Suppose that at a distance you see a short, stooped figure walking with short, slow steps. Most likely, you will conclude that the person is old. The hunched posture gives you the clue.

Why does aging contort so many bodies in this way? The reason is that many people, throughout their lives, never extend the neck to its full range, and so the muscles shorten. Long hours of reading, sewing, typing, or standing at a workbench take their toll. Eventually deposits of calcium salts in the joints complete the process of immobilization. Once this calcification takes place, nothing can be done to reverse it.

The reason to lift weights in a gym is to make your muscles stronger and attain the associated health benefits. But a best-selling fitness author says most people waste their time and effort by either lifting weights that are too light for them or by exercising when their muscles have not recovered from their previous workout.

“Most people have no idea they are wasting their time because they’ve never been told the underlying principles of strength training,” says Sisco. “They expend energy and tire themselves out so they think their efforts are working. So people perform hundreds of unnecessary workouts that have zero chance of transforming their bodies.”

Many of you have heard about weight loss camps for adults, either in the news or from your friends. What do weight loss camps for adults do?

First of all, a good weight loss camp will deal with more than your weight. They will put you on a program designed especially for your situation. If you think that means eating bland, unappetizing meals that leave you hungry for more, you’d be wrong. You will be put on a good, nutritious diet that is designed to keep your weight down and help you lose weight.