Fulfill your Prescription for Lifestyle Medicine

The other day I was at a small gym that focuses on strength training. One thing I like about it is that it merges the idea of personal training with a community who is working together on their own personal goals.

I recognize that having a community of support, vs. me trying to figure it out on my own, is crucial to my success.

So up to six of us are working through the same routines at the same time, but obviously the weights are individually customized.

The ongoing casual banter, an energetic and fun trainer, and loud music certainly kick up the energy and motivation to get through a few routines. I leave feeling accomplished and happy that I’m making progress on a goal that I set for myself.

I also remind myself that building strength, stability and balance is one of the most important things I can be doing for my long term health.

(Side note: Understanding your WHY is also important to achieving your goals and staying on course).

But let me get to my main point here.

As we’re in the middle of a set, a guy across from me casually mentions the fact that about a year ago he was a hundred pounds heavier and confronting a diabetes diagnosis.

Fast forward to the present - he had recently left his doctor’s office, with no diabetes markers identified, and off all of his diabetes meds.

He just softly and matter of factly told us his story. He wanted to share this story with us relative strangers … because it was profound … and he was so happy.

Indeed, it was a story to share.

He attributed his success to lifestyle medicine. Although those words didn’t exactly come out of his mouth.

What he did say was most pivotal to his success was thinking about the way he ate.

Staying away from things he knew were not good. Adding in a lot more of what he knew was nourishing for his body.

For him, that was the most important.

But routine exercise played a role too. And getting enough sleep … and making sure he was tuned in to how he was feeling … and when he felt stressed, he had strategies to address it.

Maybe he didn’t explicitly know it, but he was practicing lifestyle medicine.

All it really comes down to is practicing a healthy lifestyle. And when we are firing on all cylinders across the key health pillars, the symphonic effect of how our body receives those inputs translates to a simple framework of health and wellness.

There are thousands upon thousands of case studies that elevate the practice of “lifestyle medicine” as the most effective prescription we could follow.

If we’re mindful of fulfilling this prescription … we are likely to stave off the chronic diseases that we potentially face as we age … like diabetes, arthritis, cancer, atherosclerosis, and alzheimers, to name a few.

BUT …. all too often we don’t become mindful or aware of the good lifestyle choices that should be routine … until we’re faced with a crisis. A diagnosis. Then we’re finally shocked into action.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we just never had to open that door in the first place?

The voice in our head keeps telling us: “I can continue on the way I am … because so far I’m just fine.”

But maybe we're not. Because these diseases start brewing when we’re young. They can take years, even decades to present themselves.

It’s always important to remember that EVERY DECISION that we make, and we make hundreds every week, have the power to move us along the wellness continuum - either a step closer to optimal wellness, or a step closer to disease. It’s just a reality to be aware of.

It is now December 1st. We’re heading into the end of the year. In a month it will be January 1st - the notorious start of new goals and action steps.

Did you know that according to a study conducted by the APA (American Psychological Association), only one in five adults are successful at making health related improvements?

• 78% say significant obstacles get in the way … like

  • Willpower (33%)

  • Making changes alone and without support (24%)

  • Too much stress (20%)

That’s why oftentimes making changes that you know you need to do, and you know are good for you, are just hard.

Sometimes you don’t know where to begin … or even know exactly how to approach a new behavior. And you definitely need your support systems in place - so critical to success.

In a couple of weeks, I will share with you a template to help you think through this past year … and start thinking about 2023.

But for now, just start thinking about some changes that you might want to consider making for your health. Put a small notepad on the kitchen counter … or somewhere that is convenient and accessible.

When you think of something, write it down. And then also quickly write why this goal or action step is important to you.

So much of health starts with a mindset … and identifying your “why.” When you falter, you remind yourself of your “why.” This is important above all else.

Let’s start preparing for a healthy new year. Create an awareness for some important new action steps you could and should take.