Most people really get going on their fitness goals early in January. Then by March it is all over!  What with all the upheaval our world is experiencing, it is no wonder most people are feeling lost. Years ago there was a book titled Who Stole My Cheese. It helped people understand where their goals went to. By doing that we could reset our thinking to get back on our path to what we knew as a new pathway.  However with today’s events it certainly seems astronomical that we will ever have life as we knew it. There are things we can do to help ourselves stay focused.

While stores and some restaurants are reopening, the COVID-19 is not over. Many people may still be feeling the effects of remaining apart due to social distancing.  A new paper published in the Journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences explores the wide-ranging, negative consequences that social isolation has on our psychological well-being and physical health, including decreased life span. The paper was co-authored by Associate Professor Danilo Bzdok (McGill University and Mila Quebec (Artificial Intelligence) and Emeritus Professor Robin Dunbar (University of Oxford).

Through examining a broad range of studies, a full picture emerged of the severe impact that loneliness can have:

• having strong interpersonal relationships, is critical for survival across the entire lifespan;
• social isolation is a significant predictor of the risk of death;
• insufficient social stimulation affects reasoning and memory performance, hormone homeostasis, brain grey/white-matter, connectivity and function, as well as resilience to physical and mental disease;
• feelings of loneliness can spread through a social network, causing negatively skewed social perception, escalating morbidity and mortality, and, in older people, precipitating the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia.

Loneliness directly impairs the immune system, making us less resistant to diseases and infections. Indeed, feeling lonely and having few friends can result in a particularly poor immune defense. People who are more socially integrated, however, have better adjusted biomarkers for physiological function, including lower systolic blood pressure, lower body mass index, and lower levels of C-reactive protein (a blood molecular response to inflammation).

Humans are intensely social and benefit psychologically and physically from being socially interactive. The tighter we are embedded in a network of friends, for example, the less likely we are to become ill and the higher our rates of survival. People who belong to more groups, such as sports clubs, church, hobby groups, have been found to reduce their risk of future depression by almost 25%.

Personally I am independent and don’t mind being home. We have options for contact with others. I love what my friend in England does! She and her friend drive their individual cars to a pleasant place to park, bringing coffee. They sit in their individual parking places next to each other, rolling down the windows. One moves to the passenger side so they can be some what closer. They chat and drink their coffee. My friend tells me she tosses a cookie through the open window to her friend! A very enjoyable way to share time with a friend and still keep social distancing! And one step towards ending loneliness.

I want to introduce you to the most encouraging and valuable book that I just remembered to order a few weeks ago. I am a recovering pack rat. While sorting through a pile of papers, I unearthed a promotional post card that Joel Harper mailed to his mailing list introducing his new book Mind Your Body.  Ok, so the postmark was from 2015! I should have had it on my bulletin board. Well I had a great coupon from my membership at Barnes and Nobles and I ordered it immediately! I received it a week and a half ago. I want you to know that from the day this book was published, this book became timeless! It offers the very best tools to get back to your purpose. If I may quote the write up on the post card, Joel’s knowledge and ability to zero in on what many other books have missed. This is so important. The write up said:

“The secret to successful and long-lasting weight loss lies not in another fad diet, but in tapping the power of your mind. Mind Your Body, personal trainer and Dr. Oz Show  contributor Joel Harper explores the crucial – and often overlooked – connection between meals, moves, and mindset. Harper provides a “wholeistic” three-step weight loss program that will help you quadruple your weight loss, maximize your workouts, and boost your happiness and energy levels – in just fifteen minutes a day!”

Joel has created and introduces his 10 Core Concepts for Optimal Success as an “essential part to reaching your full potential in every area of your life”. As Joel states and I now believe the 10 Core Concepts for Optimal Success provides you with the mind set needed not only for your exercise goals but from where you live to your hobbies, to your innermost dreams. These are words to focus on. Make notes and put them up on your bathroom mirror, on index cards you can carry with you. Take them on your walk, repeat them to yourself as you move! Or at least one core concept during each session.

This book is based on scientific facts. The selected bibliography on pages 219 – 226 lists all the research enabling the reader to learn so much more.

This book and his DVD’s are available on his website. www.joelharperfitness.com.

Another great fitness trainer is Karen Voight. www.karenvoight.com. I’ve acquired many of her DVD’s as well. Both Karen and Joel have exercise programs for every level. When we can’t get out to go for a walk or run or do other sports these are very beneficial to build muscle. Karen also offers DVD’s for low level aerobic (depending upon what stage you are at) while combining strength training.

Exercise can build your immunity. Physical activity may help flush bacteria out of the lungs and airways. This may reduce your chance of getting a cold, flu, or other illness.

Exercise causes change in antibodies and white blood cells (WBC). WBCs are the body’s immune system cells that fight disease. These antibodies or WBCs circulate more rapidly, so they could detect illnesses earlier than they might have before. However, no one knows whether these changes help prevent infections.

The brief rise in body temperature during and right after exercise may prevent bacteria from growing. This temperature rise may help the body fight infection better. Similar to when we have a fever.

Exercise slows down the release of stress hormones. We need to do this in current times. Some stress increases the chance of illness. Lowering stress hormones may protect against illness.

Exercise makes you feel healthier, flexible and more energetic. It can help you feel better about yourself. So go ahead, take that aerobic session (indoors our outside). And check out Joel Harper’s and Karen Voight’s websites. Purchase their great DVD’s. And Joel’s book! This one truly is timeless and all we need to achieve the best of all we want in our lives.