I thought I would take some time to update you on my goings on. Specifically, from my post The Week That Was. My story is a mixed bag.
Fortunately, my wife landed with a new company on March 25. We were also able to get health insurance much sooner than we initially thought, April 1 to be exact.
This is all great news.
The other side of the coin is helping my wife navigate the change. I was truly struck by the "family spirit" that was her working group. They were and are very close. They encouraged one another, consoled one another, they behaved in a way that close families do. The sad reality is they're not a family. At least not in the eyes of corporate America. It reminded me how easy it is for organizations and their people to live in two different realities. One reality based on caring and performance, the other on results and a thing called money. Obviously, great danger follows these opposites.
Another striking result of this process is how little senior leaders know about communication. Specifically, how to say what needs to be said. If I didn't know any better, I would say a bunch of 3rd graders were running the show for my wife's former company and the new one too. If you're a professional, you're supposed act like one.
In the end, I'm looking out for my family and trusting in the One who knows and sees way more than I.
Many thanks for the concern and sentiments you've sent my way.
Learning how to keep things simple is a desire we all can relate to. Whether it's containing the to-do list or not allowing the good things of life crowd out the great, we know simplicity is the best way to live.
I came across this article from the Wall Street Journal over the holidays and got me thinking about our seemingly endless pursuit of improvement. In the healthcare arena you have to applaud. It might save your life or mine! This post is not about slamming improvements in healthcare or otherwise, but to make you aware of the best improvements you can make that may trump science.
Research the power of habits and how you can build good ones just like you can build bad ones. If you get this, clarity will want to take up residence in your life.
Seriously consider what you put into your body and make sure it's as pure and healthy as possible. Not calling you to pursue perfection, just a daily consideration (your choices, your perspective on food). Don't think of what you can't have, think of the gift of your life.
Get moving. Exercise is not about losing weight, looking like a model or having the best 5K time. Those things are by-products/results of the work. Yes, work! Again, don't think of what you will lose (time is an often used excuse). Focus on the gift of your life. As Dr. Michael Martin once told me, "God made our bodies to move."
Manage your stress. Stress is not a question of if, it is a question of now. I use Yoga, I pray, I use self-talk to protect from giving in. Our lack of discipline in managing our stress is driving us over the edge.
Create and manage your health plan. And, yes, that means not blindly doing or accepting what a physician/practitioner tells you to do. Educate, reflect and act. It's your life and no one else has been given the responsibility to manage it.
The goal is to do as much as you can to minimize your use of the healthcare system, beyond what is preventative in nature.
With a title like How I Manage My Health, you might wonder how broad I'm going here. Not very. I will keep this post confined to the physical, nutritional and how to engage with the medical community.
I want to give you a sense of how I'm managing my physical health by the following:
Exercise:
I exercise 6 days per week for about 30-45 minutes in each session
I work with weights, I run, I do core strengthening work, and I do yoga. These routines are alternated on opposite days. For example, Monday is running and core work, Tuesday is Yoga, Wednesday is wieght training, etc.
I rest on Sunday because the Lord rested on Sunday. What's good for him is good for me.
I train alone (no people, no videos, no classes). My friend Rob Banhagel says I'm into the Zen of training. He's right!
Nutrition
I eat organic. I do this for a couple of reasons; it's good for me and I don't trust large corporations like Monsanto who are responsible for much of what's killing our population.
My diet is higher in protein and fat (the good variety). The carbs are not eliminated, but are lower and usually come from fruits and vegatables.
I drink 1-2 glasses of red wine daily with food.
I eat 1-2 ounces of dark chocolate (minimum of 72% Cacao and organic).
I use high quality whey protein shakes as a meal replacement. Usually, the shakes are for post-workout meals.
Now for interacting with the doctor community. As someone with Type 1 diabetes, I have been on a drug (insulin) for 25 years. I've kind-of made a promise to not use any other types of drugs if at all possible. I guess I believe that an all natural approach along with diet and exercise can reduce the chances, significantly, of the need for the pharma candy. So far I have been blessed in this area.
Three years ago, my endocrinologist at the Ohio State University recommended I go on a statin to lower my LDL cholesterol. In the diabetic world physicians like that number to be 100 or lower. My LDL was at 126, my total cholesterol was 187. I'm fortunate to be working with a medical team that acts more like a consultant than a parent, so we went through the dance of them recommending and me telling them I wasn't ready to start taking a statin. I just didn't give up on finding an alternative. In the late Autumn of 2011 I started do high intensity interval training and it made the difference because in April of 2012 my LDL dropped to 101 from 126.
The main point of my story is to, please, be the manager of your health. No doctor, no goverment, no organization was designed to do it for you. This is a "you" opportunity or problem. Another thing to remember is to have a clear understanding of timing and urgency when interacting with the medical community. Not all conditions are equal.
I wrote this post to let you know how I'm living out what I write and to let you know that Epic Living isn't just a title or phrase.
I know you've been pounded about your financial plan…Wall Street is very good about doing that. The equally important question is; do you have a Physical Health Plan? You know what I mean, that plan of keeping your weight in-line, aerobic exercise, strength training, and sensible eating.
Let ne guess, your financial planner hasn't said a word about it. And of course, Wall Street hasn't been running ads about the importance of physical health planning.
One of my doctors (I have 3) told me his passion around this and I'm with him. You can view his site here.
I hope I will do him proud with the following list of reasons to have a Physical Health Plan:
Since you're planning out for retirement, shouldn't you plan to be as healthy as possible? Poor health will cost you in money and time.
Your body was designed to be healthy and functioning at a high level.
You'll feel better when you exercise and eat right.
There are people (trainers, authors, magazines) who can help you on your journey. You are not alone.
Food and drinks that are bad for you are that way for a reason.
Any career that requires you to sacrifice your health is an assassin and an enemy.
If you make excuses, you've just validated the importance of having good health plan.
You don't need to be like an air-brushed model to be in great shape.
Your body was designed to move, so get going.
The first 4-6 weeks will feel like hell, but once you get through that period, things will go your way.
