MOVEMENT: THE SOURCE OF OUR FORCE

“There is no reality except in action.” –Jean-Paul Sartre  

Photo by Serhat Beyazkaya on Unsplash

MOVEMENT CREATES ENERGY

We have been inspired by the power and energy of sun, wind, and water since the ancients worshiped the sun gods Helios and Ra in fifth century BCE. Since then, our ability to capture renewable energy from the atmospheric elements we once worshiped has skyrocketed and become instrumental for improving our planet’s health and well-being. 

Movement is a common factor of all of these renewable energies. Photons moving at the speed of light release energy when captured by photovoltaic equipment. Propellers rotated by wind or flowing water cause magnets in turbines to spin and produce electricity. Heat moving from the earth’s hot core into water creates steam that spins turbine magnets to generate electricity. 

The physical energy that we rely on to live is also created by movement, including movement for daily activities and for exercise to build physical fitness. Ninety to ninety-five percent of the energy we use each day is produced by mitochondria—tiny oval structures located inside the human body’s thirty trillion cells. Prompted by movement—especially muscle movement—mitochondria initiate a series of chemical reactions that transform food and oxygen (from air) into the energy that fuels every aspect of living. The more we move, the more mitochondria proliferate and increase their energy output.

MOVEMENT STRENGTHENS OUR MITOCHONDRIA

Like minuscule factories, mitochondria employ specific, dynamic processes to convert raw materials into highly desirable energy products in the form of adenosine triphosphate—a chemical molecule also known as ATP. Since it cannot be stored, ATP is manufactured continuously and once produced is either used for bodily functions and physical activity or released as heat. The volume of ATP consumed by a day’s worth of regular activities can weigh as much in pounds as a person’s total body weight. During exercise or increased physical demands, additional ATP must be produced. A single body cell may contain 1,000 to 2,500 mitochondria organelles. The single most important physiological process of our existence—that of generating sufficient energy—is directed and managed by our mitochondria.

Just as good raw materials and high-performance equipment improve product quality in manufacturing, good nutrients and muscle performance improve the quality and quantity of energy manufactured by mitochondria. 

MOVEMENT YIELDS SUBSTANTIAL GAINS

“I know I should get more exercise,” lamented Trevor, an attorney friend, who went on to say, “ I would look more slim and fit like Scott, the other attorney in our office.” Lacking awareness of the true power of exercise, Trevor, like many of us, believes that its primary benefits are for weight loss and appearance. 

But the true power of exercise is in building high energy and strength. Early astronauts lost their ability to walk because their muscles were not engaged during space travel. Similarly, we become noticeably weaker when bedridden for any length of time. Just as the ancients knew that the sun made the crops they depended on grow, when we recognize that the energy we depend on derives from physical activity, our perception shifts from exercise as a burdensome obligation to exercise as a compelling energy-generating practice. 

We can personalize these ideas by measuring our own cardiovascular and muscular fitness levels now, using two easy self-administered fitness tests. The Rockport 1-Mile Fitness Walking Test assesses cardiovascular fitness by measuring how well we convert oxygen to energy when we exercise at a maximal level. Developed by exercise scientists at the University of Massachusetts, this measure is known as VO2 max. VO2 max measurements that fall in the good or excellent range—for our age and gender—mean that our cardiovascular fitness is desirable and effective. 

To assess muscle strength, Dr. Jordan Metzl’s “best fitness test of all time” is to “sit down on the floor cross legged [and then] stand.” We have good overall levels of strength, flexibility, and coordination if we can stand from this sitting position—without using our hands—within a few seconds. Requiring more than a few seconds and/or needing assistance from hands, walls, or furniture indicates lower fitness levels. When I tried this self-test, I rose quickly but had to touch the floor once before standing fully. Try it now and see how you do. 

Research has shown over and over that improving physical fitness is highly beneficial at any age. 

Once we truly realize and experience the astounding benefits that exercise and fitness deliver, we will find ways to overcome barriers and adopt and sustain a regular movement practice. However, as John Dewey’s words remind us: “The self is not something ready-made, but something in continuous formation through choice of action.” Achieving and maintaining effective fitness levels results from a continuous process—one that is easier to sustain with guidance from caring fitness experts. We can find these experts easily in the High Health Network. Reap substantial gains from your movement practice by joining the Network Community today.

Joyce M. Young, MD, MPH
Managing Director, Advanced Wellness Systems

Photo by Monica Leonardi on Unsplash

"Action is the proper fruit of knowledge." –Thomas Fuller, M.D.

Sincerely,
Your colleagues at Advanced Wellness Systems