Today in my “dumbing it down” series I’m talking about exercise. Exercise is so critical to your health, I could write a book about it. In fact, my book Significant Living has a lot to say about it. But why do many of us have such distaste for exercise? I don’t think its just laziness either; it’s more like a mental block.

Author John Barnett says that maybe the people who grew up with hard work like farmers, and miners, especially during the Great Depression connect it with backbreaking, unsatisfying and exhausting labor. The idea of using exercise as medicine or anything positive is totally strange to them. Unfortunately, this is often revealed by their post-retirement sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and poor health. But even those of us who spend more time sitting than doing physical labor tend to associate exercise with something tortuous, painful, or boring—like sit ups, push ups, and leg lunges. Ouch! FYI, I don’t do those things.

If you have an aversion to traditional exercise or the treadmill, then you need a new strategy. Ask yourself what activity (other than watching TV) you find enjoyable. It has to be something that gets you moving. Activities such as dancing, swimming, bike riding, tennis, water aerobics, or gardening can improve your health dramatically. Walking is a healthy habit almost everyone can do. Even in very cold or very hot climates you can drive to the mall and walk to your heart’s content in air-conditioned comfort and it’s absolutely free—unless you stop to shop, of course.

It doesn’t take a lot of exercise to make a big difference. A few years ago the American Medical Association reported that those who took brisk, half-hour walks just six times a month cut the risk of premature death by 44 percent. Remember small changes make a big difference. There’s a good chance of prolonging your life by taking one or two walks a week. That’s not asking too much, is it?

Walking won’t help you in all areas. Remember the four areas that we lose competency as we age: stamina, flexibility, strength, and balance? Walking can help, but even better are activities that challenge you in several areas. Try to find activities that will serve more than one purpose—fun, social interaction and a healthier body. Another great motivation is an exercise partner. Someone to talk to makes exercise more enjoyable and gives you accountability for staying consistent.

So one way of “dumbing it down” is to just get moving! Look at a typical day for you. How many hours do you spend sitting (like in front of your computer or TV) and how many hours do you spend moving? Not a good comparison? Then find an exercise that’s fun and do it often.

I’ve discovered a new passion: Country Line Dancing. Yee Haw! It’s a wonderful hobby and fantastic aerobic exercise. It also helps my balance, stamina, strength and flexibility. And it even stimulates my brain, as I have to memorize and concentrate on the steps.
Hey, if you can make exercise fun, it will change your life—and it might even save it. So get up and get moving and remember I’m here for you. Check out the video to see some of my moves.

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Today I’m talking about diet and weight control. Are you always in pursuit of the latest diet? A lot of people are. But the word DIET is a four-letter-word and the first three letters spell “DIE!” That should be a big red flag. Consider these facts:

· About 66% of adults are overweight or obese and it’s on the increase.
· 90% of Americans who lose weight on a diet gain 90% of it back within one year.
· Childhood obesity is epidemic and some experts predict that this generation of youth may be the first in American history whose life expectancy will be shorter than their parents. That’s really sad.

When I say “diet” I’m referring to the food you put into your body on a regular basis over your lifetime. Hey, you are what you eat, and it’s a big part of being healthy. But how do we dumb that down in two minutes?

Well, here are a few things you should know. First, you need to be aware that the “food pyramid” issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been substantially revised. The old one had been politicized by representing beef ranchers and dairy farmers, and was way too heavy on animal protein. Plus, it heaped all foods like red meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs and nuts into the same protein category. The USDA has admitted that its original approach didn’t work. Today there is less emphasis on animal fats and grains and more emphasis on vegetables and fruits. The National Institute of Health recommends a minimum of five fruits and vegetables per day, which most of us don’t usually get. Thus, the need for supplements, which I covered in my last blog. Read it—very important.

You also need to be aware of something called “Metabolic Typing.” Never heard of it? Well just Google it for a free evaluation. But basically research has shown that what’s healthy for one person may be toxic for another. Are you a Lion, a Giraffe or a mixed type? Interesting stuff; maybe I’ll do a later blog on that, but you should know about it.

Another thing all of us can do is to eat less. The vast majority of people in this country eat too much. The portions in restaurants are ridiculously over sized, and fast food joints specialize in super sizing everything. Being overweight increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, breast and other cancers, and joint problems. Have you ever tried to carry a heavy box up the stairs? That’s what it feels like to your muscles and joints if you’re overweight. Instead of crash diets, choose foods more carefully and reduce the size of your portions. Take half of that restaurant meal home. This is the strength of programs like Weight Watchers because it makes you aware of portion size and is an eating plan for life.

Try going a step further and fasting once a month or one day a week. Oh, I know. FAST is another four-letter word. (Lord, anything but that!) But whenever I’ve skipped meals, especially to spend more time in prayer, it’s always been beneficial—both physically and spiritually. If you have any health problems you should check with your doctor before fasting. But, for most of us, missing a few meals, especially if we increase the intake of liquids, is beneficial and helps to cleanse our system.

I’ll say it once again, “For better health you need to be pro-active. Change is never easy, especially when you’re messing with my food! But if you are serious about improving your diet, you can. Get a good book or talk to a nutritionist. Start eating better one meal at a time. Small changes make a big difference. And remember, I’m here for you.

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