I would start this article with a quote I am certain you won’t see anywhere else: “Your job is not your priority, it’s your well being, your health is your priority and that includes your devotion to whom or whatever your concept of God is.” Many of us live our lives to please the external forces, i.e. we seem to take better care of the materialistic things in our possession and neglect our health until it is way too late. Some of us literally are at the point of deterioration before we do something about our health.
Brothers we don’t need any more scientific evidence to show us that men are more likely to die and leave our females, why is that? A high contributing factor could be that too many men don’t put a priority on their own health. Truth be told, us men would purposely delay a doctor’s visit and screening until it’s too late. Underlying this lack of attention to their health CARE is the male notion of masculinity which leads men to believe that going to the doctor or accessing health care SERIOUSLY compromises the idea of being “tough”. It’s an attitude that no doubt prevents men from seeking help when they should. So what should men do to improve their health? Here are some simple but effective steps in the add quality to your life direction:
Establish a good relationship with a Fitness Expert and a Primary Care Physician. This would take time, as you would need to develop trust with him / her so that you can feel comfortable discussing a wide range of sensitive issues you wouldn’t ordinarily discuss with anyone else.
Develop a healthy lifestyle. Exercise regularly, be selective with the foods you eat, maintain a healthy weight, limit alcohol consumption and avoid tobacco in all its forms.
Get recommended screenings since it is important to check regularly for conditions such as High Blood Pressure, Prostate Cancer, Colon Cancer and Diabetes to name a few since early detection and treatment can completely reverse these diseases.
We should never pursue health hoping for immortality. Food health is about being able to fully enjoy the time we do have on this planet. It’s about being as functional as possible throughout our entire lives and avoiding crippling, painful and lengthy battles with disease. When people become cognisant of the fact that their lifestyle can improve their healthspan, living better, meaning ‘quality’, they will at the very least be more inclined to stay active and be selective with the foods they eat. Fit in some skill acquisition, dancing, martial arts, walking and aerobic exercises...just keep moving.
The American Heart Association (A.H.A) calls these the simple (7):
No smoking
Blood sugar under 100
Blood Pressure 120 over 80
Being active: 30 minutes, 5 times per week
Cholesterol under 200
Weight BMI under 25%
Eat better
Getting out of your comfort zone and challenging your brain is a way to keep your mind sharp and your mood up beat. Taking a class, learning a skill, meeting new people, visiting new places, all of these things may add joy and dimension to your life and that may be good for your overall health and wellness. As a fitness expert I would be the first to admit, it sometimes feel like I need another day in the week but that shouldn’t stop you...Keep moving.