Somatopause

The SOMATOPAUSE (sa-mot-a-pause) is the name medical researchers give to the metabolism slowdown that typically begins in the mid-30s. This condition has been called the middle-age spread, and the middle-age bulge. Whatever it's called, the middle-age somatopause impacts 80 million baby-boomers in the U.S. and millions more world wide.

·        Weight gain

·        Energy Loss

·        Skin wrinkling

·        Decreasing muscle

·        Loss of bone density

·        Increasing body fat
    (especially around the waist)

What causes the Somatopause?

The somatopause is directly related to the decline of growth hormone produced by the body during aging. However, a specific form of exercise has been shown by researchers to increase growth hormone by 530%! The following chart illustrates the problem.

It's widely reported that several well-known actors take growth hormone injections for its anti-aging, youth rejuvenating properties. And GH has been banned for athletes because of its ability to improve performance.

While research shows serious side-effects are possible with this therapy, everyone knows instinctively -- when you inject something into your bloodstream that costs $1,500 a month (that can put on muscle like steroids, and pull 28 pounds of bodyfat off a 200 pound person), it doesn't take rocket science to figure there's a price to pay in the long run.

Hold on! There's a better way to get the benefits of increasing growth hormone! And it's 100% natural and it doesn't cost a dime - just a little of your time.

Growth hormone can be increased 530% with anaerobic exercise - the short-burst, get-you-out-of-breath quickly, sprinting types of exercise. You don't have to spend all day in the gym, jog for hours, or starve yourself. But it does require high-intensity exercise for short periods.

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)

Now, before you go out and run, cycle, or swim a few 100 meter sprints or power-walk some steep hills, it's important to note that anaerobic exercise is the most productive form of exercise (from the GH anti-aging standpoint), but it's also the most dangerous. Even young athletes need to warm-up, and progressively build intensity levels or risk pulling hamstrings, calf muscles, and Achilles tendons.

Middle-age adults need to slowly ease into high-intensity anaerobic exercise. And for some reason, many of my X-jock friends believe that this warning does not apply to them. Even well-conditioned athletes, who can jog for miles, need a progressive, six to eight week buildup period.

Adults can successfully add anaerobic fitness training to their fitness program, but there needs to be a slow, progressive buildup period. And physician clearance should be obtained before beginning any type of high-intensity training.

Have a great day!

Phil Campbell, M.S., M.A., FACHE
Author Ready, Set, GO! Synergy Fitness

National Institutes of Health research cited in newsletter click
Research Summary 1
Research Summary 2

Chapter 1 Your Body's Ultimate Fat Burning, Muscle Toning
and Building, Anti-Aging, Anti-middle-aging, Synergistic Agent