LIVING LONGER

IN POORER HEALTH

A recent study was published by the West Virginia School of Medicine that indicated that baby boomers are in worst health than the generation that immediately preceded them. Wow that is remarkable given all of the advances in medicine over the last 20 years or so. I’ll bet many of you are surprised by this information since it is counter intuitive. If medical treatment is becoming more sophisticated and advanced how can we possibly be losing ground in the health of our aging citizenship? We are living longer and longer, so much so that there is discussion in Congress about extending the retirement age.

Well of course Congress may have a different agenda and so does the health care industry. One must first realize it is an industry that began with some draconian procedures that did more harm than good. As they advanced and became more of a conglomerate monopolizing all discussion, research and provision of health and wellness, less and less alternatives were made available. Since they regulate themselves, anything they perceive as a threat to their dominion is shut down and dismissed as quackery. Alternative medical practices although not necessarily struggling are not able to provide the competition required to motivate them to consider less expensive, less intrusive alternatives to what is commonly practiced by the medical industry.

Let’s take a look at what medical practice is. (Their words not mine.) First let us look at the word practice, which is the process of repeating something many times in order to improve performance; or to do something as an established custom or habit. Which of these do you prefer when it comes to your health, wellness and your life? Yes we are talking about your life and not just being alive but how well you live. Personally I do not want anyone practicing on me under the guise they are an expert. Problem is they are not straightforward about the practice since most present themselves as the experts.

Secondly let’s look at the word treatment, “the application of medical care to cure disease, heal injuries or ease symptoms.” Treatment is tantamount to chasing the horse after it has left the barn. Problem is it is easier to catch the horse than to retrieve your health once you have lost it. Our medical profession has lost its way and wellness or the maintenance of good health is no longer their cause. The belief that drives them to treat disease rather than prevent disease is based in fear and ignorance. Their behavior and outright rejection of preventive alternatives reveals the truth that they do not believe there is a market for wellness. They believe they need, require sick people to treat in order to maintain their lifestyle.

So yes they are able to keep us alive longer but at what cost to our lifestyles. Do you imagine yourself with a walker or cane at age 55+; how about a motorized chair or portable oxygen; want to be on a first name basis with your pharmacist or surgeon; what about dialysis or a transplant. None of these sounds like a lifestyle anyone would consciously chose and in most cases it is preventable. So why do we actively chose to be treated rather than practicing prevention and maintenance? It is simple, they have made it easier for us to become dependent on their practices and products after all they control the knowledge and any movement in the ranks is actively and vigorously discouraged. Meanwhile they are able to maintain their lifestyles because their practice requires repeating something many times in order to improve performance; or to do something as an established custom or habit. The evidence is clear if you chose their practice of treatment you will be potential choosing a lifestyle you never dreamed for yourself.

Traditional medicine talks about practice, while most alternative health enthusiasts speak of lifestyle which is a way of life characteristic of a particular person, group or culture. In other words a way of living that you chose not something that befalls you while someone else is practicing. It requires you to take responsibility for living a particular way that is hopefully in your best interest. Ask yourself is their practice becoming your lifestyle? If it is you can get free and develop a new treatment plan. Find a practice that is willing to include healthy alternatives beyond their comfort zone. If it is a really a practice shouldn’t they be more open to going beyond the status quo? Find someone who is willing to work with you. I once had a doctor whose response to pain in my elbow from lifting heavy was, “stop lifting heavy.” I left his practice and found someone who was willing to help me maintain my lifestyle not theirs.

So if you are relying on your doctor to keep you well it is a mistake of gargantuan proportions. I besiege you do not do this. You may end up having a long and expensive relationship with this person that is not mutually beneficial. These are the type of the negative impact relationships that one must Get UP Get Moving and Run For Your Life. Keeping in mind………..

CHIT CHAT WON’T BURN FAT

FATTENING THEIR WALLETS

By FATTENING OUR BODIES

The facts are the facts and the genetically modified food is fattening the wallets of the food and agriculture industry and the overall community as well. The reality is our bodies do not and will not recognize the chemical make up of GMO's which means they can not produce and utilize the correct enzymes to break down and properly process this food. Their only goal is low cost, high yield crops that turn over quickly and produce the largest profits possible. Whether or not it is healthy and nutritious is never a consideration or concern. You better be concerned though since it is your health at risk. 

Read the article below and if you dare click on the links to see where we are headed in the agricultural and food GMO reality. The increase in overall body fat and related diseases may not be intentional on their part but it is not an accident either. There is already enough evidence these food contribute to the deterioration of American health and the increase in chronic life threatening illnesses. As they experiment with their products they are subsequently running test trials on the American and International communities.

Biotech companies are experimenting with virtually every plant food on earth. Many of these tests are still in laboratories or greenhouses. But when a new GE variety gets nearer to commercialization, the plants are released into the environment first in field tests, where the companies can observe the crops as they grow and can analyze them when they are harvested. Unfortunately, these tests are rarely, if ever, established to collect data for determining the environmental effects of GE crops. Instead, companies use these trials to promote their GE crops to farmers and to propagate seed for future commercial sales. Most of the University-based field trials consist of a single plot or a few small plots (often half an acre or less) planted just one season, while industry conducts hundreds of larger field tests throughout the world every year.

Despite consumer pressure against GE food, the gene giants have not stopped their push to alter the planet’s food supply. Monitoring developments of new GE varieties is essential to keeping our food GE free.

The genetic engineering industry has been boasting that in just a few years, virtually all of our plant foods will be derived from GE crops. But recently pressure from environmentalists, consumers and farmers has forced a number of GE foods off the market, and has stalled the introduction of more GE crops.

What are the most common characteristics the biotech companies test for in field trials?

Biotech companies develop genetically engineered crops for certain characteristics or traits, usually for properties that farmers desire. Two types of GE plants make up nearly all of the GE crops currently on the market: one type is crops engineered for insect resistance (IR), and the other is crops that can tolerate direct spraying of toxic pesticides (called herbicide tolerant, or HT crops). These two traits are also the most common in field trials.

HT crops make up about 70% of all GE crop acreage in the U.S. These include Monsanto’s “Roundup Ready” (RR) crops, including RR soy, corn, cotton and canola. Roundup is an herbicide that will kill natural crops, but farmers can spray Roundup directly on RR plants. The crop will survive but nearby weeds will be killed.

Most IR crops are also called “Bt” crops becaus they contain a gene from a bacteria, Bacillus thuringiensis, that is known to be toxic to certain insects. These plants are pesticides: they contain a pesticide that you cannot wash off. Bt corn and cotton are widely grown in the U.S.

Other GE Traits that companies are pursuing include viral, fungal, and bacteria resistance so crops can survive plant diseases. There are also “product qualities” that companies are attempting to engineer into certain crops. For example, apples may be engineered for delayed ripening, or coffee for low-caffeine.

Field trials in the U.S.

http://www.nbiap.vt.edu/cfdocs/fieldtests1.cfm

Field trials in Europe

http://www.olis.oecd.org/biotrack.nsf/by+organism

http://biotech.jrc.it/dbplants.asp

Field trials internationally

http://www.nbiap.vt.edu/cfdocs/globalfieldtest.cfm

http://binas.unido.org/binas/trials.php3

Crops in the Pipeline

Right now,may of our fresh fruits and vegetables and whole foods are largely GE free. But, the biotech industry is quickly and quietly running field trials on many of these. Click on the links below to find out what is already on the market as a GE product and what is being genetically engineered in experimental trials.

To keep all of our food free from genetic engineering, we all need to know which GMO (genetically modified organism) foods the biotech industry is planning to bring to our dinner tables.

The foods listed are currently being tested by the biotech industry in field trials. Those in red have been commercialized in the US, those in orange have been approved but are not sold or grown commercially in the US:

Fruits: apples, cherries, cranberries, grapefruit, kiwi, melons, papaya, pears, persimmons, pineapple, plum, strawberries.

Vegetables: bell peppers, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chili peppers (New Mexico),corn, cucumber, lettuce, mustard, olives, onions, peas, potato (though no longer on the market), radiccio, radish, squash (yellow crookneck squash only), sweet potato, tomato (cherry), watercress, zuccini.

Dry Goods, Grains, Oilseeds and Beans: alfalfa, barley, canola (canola oils), cotton(cottonseed oils) soybeans, coffee, popcorn, lentils, oats, rice, sugar beets, sugar cane, wheat.

Run do walk and get as far away from these products as you are able. It is not as difficult as you think. If you are beginning and wellness campaign you may want to start right here. Get Up Get Moving and remove the poisons from your cupboard. Life has changed and so has the food supply. If you may attention you may notice the different impact foods you ate as child and how the same food product has a different impact now. Your ill informed and consciously ignorant medical industry may tell you that you have developed an allergy or resistance and you have but it is to the GMO product.

Folks remember, CHIT CHAT WON'T BURN FAT

LET'S KEEP IT CROWDED

BEYOND THE NEW YEAR

Even without a calendar I am able to tell it is the New Year when I arrive at the gym. Whether in the morning or afternoon there is a definitive uptick in the number of new and returning members working out vigorously. Some of the regularly attending members have voiced some displeasure, consternation as well as a lack faith in the new folks remaining consistent. The consensus seems to be, be patient they will be gone in a week or so. It happens every year and those of us who consistently attend any gym are well aware of the fact that the New Year is motivation for many to start anew in many phases of their life.

Have you started making the changes in your life you vowed would begin when the New Year arrived? If you have not I hope you do soon but if you wait for later and actually do so that is good as well. For those of you that have begun exercising anew I am happy for you and encourage you to stick with it. I, unlike many of my health conscience contemporaries, am glad to see you when I arrive at the gym. I support and lift up your effort to improve yourself in whatever your endeavor. However this one may extend your life and at the very least improve your quality of life. Be encouraged that you have begun your journey even if you are not where you want to be on the path. Also know you may be encouraging someone you love to do so as well and that is very powerful.

We are now into the second full week of the year and I am certain you may be questioning whether it is worth it to continue. Sore muscles, wet rainy weather, aching joints and no immediate progress are barriers to success particularly in the health and wellness arena. If you are not used to exercising than you may not understand that the soreness goes hand and hand with any form of vigorous exercise whether it is running, biking, or even yoga. Many people expect it to go away after they've been working out for some time but please note if you plan to continue to push for progress the soreness will accompany your progress.

For some though the original soreness is a direct result of the passion you entered the gym for a new start. Your passion is a great quality however when starting to workout it can be a detriment. Since you probably do not know your body’s limitations it is wise to start slowly and expand your workout gradually so that you may minimize the soreness and avoid the injuries to your muscles and joints. If weight training, it is important to realize that although it is an excellent avenue for shaping up it can cause injury easily if not done properly. Beyond good form, one must consciously be aware that everyone has limitations at least initially and progress can be delayed if you go at it too hard too soon. It is my honest belief this is a primary reason people who begin working out full of good intentions and commitment, frequently quit within the first 3-6 weeks.

As the numbers begin to dwindle already, my thoughts also go to the people I see on the scale daily. You know who you are and I empathize with you and your desire to reach your goals. However the scale and any other measure of progress you are checking daily is not wise. 1 of 2 things happens and they are both bad. If you have gained weight you become discouraged and eat. If you have lost you get excited and reward yourself with bad fuel. 

I often tell my clients to stay away from the scale and other measuring devices and pay attention to how you feel when you awaken, throughout the day and particularly at the end of the day. Initially, you may feel a little tired as your body builds endurance and muscle but over time you will have more energy throughout your daily activities. Another great measure if you must is paying attention to how you feel in your clothing. Give yourself a chance and give it at least 3-6 weeks before you get on the scale.

So if you have a New Year’s commitment to improve your health stick with it and do not quit or take a break. Breaks transform themselves into quitting especially if you just recently began and there is no muscle memory to help drive you forward and onward. Even with long termers like myself returning after the 2 week break I recently took during the holidays makes a big difference in endurance and strength. 

Hang in there and the rewards will come as you build a more functional and efficient machine to move your spirit throughout this world. Believe in yourself, ask questions of other members, gym staff or seek other resources such as blogs and videos but Do Not Quit or Take a Break. Your health should be a priority for you no matter what else is happening in your life since without it everything else is more difficult.

6-12 weeks is a good period of time to make a decision about your routine and determining whether or not it is producing the results you desire. Even if it is working this is also a good point to vary it slightly so that you avoid the work out cliff, “the plateau.” Everyone hits this point where the progress you are making slows to a crawl or you even may begin to slide backwards. This is muscle memory communicating that there is enough endurance and muscle to sustain these workout so there is no need for additional progress. Consistency is great when it comes to attendance and intensity but is a drawback when it comes to your routine. Your routines can not become routine if you want to continue to gain muscle fiber and build endurance and strength.

The idea is to become healthier not perfect. Perfect is not realistic for most of us.So if your goal is realistic it is likely you will reach it. Set small milestones like just showing up and putting in the work progressively until you are able to complete a full workout each time. Just like work showing up consistently is more than half the battle since a warm cozy bed can be difficult to leave behind. Leave your comfort zone and expand it to include better health, fitness and wellness for you and those close to you. Becoming healthier is a marathon not a sprint and those who understand and except that are usually more successful.

So Get Up Get Moving a little more each time and keep in mind…………

CHIT CHAT WON’T BURN FAT