Don’t neglect yourself

It would seem to be straightforward that our own health & fitness is one of our key concerns in our existence (if not the most important then certainly right up there). One might argue that the health of a loved one is more important, however how can you provide, care for, love, enjoy the company of, or be any use to that person if you are ill, dependent, incapacitated or otherwise not in optimal condition?

I have clients who state point blank that their careers are more important than their health. I find this both astounding and frightening. What good is career success if you’re on the way to an early grave?

I have other clients who refuse to eat the way I prescribe even knowing that I am offering a proven method and (almost) certain positive results. Again, I am flabbergasted.

Others want to train but can’t find time. (I don’t really think they want to train at all.)

Neglecting your own health and fitness for any reason is inexcusable. Careers and not more important that your health and fitness, neither are relationships, deadlines, movies, or any other excuse that you can come up with.

In much the same way that you cannot help the poor by attacking the rich; you cannot achieve success in your life without health and fitness (at least not in the long term).

Another example of uncommon sense – eating for type two diabetics

The Type 2 Diabetic suffers from insulin resistance. His/her cells have become resistant to insulin. Consumption of carbohydrates leads to the release of insulin into the bloodstream. Too much insulin leads to insulin resistance. So, how would you treat a Type 2 Diabetic?

If you answered “By getting 60% of dieatary nutrients from carbohydrates” you’d be following the American Diabetes Association’s plan. And you’d be wrong. That’s right the association that exists for diabetics has things ass about.

If you answered “Eat less carbs” – well done. It makes sense – uncommon sense it would seem.

Eating less carbs and therefore reducing your production of insulin helps with the issue of insulin resistance.

Sometimes, even those you think would know everything about a particular area are way off the mark. Be careful. It’s your body, not theirs.

Bad night’s sleep?

There are not many worse ways to start your day off than a terrible night of sleep (or more accurately: lack of sleep). Waking on the wrong side of the bed due to bad dreams, inability to get comfortable or a mind that won’t stop ticking is infuriating at best. This is something that we all have to deal with from time to time. But we don’t have to accept it as standard.

Not getting a good night’s sleep is bad, mmm-kay.

If you are regularly waking up cranky, tired or otherwise not at your best, then it’s time to start taking steps to remedy the situation. Don’t let it get out of hand. If you are tired you are never going to be able to contribute fully at work and you will more than likely rub your friends and family the wrong way too. More seriously, you may be a danger to yourself and others on the road, at work and at home.

When my clients turn up to morning training sessions looking like they’ve just gotten home from a night of clubbing it’s time for some questions and answers. If you are getting to work and desperately reaching for your mug of hot coffee whilst yawning and wiping the sleep from your eyes, you need to take a good hard look at things too.

Here are a few things I recommend to those struggling to get a good night’s sleep:

• Get into a rhythm – try to rise and retire at the same time every morning and night. Your body craves rhythm, once you get used to the pattern it will become natural.
• Hit the sack when your body tells you too – if you feel like it’s time to go to bed then it’s time to go to bed, don’t watch the rest of the TV show or read another chapter of your book. Your body follows its own inner patterns of about 90 minute intervals, if you don’t go to sleep when you get tired chances are it will be another 90 minutes before your body and mind will relax again.
• Don’t watch the TV right before bedtime – TV stimulates your brain, all those bright lights and flashy noises aren’t going to calm you down, are they?
• Write down what’s on your mind - before you go to bed write down everything that you are thinking about, list your tasks for tomorrow and anything else that needs attention. Now forget about it and get some sleep.
• Meditate – you don’t have to be a reclusive Zen monk to benefit from a little meditation. Keep it simple – find a quiet room where you won’t be disturbed and let you mind wander for 10-15 minutes, once you’ve thought everything through your mind will relax all by itself.
• Nine is the magic number – aim for nine hours of sleep every night in a totally dark room. Sacrifice whatever you have to in order to get to the magic number.

Good night and good luck, Adam.