Newsflash, gaining muscle is not just about vanity.
In fact, when you approach middle age, gaining muscle tissue could literally save your life.
A study published in the American Journal of Medicine showed that a decrease in muscle mass is strongly associated with higher mortality rates as you age.
I like to think about gaining muscle mass like a retirement savings account.
You need adequate deposits over your lifetime to comfortably live off the returns later in retirement.
We all probably should have started saving for retirement earlier than we did, but not all hope is lost.
If you start now, no matter how old you are – you can slow the rate of muscle loss down and even pack on lean tissue to get a jumpstart on your ‘retirement savings account.’
Sarcopenia & Middle Age
Sarcopenia is defined by the National Institute on Aging as a loss in muscle mass, strength, and function.
Yes, having muscle mass makes everyone look better, but it really is not just about looks.
The data is unambiguous that age-related muscle loss is a strong predictor of mortality and various disease states.
You can see below how muscle mass drastically decreases as a function of age.
What Causes Age-Related Muscle Loss?
A host of complex biochemical changes occur with aging that result in muscle loss.
To name a few:
1.) Low-grade inflammation.
2.) More oxidative stress.
3.) Impaired regenerative capacity.
4.) Impaired muscle protein synthesis.
Consequences of Sarcopenia
A loss of muscle mass causes a host of issues as we age, such as
1.) Decreased glucose disposal (essential for preventing type 2 diabetes).
You don’t need to search far to find evidence of frailty in the elderly population and its associated adverse health outcomes.
Enough Gloom & Doom – What Can You Do About It?
I don’t think I need to convince you any further about the consequences of sarcopenia.
I could spend the whole article writing about the consequences of sarcopenia, but the most important thing is what you are doing about it.
The first step to combatting sarcopenia is implementing a comprehensive strength training program.
Combat Sarcopenia: Begin Strength Training
The issue is that most people start performing random exercises taken from the internet and get hurt because those exercises are inappropriate for them.
A professional can help you structure the appropriate strength training program.
I work closely with all my clients and prescribe appropriate strength training exercises to increase their lean muscle tissue and health outcomes.
My coaching process goes like this:
1.) We review your entire medical history, and I carefully listen to your goals and what you want from the coaching experience.
2.) Then, I craft the perfect exercise program for you and progress the exercises appropriately as you get stronger each week.
3.) Each week, we will schedule a more extended call and review how the program went.
4.) I’ll update the program for you and make changes where necessary as you progress.
5.) I’ll keep you accountable and check in with you each day. We will also track your progress objectively to make sure you are progressing.
The Benefits
I pride myself on providing a high-end experience.
I intentionally keep my roster of clients small to ensure my clients’ needs are met to full capacity.
Throughout the entire program, you will have 24-hour access to me and you can call, text, or email me.
I’ve worked with some of the world’s most notable individuals to improve their health & longevity through lifestyle interventions.
For anonymity purposes, I won’t mention names – but you can trust that I have worked with the highest caliber professionals.
Reach out to me at jakob@rozefit.com to schedule a consultation.