Fit For Life: Pre-New Year’s Resolutions?
Saturday, December 21, 2013
We all have choices, and the information is out there, so if you decide you want to be more fit and healthier, then make it a priority and do it.
It's the decisions we make that dictate who we are and what we can be. As you think back at the year about to leave us, you need to think about some of the things you’ve done or have been doing and decide what you need to change, improve, eliminate, or start doing. It's all about making the right decision.
When we talk about health, I believe 90% of the population could be healthy if they decided to. Most of what ails us, comes from the decisions we make. Mostly, the bad decisions. I understand motivation and discipline play a huge role in individual success, but the decision to act, is the first step. We all have choices, and the information is out there, so if you decide you want to be more fit and healthier, then make it a priority and do it.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTDecisions, decisions – no one’s making them for you
We wake up in the morning and we have to decide what we will do from that point on. Nobody has a proverbial gun to your head to make you get up and go to work, or to do this or that. You have to decide to go make money and pay for things, or decide not to, and set in place a downward spiral for you and those who depend on you.
Next you have to decide if you are going to eat a healthy breakfast or not. If you do, you will have more energy, feel better, stoke your metabolism and be more productive at whatever it is you are doing. If you decide not to, or eat some garbage from a drive thru or convenience store you are setting yourself up for problems like being tired, moody, getting sick, or having a headache, and being less productive. When you get into your vehicle you are faced with more decisions. Should you fasten your seatbelt, or play roulette with your safety? Should you speed and drive reckless, or obey the law?
When lunchtime arrives, did you decide that bringing a healthy lunch was a good idea, or are you going out for a saturated fat laden artery clogging lunch? Again, if you made the decision to follow the path to good health, this would be a priority starting the night before.
Ok, so now the work day ends and you have two choices, hang with colleagues and hit the bar, or head to the gym? The decision is yours, alone.
So what I am saying is that we are faced with decisions every day. Some easy, some difficult. We can either make the wise one, or come up with excuses. You could live a life of vitality, high energy, strong immune system, pain free movements, or you could spend your life overweight, sick, on medication for preventable ailments, and visiting doctors and hospitals. It is up to you to decide, commit, and do.
If New Year’s resolutions are in your future – we can do it together. And I look forward to providing you the information and help you need to do so. Until ten, I wish all my readers a happy – and healthy – holiday season
Matt Espeut has worked as a personal trainer for almost 20 years with clients ranging in age from 14 to 86. His focus is on overall health, strength, and functional conditioning. Holistic health and nutrition is the cornerstone of all his programs. Matt works in private and small group training available at your home or office location or at gym facilities. Matt offers his services to everyone wanting to be more fit and healthy, overweight young people, youth/collegiate athletes, and seniors. Matt has worked and continues to train at several facilities in the Providence area including Gold's Gym and CORE Studio, and he believes continued education is a must in his field. Email Matt: [email protected], check out his website at www.fitnessprofiles.net or on Facebook at Matt Espeut or on Twitter @MattEspeut.
Related Slideshow: New England’s Healthiest States 2013
The United Health Foundation recently released its 2013 annual reoprt: America's Health Rankings, which provides a comparative state by state analysis of several health measures to provide a comprehensive perspective of our nation's health issues. See how the New England states rank in the slides below.
Definitions
All Outcomes Rank: Outcomes represent what has already occurred, either through death, disease or missed days due to illness. In America's Health Rankings, outcomes include prevalence of diabetes, number of poor mental or physical health days in last 30 days, health disparity, infant mortality rate, cardiovascular death rate, cancer death rate and premature death. Outcomes account for 25% of the final ranking.
Determinants Rank: Determinants represent those actions that can affect the future health of the population. For clarity, determinants are divided into four groups: Behaviors, Community and Environment, Public and Health Policies, and Clinical Care. These four groups of measures influence the health outcomes of the population in a state, and improving these inputs will improve outcomes over time. Most measures are actually a combination of activities in all four groups.
Diabetes Rank: Based on percent of adults who responded yes to the question "Have you ever been told by a doctor that you have diabetes?" Does not include pre-diabetes or diabetes during pregnancy.
Smoking Rank: Based on percentage of adults who are current smokers (self-report smoking at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and currently smoke).
Obesity Rank: Based on percentage of adults who are obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of 30.0 or higher.
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