 90-Year Old Nursing Home Patients." Westcott found that strength-exercise training of just 90 seconds in sessions of 15 to 20 minutes, had dramatic effects on both body weight and strength. There were corollary effects on improved body composition, joint flexibility, and functional ability. Westcott reported specific target muscle groups and recommended exercises. The USDA Human Nutrition Research Center at Tufts reported in another study that resistance training not only affected muscles, but also had positive effects on increasing bone mineral density in the hip and spine of women who were training. In a Canadian cardiac rehab study, aerobic exercise and resistance (weight) training suggested beneficial results in a study group of 57. In yet another study, a Penn State paper found that spontaneous activity levels for participants increased with exercise training.

     Do you get the sense that strength training may have a place in our lives? Here's the bottom line. People wear their bodies out when they do nothing. We all understand that it is important that there be activity for there to be wellness. Boykin advocates daily activity. The reason? "Muscles have memory." We can help muscle capability by adding to what the muscles do. "When you use your muscles for anything other than moving your body weight, you enter the area of 'weight resistance training' which enhances your sense of well-being and your physical capabilities." One member of the "Men's 710" group asked, "Can I do anything beyond walking 2 miles several times a week? Can I do anything about feeling winded at times?" Boykin immediately responded with affirmation that the walking program was good. The member could work on his pace cadence and monitor his heart rate (and he shared some simple strategies how to do so). Another member asked about using a treadmill at home. "A treadmill works, but it is rather boring for many. People find that a gym may work better for them because they feel, 'I'm paying for it, so I WILL go to the gym.' People find that it is much harder to use something 'comfortable' at home."

     Again and again, Boykin advocated for "small and do-able." Little goals accomplish big things. He was questioned about weight-loss diets and supplements. His response? "Try to eat 5 to 7 times a day. Eat low fat and low carb meals. Keep those meals small. The body stores fat from fewer and bigger meals, but it has difficulty storing fat from many small meals. Yes, "and keep the portions under control--think of a portion about the size of the back of your hand and stop there." Boykin was asked about diabetes and metabolic disease as they relate to fitness training. He discussed the necessity of following proper diet recommendations and using medicines as prescribed. He noted that with a program of diet and exercise aiming at leanness and activity, those medications may have to be re-evaluated when a person's level of fitness improves.

     Jason's Health and Fitness embraces a program which uses both conventional weights and state of the art equipment to accomplish its strategy of encouraging flexibility and mobility. Its facilities can be accessed 24/7. It is an "adult place to work out" and is not intimidating. As a private health club, it prides itself in a "hands-on, personal approach." Its personnel can provide as much or as little guidance to a person's pursuit of health and wellness through a customized fitness strategy. Boykin notes that "Jason has owned the Foley facility for six years and has invested heavily in appropriate physical equipment." Information about Jason's Health and Fitness of Foley and Mobile is available by phone at (251) 971-1999 or by internet at www.jasonsfitness.com.