The Truth About Health and
Fitness By Corey Howard, MD, FACP
It
seems like these days everyone wants to lose weight. There is some mystical belief that simply losing weight, unwanted
pounds, will make you healthy. Losing weight may make you healthier. However, you really need to look at your
heart health to get the whole picture.
Cardiopulmonary (heart and lung) health is related to your general fitness.
There are many factors involved with fitness including cardiovascular endurance, muscle strength, flexibility and body composition.Each one of these factors can be improved. It is well established that maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 testing) is
the best measure of cardiopulmonary fitness. It used to be available only to elite athletes. Today, however, it
is available for everyone. It measures where you are today and what you can do to improve. It can tell you where
you most effectively burn fats and when you would be likely to begin to feel poorly during exercise.
It is my opinion
that the time has come to utilize this tool more frequently to help everyone understand how to improve their overall
fitness and health.
Losing weight should not be how you measure your health. Healthy habits, regular exercise
matched to proper nutrition will get you to a natural and healthy you.
Read through my site. Please contact
me if you have any questions.
