It seems that almost every client I work with comes to me with some sort of medical concern for which they are currently taking medication. It could be for high cholesterol, thyroid dysfunction, high blood pressure, insulin issues, migraines, or any number of other factors. My question is, was medication the last resort or the initial recommendation?
Unfortunately, more often than not, it is the latter. Why is it that as soon as we tell a doctor that something is wrong, we are given pills to take to take care of the problem? What is missed in this equation is the why. Why is something wrong in the first place? We do not become obese, have high cholesterol, have high blood pressure because we are unlucky…we have them because our lifestyle is unhealthy! These are symptoms, not causes, and 9 times out of 10, the cause of a health problem can be linked to sleep, diet and exercise (in that order of importance).
America is one of the unhealthiest countries in the world in spite of our resources and advances in medical and pharmaceutical technologies. Regardless of the advances we make, if we do not come to terms with what our bodies need to survive, then we will never live up to our full potential. If you want to have energy, give your body the rest it needs (sleep and down time in the day). If you want to be without disease or dysfunction, give your body the nutrients it needs (lots of meat, lots of veggies, and plenty of fat). If you want to be strong and without joint pain, give you body the movement it needs (lift weights, work hard). If your body is not getting what it needs, it will shut down…and no operation, 5 Hour Energy, or medication will keep that from happening.
If you are in need of help, search out someone that is going to look at your body as a whole and prescribe a lifestyle change that will increase longevity, not temporarily change the numbers of some test. The world of health and fitness is taking a turn for the better (I think), and there is more opportunity to find these people than ever before. If you are in need of a doctor, look for someone that really wants to know you and know your body (and someone that knows that diet and lifestyle can solve 90% of the issues most people face). If you need a dietitian, find someone that knows the chemistry behind the foods they are recommending, because calories in/calories out just isn’t going to cut it anymore. If you are looking for a trainer, make sure they are making you lift weight! I cannot tell you how many people I see in the gym (with their “trainer”) holding 2lb dumbbells on a half stability ball doing curls. Your body only responds to working hard, so find someone that can coach you on good technique, help you to move better, and then help you to become stronger.
If nothing else, please start questioning what health professionals tell you. Just because they have letters after their name does not mean they know what they are talking about or have helped people get lasting results. I know it can be hard to figure out what is right or wrong, but there is nothing wrong with doing a little self educating before you talk to the doctor—you might learn something that they missed! So remember, if there is something going on in your body that is not right, look at the pain/illness/dysfunction and ask why? It is the why that will lead you to the cause, and the cause is the only thing that matters.
Thanks for your continued support; sorry for not posting in a while, it has been a crazy couple of months. Good luck and happy healing!
Colin
