BARBELL, BOOK, OR BOTH

People are complex and diverse beings and the mind is an amazing and powerful tool that needs to be “worked.” Although the brain is not a muscle, you need to train it as if it is. Think of building and flexing the brain like a muscle in order to elevate your level of knowledge, awareness, and brilliance. It is often said when referring to muscle mass, that you have to use it or lose it! The brain is no different.

Today there is a wealth of research supporting the idea that you can take steps to stimulate and protect your mind. It all stems from education. It starts when you are very young, snuggled in bed, listening to a story read by a parent or sibling, but continues well into your senior years when challenging your gray matter on a regular basis can actually mitigate the impact of aging and its effect on your thought processes.

Exercise with barbell, book, or both

It’s never too late to pick up a barbell, book or both!

The “barbell” really represents any sort of physical activity. Maintaining good memory is directly linked to a maintaining a healthy body. You need to make a conscious effort to prevent exposure to the ill effects of the symptoms of heart disease, diabetes, and high-fat, poor health diets.

The “book”, represents any form of mental activity and exercise; anything that challenges you and you enjoy! Tackle a crossword puzzle, play a game of scrabble, learn a new language, or read a book. Get that brain stimulated and working.

Now, gang “barbell” and “book” together and see what happens; a wealth of mental health and acuity evolves. New research strongly suggests mental and physical exercise of this nature may assist in the protection against or even prevention of mental disease such as Alzheimer's disease. It’s hard not to want to jump in with both feet and believe.  The merits by far out-weigh any risk and you become healthier, physically and mentally. Bonus!

Okay, keeping in mind that we need to maintain a healthy brain and that entails “working it”, you you need to increase your intellectual activity through formal and informal education which is tantamount to intellectual brilliance.  And you have to take the brain-muscle analogy to heart as physical exercise and eating right helps the brain function efficiently.

It's win-win!

What's your favorite form of mental exercise?

Week Two Objectives:
Total daily calories consumed will remain less than 1275 and split exercise half cardio and half weights.
Total Calories per Day:  950, 650.
Total Time Working Out per Day:  1 hr., 1-1/2 hr.
Total weight lost:  2.5 lb.s