Bad Advice

In terms of the fitness industry, there is a lot of misinformation and bad advice out there. Yesterday, my cousin forwarded me a link that I found to be one of the most irresponsible and inaccurate pieces of writing I've ever read about fitness. Worst of all, it was published on the New York Times' website. Here is the link: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/new-health-rule-quit-worrying-about-your-health/

The blog is written by Tara Parker-Pope and it is about a book called, “Live a Little! Breaking the Rules Won’t Break Your Health” by Dr. Susan M. Love. In the blog, Dr. Love is referred to as "one of the country’s most respected women’s health specialists". Ms. Parker-Pope describes the book as being about how we worry too much about our health and that we are healthier than we think.

Really? When I see the size of the contestants on The Biggest Loser or some of the parents my age in my town at various school events, I could not disagree more with the premise of the book or the blog entry.

From what I read in Ms. Parker-Pope's blog, this book enables the lazy and undisciplined. It lets people off the hook. Here is one of the sentences from the blog that outraged me:

"Likewise, while exercise is important, many people don’t place enough value on the fitness that comes from everyday tasks like lifting and chasing children, lugging groceries and cleaning house."

This could not be more untrue. This is as bad as those advocating walking 20 minutes, 3 days a week will meet your fitness goals. There are several men and women who are parents that I know who are 50 lbs. overweight each. So are they healthier than they think? I don't think so. They're walking heart attacks waiting to happen.

We are all busy. Juggling work, family duties, and keeping up with our obligations is tough work. However, everyone has twenty minutes a day (or two 10 minute time frames), where they can do something to get their bodies moving, their heart rates up, and their lungs out of breath.

You may need to awaken 30-45 minutes earlier, you may need to step away from playing Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook for a bit, and you may need to shut off the reality garbage on the TV to do so, but it can be done. Stretch out a little, mix in a nice little circuit routine of a minute each of running in place, jumping jacks, karate punches, lunges, squats, push ups, dumb bell curls, planks, sit ups, and karate kicks. A lot can be done with little to no weights. However, for it to be effective, it has to be intense. No dogging it. Best of all, you feel GREAT about yourself after a hard exercise session. Isn't that better than enabling a lazy, couch potato lifestyle where you try to fool yourself into thinking that you're healthier than you are?

Everyone should exercise a minimum of four days a week. Make an effort to add salads and green vegetables to your diet. Vegetables should be part of both lunch and dinner. I don't particularly like vegetables, but I know the importance of eating them and their benefits to my health. Stay away from the white bread, pasta, and white rice. Opt for whole wheat breads, medium sized baked potatoes, and brown rice. And for your sake, stop buying soda, potato chips, cookies, and ice cream at the grocery store.

You should worry about your health. If you are a man with a huge belly or a woman with a large rear end and cottage cheese thighs, you are at risk of diabetes and an early death. What people also need to remember is if you take care of yourself now, your body isn't as likely to break down as you get in to your 60's.

Unfortunately, from my life experiences, the magic age where men seem to start having heart issues is 54. I've known people who have died of a heart attack at this age, have begun having irregular heartbeats, and have had heart bypass surgery. Life flies by. As an adult, 54 isn't that far away.

So please, take better care of yourself. Eat your protein and vegetables, cut back on the alcohol consumption, try to get seven hours of sleep, and get in some quality exercise routines. These simple changes could lead to big results. You'll be happier, healthier, and your sex life will likely improve because you will find each other more attractive and more in the mood for intimacy.