A Rebel For Health Has Moved!

RebelHealth's blog has moved.
Check me out on Wordpress:
http://www.rebelhealth.wordpress.com

Relflect & Evolve

RebelHealth has been in a winter cave, hibernating for the past several months...feeding off of stored and new information...rethinking past beliefs and formulating new ones.

Ahh, the joys of the end of one year and the beginning of the next!

As I look back over my previous posts, I find some obviously-Western/American schools of thought regarding nutrition, some solidly-supported exercise science, a bit of opinion lending itself toward less of a Western/American school of thought...I see a transition...a morphing of my beliefs - if we can even call them that anymore! I'm almost afraid to say "I believe..." anymore because it's probably short lived! Without getting too long winded here, a few things will change in 2010:

1. I'll be more active here, blogging about current issues - hopefully those from that very week - whether it be bloat-busting foods at the request of a client, or how to motivate yourself to workout (from a day I was most likely personally unmotivated to make it to the gym).
2. Even if I have to port this blog into Wordpress, I'm going to figure out how to "hard code" some pages to this blog with local information on finding quality food sources - a huge source of stress and a time consuming task on a weekly basis!
3. I will admit to a few organized (albeit allegedly "cultish"...insert evil laugh here!) schools of thought on nutrition, fitness and motivation.
4. I'll spend some time on how to figure out what you really believe...from exercise science to food...to what you should be responsible and accountable for (e.g. your health).

So here's to 2010. I'm looking forward to your arrival!

Race for the Cure? I couldn't have said it better...

Just prior to October, Breast Cancer Month, I went on a little tear about donating to the cure of preventable diseases and how more money should go to the prevention versus the cure.

This morning when I opened my Google Homepage which is littered with feeds from nutrition, fitness and lifestyle blogs and websites I follow, the following post came up from FitnessSpotlight. I really don't or can't say anything more than "my sentiments exactly!".

http://www.fitnessspotlight.com/2009/10/06/race-for-cure-prevention/

Preventing Preventable Disease...again

Back in March, (DONATING TO THE CAUSE, SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2009) I was struggling with being asked to donate to certain "causes" for the purpose of finding a cure, and since October is upon us and Breast Cancer is in the foreground, I thought this was interesting and pertinent.

Michael Pollan's column in today's OP-ED section of the NY Times speaks to this topic indirectly, with concern over our government's push to reform health care, but continue to subsidize farmers and industrialize agriculture.

I'll not say much more other than this is a good article and makes good, valid points that are difficult with which to argue. So where do we go from here? BIG FOOD VS. BIG INSURANCE NY TIMES OP-ED by Michael Pollan Thursday, September 10, 2009

Choices that Kill Us

I have a friend who always likes to take something hard or difficult and pose it as "think of it as a choice - you can either do this, or that - it's your choice". She's one of those eternal optimists...gotta love her! But the way she thinks is good, and frankly, right on the money. When we feel stuck with a problem or in a tight spot, we typically do have a choice, and that choice determines the outcome.

As it relates to our general health, we definitely have a choice. In fact, I'm a firm believer that we choose our destiny; we live with our choices every day; and, we MUST own those choices.

I recently spent some time in a place where I was surrounded by people who, for many years, have made poor choices related to their health, and continue to make those same choices to this day. Their subsequent poor health is now outwardly apparent, and continues to worsen. The choice to be sedentary has resulted in sarcopenia which is evident by their inability to ambulate for any extended period of time, repetitive surgeries to repair small tendon tears or "flush out" arthritic joints, and a general lack of energy. The choice to consume highly refined and processed carbohydrates, saturated and man-made fats, and very little quality protein has invited Metabolic Syndrome to pitch camp and settle in...and over the past 10 years, full blown obesity, diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and I'm certain a few other lifestyle-related diseases are now permanent residents with solid foundations and flowing American Flags waiving in the wind in the front yard. They would tell you "yes, I choose to eat this way because I want to", and they would also tell you that they already know the definition of healthy or clean eating (excuse me while I cough out loud to cover up my sputtering of "bullshit").

Unfortunately they are the norm versus the exception when it comes to Americans' with lifestyle-related health problems. They make the choices and are living with the consequences, but will try to find blame everywhere but within themselves. They will blame their medication for not working correctly (and then the cost of that will come up, undoubtedly). They will blame their hectic schedule for their inability to be active or eat right. They will even try to find a distant relative who was obese, had high...anything, so that they can claim "genetics" for their problems - all the while being arrogantly ignorant to their own part in this mess. And if challenged about their choices, their lack of concern or air of exaggerated self-opinion will quickly shut down the questioner, as he/she thinks to him/herself "so how's that workin' for ya?".

I'm truly saddened by the "ignorant arrogance" and delusions that they are not directly responsible for their health, especially when the poor choices are so blatant. I'm not speaking of the childhood cancers or neurological disorders...NO! I'm talking about the most common ailments among Americans today such as obesity, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, atherosclerosis, lung cancer, osteoporosis, stroke, depression...shall I go on? I admit, I am sometimes ashamed with how our society has become a society of lazy, resourceless, illogical homosapiens who feel entitled and deserving of so many things without the desire or will to work for what they want. These days, if it doesn't come easy, or in the form a magic pill or potion, we're no longer interested.

I frankly appreciate the effort I put into my training, as I know I'm getting stronger, fitter, more powerful, faster and/or more flexible as a result of each effort. I appreciate the time it takes to read labels and plan meals so that there is a good balance between energy intake and expenditure. I appreciate the flavor of real, whole, natural food...and am still trying to spot that Cheetos Tree or field of white bread growing along the roadside. I appreciate the feeling from positive vibes and keeping a positive open mind; and I see the results of negativity and those who can only find blame.

I'm not sure what the answer is to our nation's self-created health crisis. People still smoke, although you'll not find one person who can prove that it's not detrimental to both the smoker and those around him/her.

Perhaps we can each set a goal to try to positively influence one person - just one - related to healthy living, if by nothing else but our behaviors and leading by example. But beware - finding a person willing to change, invest, work - that's the hard part!

No sole point here...if you can't tell, just a platform to vent again...to express disbelief in people's poor choices...and to remove all of that negativity and, well, I guess sorrow is right word, from my head so that I can move on.

It's very difficult to watch people literally kill themselves with the choices they make - and even worse when they're so defensive of their choices.