When compared with other developed countries, Americans are currently among the most unhealthy people on the planet. We have a lower life expectancy, higher rates of obesity, higher prevalence of chronic disease, and higher rates of suicide. All of this while spending nearly twice the amount on healthcare on a per capita basis.
So what's the good news? Most of the conditions that afflict us are reversible and/or preventable. Conditions such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, excess body fat, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels are all metabolic conditions. The "fix" for these conditions is within our control. There are two keys to this: proper nutrition and movement.
So the solution is simple...but not necessarily easy. Creating new habits that actually last is challenging. They require discipline. One way to establish discipline is to consistently relate your actions to your goals. When you are reaching for that food in the break room or searching for a drive thru to pull into, you have to have ask yourself the question. Will this help me achieve my goal? When you've got 10 minutes after lunch and you can (a) scroll on my phone or (b) go for a walk, you must ask yourself, will this help me achieve my goal.
Life is full of challenges. Our work, kids, and personal relationships can all deplete our mental resources that must be drawn upon to make these decisions. So what are some ways we can mitigate the amount of decisions we have to make on our own? The first is community. We should surround ourselves with like-minded people who have similar goals. Our conversations with these people are much more likely to be encouraging and supportive. Another way to increase our likelihood of success is to pay for it. Noting provides accountability and motivation like getting hit in the wallet. Besides a good coach or mentor is always worth it. They keep us on track, point us to our goals, and improve our ability to make decisions which will lead to success.
While community and coaching can provide an atmosphere that is more conducive to success, it is ultimately up to you. Change requires sacrifice. In order to achieve health and wellness goals, you must be invested. No coach or accountability partner can make you do anything. Likewise, no person in your life can make you choose in the other direction. When you choose the screen time over the walk or the fries over the side salad, that's your choice. Change is uncomfortable and difficult. We must learn to embrace this discomfort in order to achieve what we want for ourselves. Being on a laundry list of medications and losing our heath is hard, way harder than picking the 10 minute walk. Choose your hard.
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