You Got To Use It Or You’ll LOSE It

By Kevin DiDonato MS, CSCS, CES


How you ever heard the saying, you need to use it or you’ll lose it?

Well, this is especially true with many different areas in your body.

Not, just the typical ones!

In fact, there are 3 main areas that if you don’t continue to stimulate, use, and develop them, you will slowly lose them over time.

And losing any one of these THREE areas may be detrimental to your health…

Use These or Lose Them

Typically, when you think of this saying, you would probably refer back to your muscles.

And, this would be true.

Your muscles are one of the BIGGEST areas that you can lose when you don’t continue to stress them…

Use them…

Or work them out!

Aging – in combination with lack of activity – may lead to something called sarcopenia.

This condition highlights the general loss of muscle tissue that occurs with the aging process starting around the age of 25.

Typically, it is associated with a 0.5 to ONE percent decrease per year in muscle mass and strength, which could lead to frailty syndrome, bone fractures, and other problems as you get older.

Luckily, if you continue to exercise – to prevent atrophy of muscle tissue – than you may be able to reverse this condition and maintain your muscles mass and strength.

Again, you need to use it or else…

Another area of concern is your brain.

As you age, you slowly start to lose your memory, which may be of great concern to you and your loved ones.

But, keeping your mind sharp – by doing brain gym exercises and other mental activities – may help your brain develop new neurons (called neurogenesis) which may lead to better brain function.

This may cut down on your risk for dementia and other brain-related conditions associated with aging.

The last area that you need to use is your bone strength.

For many women (and men), osteopenia and osteoporosis may be two conditions that cause the highest rate of disability as you age.

One thing that you can do to reduce your risk is to maintain better bone density.

Stronger bones equal a reduced risk for fractures or the development of osteoporosis.

Doing weight bearing exercises, walking, and load bearing exercises (squats with weights) may be a sufficient stimulus for improving
bone density.

Again, you need to tax the bones, muscles, and brain cells in order to develop them and maintain their “strength”.

Take Home Message

If there is anything you should be taking home from this is one thing: Keep moving your body in order to strengthen, tone, and keep it strong.

Strength training, weight bearing exercise, and mental challenges are great ways to strengthen the areas of your body most susceptible to weakening, atrophy, or general loss.

This will ensure that you stay healthy for a long, long time!



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