In the last few years since I started my own war against fat, lack of fitness and general aging, I have realized my desire is to help people (including myself) get healthy and stay healthy. One body, one life, one shot at it.
Where do fitness, nutrition and health care meet? Logically they should fit together like completing a puzzle, but they aren't. What are we going to do about it? Regardless of the outcome of the current health care debate and how it's approached, we're still not taking care of the core issue. Until we determine that we're going to fight the sedentary, unfit, unhealthy lifestyles we've created we're not going to solve the problem. The fiscal, moral and operational responsibilities will continue to shift from one group to another without ever triggering true change that solves the root problem. I don't have the answer to this current crisis and do not pretend that I do. Quite frankly, it seems frightening and overwhelmingly monumental.
We always must help the sick get well, and we must figure out the best way to do that. For those who can't get well we need to provide the best support and quality of life as possible. But we can no longer afford, on multiple levels, to not focus on helping every individual reach full potential of being well and staying well. It is in this way that I believe fitness and nutrition are a critical part of wellness, a too-often neglected part of health care.
When are we going to move from an illness model to a wellness model?
I can't let myself get so far into my own journey that I don't remember that many people don't know what a good source of protein is, or what a carb is, or how hours on the couch without activity can impact their weight and health, or how to start exercising, or what a true portion size should be, or that without exercise and activity they may be facing myriad disease processes later (or should I say way too early) in life.
I wish I had the answers. Right now I believe we must start with the youngest living generation. To do that, it means we must reach the parents and grandparents. So there it goes, feeling monumental again. Instead of feeling defeated, I do believe we can change the world, one bite at a time, one activity at a time, one choice at a time. It's going to take all of us and a lot of determination. We must educate ourselves, assist each other and make a difference. I want to be a part of helping the world get healthy and stay healthy, starting with my own circle of influence.
What do you think?
