Personal Training

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

The Health Care Debate...

Health Care Reform… it seems as this is a hot topic, and it should be. I mean we are talking about millions of people that could be affected either in a positive or negative way, depending on how this spins.

I am not a political person and so I won’t get into Congress this, the Senate that, the health bill needs this or anything else. But as a Fitness professional I am concerned about the health and overall fitness level of all of my clients and ultimately everyone out there

Ponder on this for a second, what if the bill gets pass tomorrow… how do you benefit from this? For some it won’t make that much of a difference, but for many at the very least it will make sure you have insurance for when you get sick.

That’s what I call reactive medicine. Don’t get me wrong it’s good to be insured, I mean you never know what could happen. But if you are like me, who’s been paying for my own insurance for a while and never used it (it’s my back up plan in case eventually something does happens), then it won’t make that much of a difference.

I’ve come to the conclusion that most of debate regarding the health care reform is out of the hands of the average American people. That doesn’t means that your health is!

What we are missing is the real debate on how to get people healthy and help them stay that way; or in others words practice Preventive Medicine not reactive. At the end it’s your responsibility to take action for your health, your life and of those around you, especially if you have kids.

A while ago, Michelle Obama was quoted saying, that promoting nutrition, wellness and prevention "is to me one of the true keys of changing the health paradigm in this country." Well the health care reform is one thing but what about your own personal health and fitness reform? What are you doing personally to practice Preventive Medicine?

Did you know that regular exercise including cardio workouts with a healthy nutrition program can help you live better, improve the quality of your life, reduce the possibility of contracting a disease, strengthen your muscles and bones, fight aging, help you reduce stress and improve your sleep patterns, improve your sex life and so many other things like regulate your blood pressure, control sugar related health problems such as diabetes, hypoglycemia, lower cholesterol, etc… Imagine all the money you and everyone else would save with a plan like this.

For instance a recent study from the RAND CORPORATION concluded that lowering sodium consumption could save the US about $18 billion annually in health care cost. That’s what I call an economic healthy stimulus plan…

So think about it, what if you would:

· Stop smoking
· Eat healthier (like more chicken, fish, vegetables, fruits, omega-3, 6)
· Reduce the intake of alcohol or at least drink moderately
· Exercise every day or at least in a consistent and regular basis 3 to 5 times a week
· Smile and be generous
· Have Fun
· Love others

What if…

The reality is that this is your Preventive Medicine or "personal health care reform program". Of course it won’t guarantee that you would ever get sick, be pain free, avoid aging or getting into an accident or having the perfect body (only I have it… HAHAHA I wish); but it’s a start and only YOU can control this not an insurance company, not the government not your workplace.

Sure there are great programs developed by the government to help promote fitness and even more so companies are realizing the benefits of starting a Corporate Wellness Program. But at the end it falls on you to follow through a program. You must enroll into the gym, and then you must go. You must get started in a fitness and nutrition program. You need to visit the Doc and check yourself out.

If you lack motivation, if you are lazy, if you have no idea where to start or what to do… then you must invest in yourself and hire a fitness expert to help you get started.

At the end your "personal health care reform program" comes down to this: you either invest your time and effort in your health today or pay the expenses and medical bills tomorrow, it’s your call.

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