Health INSIGHT
Determine.
Decide.
Devote.
by Cody J. Robinson, MS, MPH, CSCS
W
hen it comes to our health many of
us know what we need to change,
yet choose to ignore it. We rely on
the social norm of acceptance and believe
that “It’s ok with where my life is…it’s just
who I am.” Yes, there are characteristics
about each of us that we are born with,
however much of our current state is due to
behavioral decisions. For example, a particular research study examined the lifestyles
of a pair of identical twins, assessing their
genetics at infancy and later at age 60. One
sister lived a healthy lifestyle consisting of
a balanced diet and regular physical activity, while the other sister adopted common
vices (i.e., cigarette smoking, little exercise,
etc.). Low and behold, in comparing the genetic printouts of each twin at age 60, they
appeared to be two completely different
people, supporting the fact that our choices
completely shape who we are.
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While I would sincerely like to agree with the
“accept me as I am” principle, I've seen too
many people in my life suffer for years and
eventually pass away due to their choices.
The reason I do what I do is not to just coach
people to a new lifestyle, but to also make
others aware that you too can take control of
your life.
You may say, "I know I should eat healthier" or "exercise more", but maybe you don’t
know where to start! And that's ok. If you're
not sure where to start, take a few moments
to reflect on where you are and what may
be some causes to a less than par healthy
life. Sometimes by writing down your daily
activities and responsibilities can help to
pinpoint the culprit(s). Once you've given it
some thought but still feel in need of some
guidance, reach out to a local health coach
to give you insight on your first steps to a
June 2014
INSIGHT