Analogy of the Body Machine
Treat your body better than your car to live more
effectively, efficiently and energetically.
By Lenora Shell
PRETEND FOR A MOMENT
That you're going on a 500-mile trip. You only put $10
worth of unleaded fuel into your gas tank and didn't check the oil
or water. What are the possibilities that your car could
complete the trip?
Just as an automobile needs a full tank of gas, as well as oil and
water to make such a trip, your body needs nutrients for
everything it does - from internal organ functioning to everyday
tasks of thinking, blinking, sleeping and talking. Now add
regular training or workouts to your schedule...you ask your body
to do all these things, yet, for the most part, fail to give it
what it needs to perform effectively, efficiently and
energetically.
FUELING
You need to fuel your body at least three times a day. Each
meal should include protein, carbohydrates and fat. When
protein, carbs and fat are combined, they give your body the
appropriate nutrients required to function. Protein helps
you maintain good health, as well as provides the building
materials needed for muscles, blood, skin, hair, nails and
internal organs. Carbohydrates provide energy for
metabolism, endurance and muscular exertion. Fats prolong
digestion, which keep the body feeling satisfied from meal to
meal. When eaten in combination, these macronutrients become
Super-Premium Unleaded to the body machine.
OIL
When you put oil into your car, you really don't think much more
about oil until it needs it again, but you're confident knowing
your engine has the lubrication it needs to perform. What
about the quality of your oil? Supplements like vitamins and
minerals fail to meet the RDA's (recommended daily allowances) of
most nutrients. When you take a daily multivitamin and
mineral supplement, it becomes the oil to the body machine,
promoting health at the cellular level.
WATER
What would happen if you didn't put any water into your
car? It'd overhead and the engine would fail to keep
running. Your body needs approximately 96 ounces of fluid
daily. That's three quarts or three one-liter bottles of
water. Water assists liver and circulatory functions.
It alleviates fluid retention and converts fat into energy.
It also helps rid the body of toxins and waste, and increases
energy levels.
Most people probably take better care of their automobiles than
they do their bodies. To live and train more effectively,
efficiently and energetically, give your body the fuel, oil and
water it needs.
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Lenora Shell is a personal trainer and operations
manager at Princeton Athletic Club |
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